THE LAND CONSERVANCY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY

Featured Project: Nick Ranch Project

"Home on the Range Protected Forever", The Nick Ranch

There’s no place like home. In the case of Nick Ranch, the land has been home for six generations who have earned their livelihood in ranching since 1918. It’s also home for all kinds of wildlife, including wild turkey, quail, deer, bobcat, mountain lion, bear, and even the occasional condor up above. Open valleys provide abundant pasture to the Nick’s carefully selected herd of grass fed cattle.

The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County (LCSLO) considers it a priority to work with folks like Fred & Donna Nick to help protect and conserve their family’s home ranch, located east of Pozo. Supporting ranching and farming families is important for maintaining local food supplies and retaining the character of San Luis Obispo County.

“My family has enjoyed working with LCSLO on our recent conservation easement. The staff was readily avail-able and always able to clarify items or answer questions quickly. As a child, I thought everybody had a backyard like ours. As an adult, I realize how my parents (and grandparents) must have struggled and sacrificed to keep our Ranch in-tact. Instead of selling off during hard times, they were saving to purchase adjacent property. With more growth forcing wildlife out of their habitat, we feel happy and proud knowing that because of this conservation easement, "all the little critters. (as my Dad says) will always have a home here on the Nick Ranch.”
—Juanell Nick Hepburn, daughter of Fred and Donna Nick

This conservation project took an important step forward when the California Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) awarded a $2,370,000 grant at its June board meeting for us to purchase a conservation easement permanently protecting 1,337 acres at the Nick Ranch. Funding for the project was provided as part of the WCB’s program to administer the Rangeland, Grazing Land, and Grassland Protection Act of 2002.

“I am especially proud of this partnership with the Nick Family and the WCB to protect a unique, local agricultural operation and family ranch. This signature project also protects important wildlife and oak woodland habitat, headwaters of the upper Salinas River, and is immediately adjacent to the Machesna Mountain Wilderness. We're honored by the trust that this partnership represents in our organization, and look forward to an enduring relationship of stewardship and care that builds upon this trust.” —Bob Hill, Executive Director

We express our sincere appreciation to the California Wildlife Conservation Board, specifically John Donnelly, Dave Means, Marilyn Cundiff, and Liz Yokoyama for coordinating the funding efforts to accomplish this outstanding project. Many thanks to the Nick Family for their commitment to land conservation! The conservation easement is expected to close in August.

 

Google Map of Nick Ranch: <Click Here>

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To find out how a conservation easement can help preserve your ranch for continued agricultural use, visit the LANDOWNERS section of this website, or call our office at (805) 544-9096.  You can help support local conservation like this by joining as a member or making a donation

If you are not a landowner and like projects like the Nick Ranch consider one of the follow ideas to help us complete more projects like this.

• Make a donation or renew your membership with LCSLO
• Volunteer during field work days, special events or on a committee
• Give a gift membership to a friend
• Consider including LCSLO in your estate plans
• Pass this Link or information on to a friend
• The more people who know about what we do the better chance we have
  of continued success on projects like this..