This week has been full of great news for Big Sur Land Trust projects! We’re so excited and grateful that on March 19 the Salinas City Council unanimously approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City and Big Sur Land Trust regarding the long-term ownership and care of the future Ensen Community Park at Carr Lake! Special thanks to the interim city manager Jim Pia, city attorney Chris Callihan, and director of library and community services Kristan Lundquist. We are also extremely grateful to all the residents – including several high school students – who took the time to participate in the process and speak from their hearts about the importance of well-maintained parks in Salinas.
The MOU outlines the steps that the two organizations will take to transfer the 6-acre traditional park and the 67-acre restoration area once they are constructed. It also covers the City’s role in operations and maintenance and the Land Trust’s continued role in the restoration area.
And we also learned this week that United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) secured $3 million in community project funding for the Carmel River Floodplain Restoration and Environmental Enhancement Project (Carmel River FREE). This federal investment was secured through the annual FY24 appropriations process. We are sending our sincere gratitude to Representative Panetta for his continued commitment to building federal partnerships in California’s 19th Congressional District with local organizations like Big Sur Land Trust and the County of Monterey. See the press release here. And if you’d like to take a free tour of the Carmel River FREE project site you can sign up here to join our director of conservation Rachel Saunders on Friday morning March 29!
With all these amazing things happening, our team at Big Sur Land Trust is even more excited and proud to be working alongside our neighbors, local leaders, and our generous donors and funders towards healthier lands, healthier people, and healthier communities throughout Monterey County!
Martin Dunes Invasive Species Removal
Saturday, March 23
9:30am – 1:30pm
Martin Dunes
Removing ice plant and annual grasses is hard work but necessary to protect the biodiversity of Martin Dunes, which protects critical habitat for several special status species, including the Monterey spineflower, Smith’s blue butterfly, and Western snowy plover. Come on out this Saturday from 9:30am – 1:30pm to remove these invasive species in an effort to restore and care for the lands we love at Martin Dunes. Register >>
California Wildlife Day 2024
Sunday, March 24
11:00am – 3:00pm
Palo Corona Regional Park
Come visit the Big Sur Land Trust team at the free California Wildlife Day event cosponsored by Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District and Carmel River Watershed Conservancy! Join us as we learn about protecting “species on the edge” at this free annual event on Sunday, March 24 from 11:00am – 3:00pm at Palo Corona Regional Park. Activities include kids crafts, guided nature walks, presentations, student art and more. Learn more >>
Carmel River FREE Tour
Friday, March 29
9:00am & 10:00am
Palo Corona Regional Park
Our Carmel River Floodplain Restoration and Environmental Enhancement (CR FREE) project is one of the most extensive and important multi-benefit flood protection and riparian habitat restoration efforts on the Central Coast. Join us on Friday, March 29 for a slow-paced, staff-led tour of this project site. We will host two groups that will be leaving at either 9:00am or 10:00am — please note which ticket time you reserved. Register >>
‘Birds and Blooms’ Walk at Marks Ranch
Friday, April 5
9:00am – 3:00pm
Marks Ranch
Join us on Friday, April 5 for a springtime ‘birds and blooms’ walk at Big Sur Land Trust’s Marks Ranch as we celebrate Earth Day all month long. For this hike, we will be joined by our birding expert friends at Monterey Audubon Society as well as a wildflower naturalist to learn about the wildflowers and birds of this unique property. Register >>
‘Birds and Blooms’ Walk at San Jose Creek
Friday, April 12
9:00am – 3:00pm
Palo Corona Regional Park
Join us on Friday, April 12 for a gentle two-mile birding and wildflowers walk along the San Jose Creek Trail. For this hike, we will be joined by our birding expert friends at Monterey Audubon Society as well as a wildflower naturalist to learn about the wildflowers and birds of this unique property. Register >>
Earth Day Guided Hike: Williams Canyon to Rancho Cañada
Monday, April 22
8:00am – 5:00pm
Palo Corona Regional Park
Celebrate Earth Day 2024 on Monday, April 22 with a hike from the Williams Canyon parking meadow to Palo Corona Regional Park’s Rancho Cañada Unit. Traverse 8.5 miles (including three creek crossings) and climb over 1500 feet through Santa Lucia Conservancy land and Palo Corona Regional Park’s backcountry and front ranch. Register >>