January/February 2021 • ESLT News

Dear Conservation Hero,
It finally snowed. And it kept snowing! I had almost two feet here at my house in Round Valley, and our neighbors just up “the hill” in Mammoth got over 100 inches last week! Lots of inspiring stories of folks helping one another by bringing in food or shoveling out, and humans and dogs playing in the snow. Did you see our social media post about ESLT’s dogs in the snow? Just pure joy.

I’m trying to hold onto that joy, even amidst all of the challenges that surround us. Our close-knit national land trust community is dealing with the loss of a colleague that hit many of us hard. We are focusing this pain on being kind and appreciating those around us, as we just don't know what others are going through. There is also beauty – we just need to be open to seeing it – as Bishop resident and ESLT supporter Laura Molnar finds with her beautiful Bishop sunrise photo.
Laura Molnar Bishop sunrise
"Your daily reminder that the sun always rises. Also, the frozen hair was totally worth it." -Laura Molnar
Twenty in Twenty

As we step into 2021, we are celebrating ESLT’s 20th Anniversary! We will be sharing stories from our first 20 years, and thanking the groundbreaking efforts by our founders and original landowners. And, we would love to hear your stories about ESLT too – please share them with me and we’ll add them to a new page on our website.

So, until we can meet together in person, let’s keep finding ways to connect and find joy. You are the heart and soul of ESLT– we need you. And stay tuned for more good news on land protection, on ways to get “outdoors” virtually, and how we can help support one another until we can be together.
All my best,

Kay Ogden
Executive Director/CEO, ESLT
(760) 873-4554, [email protected]

P.S. Please know that you are not alone. If you or anyone you know may be need support, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 800-273-8255.
Mammoth Lakes 395 Wildlife Crossing and Beth Pratt

Thursday, February 11th at 6:30 pm
Beth Pratt, a world-renowned conservationist with National Wildlife Federation, will share her work on wildlife crossings followed by the Eastern Sierra Wildlife Stewardship Team who will highlight the new Highway 395 wildlife crossing in Mono County along with opportunities to support the project. In this multi-agency presentation, we'll hear from ESIA, CA Dept of Fish & Wildlife, Caltrans, ESLT's Kay Ogden, and Mono County Supervisor, Stacy Corless on the team effort helping our wildlife safely cross the highway at a hazardous location.

ESLT's Happy Place Book Club:
Underland: A Deep Time Journey by Robert Macfarlane

Wednesday, March 3rd from 6-7PM
We notice flora, fauna, and even fungi, surrounding us daily. Let’s journey into a part of the natural world that we don’t necessarily see… at all. Come shift your perspective with us and get curious about what goes on underground.
Two ESLT Job Openings:
Communications Coordinator and Bookkeeper
Join our team! ESLT has two positions open. We are looking for a Communications Coordinator to plan and execute our communications strategy, and a detail-oriented Bookkeeper familiar with non-profits.
Welcoming a New Generation
Congratulations to Mini and Jake Doonan on the birth of their daughter Tessa in November 2020! Tessa is a soon-to-be 4th generation rancher and part of the wonderful Doonan and Moss ranching family at Montgomery Creek Ranch and Cinnamon Ranch, both with ESLT conservation easements. Mini is a valued former staff member of ESLT. Welcome to the ESLT family, Tessa - we can't wait to see where your little boots take you!
Conservation Practices Reduce Carbon Footprint in California
NRCS, one of our key funding partners, just released a study showing how soil health conservation practices reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions. Through collaborative partnerships, they install land conservation practices on working farms, ranches, or forest land.

“NRCS conservation practices applied by California agricultural producers completely offset the annual carbon footprint of 39,650 Californians," says Carlos Suarez, State Conservationist for NRCS in California. "Utilizing another metric, these voluntary working lands actions by farmers and ranchers sequester carbon in healthy soils and offset greenhouse gas emissions of more than 79,000 typical passenger vehicles collectively driven nearly a million miles in a year.”

California farmers and ranchers are part of the climate change solution, and by protecting our Eastern Sierra working lands, so are you!
Thank you for being a part of the ESLT family. With our caring landowners, volunteers, members, and supporters, we're protecting a bright future for the Eastern Sierra.

Sincerely,
Kay, Amanda, Cami, Carissa, Gabrielle, Heather, Sara, Sus, and our Board of Directors