
DOBBINS CONSERVATION EASEMENT
In
March of 2000, Peter and Anna Dobbins recorded a conservation easement
on six acres of their property outside Point Arena, California. This
became the Redwood Coast Land Conservancy's first conservation easement
(CE). The Dobbins chose to work with RCLC because "RCLC was their
local land trust."
The
Dobbins have had a long-term interest in the environment and wished
to preserve their property's open space and wildlife habitat along
Hathaway Creek. This creek is an important part of the coastal ecosystem
providing for a wide variety of birds, mammals and plants. In particular,
the property possesses coastal scrub and riparian vegetation, prime
habitat for the Point Arena Mountain Beaver (Aplodontia rufa nigra),
a federally listed endangered species. The Point Arena Mountain Beaver
Recovery Plan (1998) has identified populations of Mountain Beaver
on land immediately adjacent to the Dobbins property and characteristic
burrow activity has been noted on the Dobbins property. The Plan has
identified conservation easements as a mechanism for protecting the
species, habitat reservoirs and corridors between populations.
"We
all need to make some room for the wildlife," Peter says. "The (CE)
procedure is relatively painless and the good lasts a long time."
The Dobbins would welcome questions from others who may be thinking
about a conservation easement for their own property. They can be
reached at pdobbins@mcn.org.
Other
projects:
Gualala
Bluff Trail | Gualala
Watershed
| Hearn Gulch |
Bourns Landing | St.
Orres Creek