Anonymous
Source: Land Trust of Santa Barbara County
In early April, the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County purchased a 118-acre conservation easement near Lompoc from the Bob Campbell family, protecting critical habitat for federally endangered California tiger salamanders. California Department of Fish and Wildlife earmarked nearly $2 million in state conservation funding for the acquisition. The easement is a legal agreement between the Campbells and the Land Trust to permanently conserve a portion of the Campbell Home Ranch with habitat vital to California tiger salamanders. The Campbell’s ownership of their land remains unchanged, and they are free to continue the historic cattle operations they have undertaken for five generations.
“The California tiger salamander has drawn a lot of heat in the last decade for getting in the way of development and intensive agricultural activities. We just felt there had to be a better way, and with the help of both federal and state wildlife agencies, we figured out how to compensate Bob at fair market value for every acre he conserved. We could not have asked for better partners. Everybody wins!” said Bruce Reitherman, Conservation Director at the Land Trust.
Working with farming and ranching families to improve their agricultural and economic viability while also achieving important conservation goals is at the heart of what the Land Trust does.
“For years, we experienced nothing but frustration and disappointment when dealing with the agencies in charge of issues surrounding the salamander. Our family needed assurances that current and future generations would be able to continue the farming and ranching heritage that Veril and Gertie Campbell started almost 100 years ago on our ranch. We were unable to make any progress toward a mutually beneficial solution, until we started working with Bruce and Chet at the Land Trust. They, along with Rachel Henry from U.S. Fish & Wildlife, understood our concerns and worked very hard to help bridge the gap and build trust between our family and the agencies tasked with saving the salamander.
“Our family will be able to continue running our farm and cattle ranch, as we have for generations, and a large portion of wildlife habitat has been protected from any potential future development.
“We feel like this arrangement is a great example of how solutions can be found when representatives from government agencies listen and consider private property concerns and are genuinely willing to work towards a reasonable agreement,” said Bob Campbell.
Listed in 2004 by the US Fish and Wildlife Service as critically endangered, the California tiger salamander needs water to breed. The Campbell property is home to the largest natural vernal pond in Santa Barbara County. Ponds like this are rare, and that makes the Campbell property particularly important. But because these unusual amphibians also inhabit grasslands where cattle graze and stock ponds are found, rangeland and normal ranching operations play a significant role in in the salamanders’ ability to survive.
“The only way to ensure this species persists in the wild, is through collaboration with local landowners and understanding their needs and objectives. We came together to protect natural resources, while supporting the success of the private landowners who are stewards of our agricultural and wild land legacy. We hope this accomplishment can be used as a model for future collaborations,” said Rachel Henry, Habitat Conservation Plan Coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, who worked closely with the Land Trust and Campbell family.
The Land Trust brings together private landowners, nonprofits, and government agencies to pave the way for families like the Campbells to conserve their land while respecting their bottom line. Adapting to the challenges farmers and landowners face is an integral part of land conservation, working to preserve a way of life as much as the land itself. Conservation easements permanently protect property rights to further landowners’ conservation goals and livelihoods.
Since 1985, The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County has worked with community groups, willing landowners and others to conserve, restore, and manage open space, wildlife habitat, and family farms and ranches throughout the County. To date, the Land Trust has worked with more than 50 families and community groups to conserve nearly 30,000 acres of prime agricultural lands, critical wildlife corridors, and vistas of rolling hills. Visit https://www.sblandtrust.org for more information.
Thank you.
$181,340,000…. “The USFWS currently estimates the total cost of implementing this recovery
plan at $181,374,000 over the next 30 years”. That’s a lot of money for an amphibian…………. https://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/SB%20CTS%20Final%20RP%20Signed_1.pdf
This is an excellent example of a productive partnership. Campbell has always been a rational voice for agriculture and it is good to see that he and the Land Trust worked well together. Maybe those who are more antagonistic and who bring no ideas to the table (Andy Caldwell, COLAB, Peter Adam) could learn from this type of beneficial negotiating. Thank you to the Campbells and the Land Trust.
Nice work.
So wonderful to see land saved for wildlife habitat! Thank you, Land Trust!
Thank you to all parties for their leadership and cooperation. The Land Trust is doing an extraordinary job of locating vital habitat, working with land owners, sourcing grants, and purchasing easements or land.
None of you seem to know the story about that land/pond.Someone planted those sally’s about 30 years ago and it has been a cluster frag for the Campbells. It is a scam that we are paying for a pond that until recently had no water for 10 years because of drought. So do we pay for water to fill the pond so that they dont have to worry about drought anymore?Another waste of public money for a project none of the commentators here have ever seen or will see. 4 thousand sq. miles in the county and this spot is gonna save them?Next up funds for safe crossings across the highway 246 for said sally’s.Might as well add some plovers to it as well.
You know what I haven’t seen a magpie in the county for at least 20 years. What about them? Used to see them all over the area, now they are in Utah in winter.