Press
Directions to the OVLC Office
The OVLC office is located at 370 Baldwin Rd, Bldg A4, Ojai, CA 93023 on the old Honor Farm After the main entrance, when you come in the gate, stay to the left and follow the signs for the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy. You will drive by the farm and the road will wrap around the old […]
Krishnamurti Foundation of America Announces the Opening of the Ojai Saddle Trails in Partnership with the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy
The Ojai Valley Land Conservancy and the Krishnamurti Foundation of America are proud to announce a partnership to provide formal public access on private land adjacent to the Ojai Meadows Preserve through a trail easement.
Beetle spreads worry among Ventura County farmers
OVLC Stewardship Director Rick Bisaccia was featured in a great article by Claudia Boyd-Barrett in the Ventura County Star on January 15th, 2016. Learn what you can do to prevent the spread of this invasive beetle » Ojai citrus and avocado rancher Roger Essick has a lot to worry about these days. Like other citrus farmers in […]
Non-Commercial Orchard Removal Aims to Protect Commercial Groves and Reduce Fire Risks
A project to remove several thousand orange trees at the Ventura River Preserve will address community threats caused by the mix of live and dead orange trees in the historic orchard, and make way for the re-establishment of native oak savanna and woodland habitats. Beginning on October 12, the tree removal will be done mechanically […]
Kennedy Ridge or Bust
The Kennedy Ridge Trail and OVLC Stewardship Director were featured in a great article by Ray Ford in the Santa Barbara Independent this week: As you ascend the switchbacks leading to the top of Kennedy Ridge the whole Ojai Valley comes into view. The Topatopa Mountain escarpment provides a similar backdrop to what we […]
1% for Ojai Launches
The Ojai Valley Land Conservancy (OVLC) manages approximately 2,000 acres for public use at a cost of $100,000 per year. Essential trail maintenance, preserve infrastructure repairs (such as fencing and signage), regular preserve patrols, and cleaning up graffiti are just some of the preserve management needs associated with this cost. And, with each new preserve […]
New Parking for Valley View Preserve
Parking for Shelf Road and the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy’s (OVLC) Valley View Preserve is getting easier. The City of Ojai is making changes at the north end of Signal Street that will make trailhead parking at this popular spot safer, and much more user friendly. As many people know, during peak use hours it […]
Ventura River Preserve Getting Bigger
The Ojai Valley Land Conservancy purchased a critical 29 acre property adjacent to the Ventura River Preserve this week. The property lies between the heavily used Oso Trailhead and Riverview Trailhead near Meiners Oaks. “This is a key part of our and our partners’ vision to create a Ventura River Parkway – a collection of […]
2014 Annual Member Celebration Success!
The Ojai Valley Land Conservancy’s Annual Member Celebration at the Ventura River Steelhead Preserve was a great success! Over 250 members were in attendance. A big THANK YOU to all the volunteers who worked so hard helping us the day of the event, to all the businesses who donated our fantastic raffle items, Blue Suede […]
OJAI VALLEY LAND CONSERVANCY BUYS 160 ACRES AT AUCTION
The Ojai Valley Land Conservancy (OVLC) was the successful bidder at an auction of a 160 acre parcel which is important for the Ojai Valley’s water supply. The forested parcel in the foothills north of the Ojai Valley is remote, wild, and largely surrounded by national forest. It is also an important catchment basin that […]
Riverview Trailhead Scheduled to Close
At the end of September, the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy’s 10 year easement that allows us to maintain the Ventura River Preserve’s Riverview Trailhead will expire. Many people probably don’t realize that the Riverview Trailhead on Rice Road does not sit on Ojai Valley Land Conservancy property. This land and about forty acres immediately below […]
Rice Creek Returns Home after 90 Years
Rice Creek is a seasonal tributary of the Ventura River that drains the hillsides above the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy’s majestic Ventura River Preserve. Hikers in Rice Canyon can see the modest creek, and know that it supports a variety of native plants and wildlife. However, the lower sections of the small Creek have seen rough times over the last 90 years since it was cut off from its natural route and held captive in a man-made ditch. In the 1920’s, the stream was diverted to make room for an orange orchard. When the stream was moved, the hydrologic and ecological connections between the Creek and the Ventura River were severed. In total, ¾ of a mile of the former stream was left dry, most of it to be completely removed.
Ojai Meadows Preserve Restoration Update
When the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy (OVLC) purchased the property that would become the Ojai Meadows Preserve, it was done with the shared community goals of providing relief from localized flooding, reducing storm water pollution, providing a refuge for birds and wildlife, and creating a safe public space where people could enjoy nature close to […]
Cluff Vista Park Undergoes Maintenance
Lately, Cluff Vista has been getting some love from both the City of Ojai and Ojai Valley Land Conservancy’s Restoration Field Crew. The park has been pruned, cleaned, planted, and mulched. Just before Christmas Ojai Valley Land Conservancy’s Field Crew planted native plants grown in their own Ojai Meadows Preserve nursery to fill in the […]
Soil Sampling Coming Soon to the Ojai Meadows Preserve
Visitors to the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy’s Ojai Meadows Preserve may see an unusual sight next week. That is when a soil drilling rig will appear on the back of the preserve near the intersection of Lomita Avenue and Besant Road. The purpose of the rig is not to drill for oil or water. Rather, […]
Press Release: Rice Creek Flows Free
This winter, Rice Creek will flow along its native route for the first time in roughly 85 years. The seasonal tributary of the Ventura River is located on the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy’s Ventura River Preserve. Back in the 1920’s, the stream was diverted from its native route to make room for a 60-acre orange grove. […]
Rice Creek Returns Home After 90 Years
Rice Creek is a seasonal tributary of the Ventura River that drains the hillsides above the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy’s majestic Ventura River Preserve. Hikers in Rice Canyon can see the modest creek, and know that it supports a variety of native plants and wildlife. However, the lower sections of the small Creek have seen […]
Meadows Restoration Update
Starting this week, if you look around the Ojai Meadows Preserve, you will see that a lot of activity is underway on the open fields. This work represents the final phase of the master restoration plan prepared for the site in 2004. The open fields are currently being managed for weed control and, ultimately, their new function […]
Parker Joins Ojai Valley Land Conservancy
The Ojai Valley Land Conservancy announced the hiring of Tania Parker as their new Director of Advancement. As Advancement Director, Parker is responsible for strengthening the relationship between the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy, its members, and the community as a whole. “We are very pleased to have Tania join OVLC,” said Executive Director Greg Gamble. […]
Local Partnership Improves Stream Habitats in Ojai
Usually, the sound of a chain saw coming from a local creek is cause for concern. Recently, however, this sound has been associated with habitat improvements for fish and wildlife. A partnership between the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy (OVLC), the California Conservation Corps (CCC), and the Concerned Resource and Environmental Workers (CREW) has just completed […]
Endangered Bird Heard for the First Time on the Ojai Meadows Preserve
The southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) is indeed a ‘rare bird’ in every sense of the word and today it was heard and confirmed for the first time on the Ojai Meadows Preserve. Bird expert and retired US Fish and Wildlife Service employee Jesse Grantham and his friend Peter Larramendy were bird watching on […]
Rare Venomous Snake Found at Ventura River
Spotted night snakes are rare in the Ojai Valley which is located at the very western edge of the spotted night snake’s habitat. A black patch on the neck and blotches that look like a double row of spots will help identify this snake. These snakes are usually small and the eyes are unmistakable with […]
Once Upon A Watershed Makes A Difference: Ojai & Ventura Children in Grades 4 – 6 Learn About the Outdoors
This week local educators David White and Heather King took Topa Topa, Oak Grove, and Summit school sixth grade students on an adventure at Ojai Valley Land Conservancy’s new, not yet open to the public, Ventura River Steelhead Preserve. At the preserve these children, through the Once Upon a Watershed (OUW) program, continued their hands […]
Passion Inspires Rice Creek Realignment
On Saturday the Sespe Fly Fishers Club recognized Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard’s commitment to preservation of the environment and support for local conservation through direct action in the Ojai Valley. Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, is committed to supporting local conservation efforts. Couinard is also a fly fisherman and member of the Sespe Fly Fishers […]
E-News: Closed Fourth of July – Ojai Meadows Preseve
Back to E-Newsletter (Summer 2010) For the protection of sensitive habitat and to help prevent fires the Ojai Meadows Preserve will once again be closed to the public between the hours of 6:30pm and 9:30pm on July 4th. OVLC staff, volunteers and professional security will be at all entrances and inside the preserve to watch […]
