ConnectingCalifornia.org

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Ventura Hillsides Conservancy Receives Land Donation along Ventura River Trail

February 17, 2009

for photos and maps:
http://venturaecosystem.blogspot.com/2009/02/ventura-river-parkway-land-donation.html

http://campaign-archive.com/?u=f95fb85f1cc97d8496edd65fd&id=3061f3b7fe&e=96a641650d

The Ventura Hillsides Conservancy is the recipient of a second donation of land to add to its conservation holdings. The gift came from the Gene Wave Waldo Trust. The two contiguous parcels comprising the gift measure just under one acre, and are located along the Ventura River just west of the Ventura River Trail. The property is south of Foster Park.
The children of Gene Waldo (Wave Lee Stonerock, Nipomo; Jennifer Tidwell Kennedy, Casitas Springs; Robert Waldo, Medford, Oregon; and Sue Brax of Lancaster) donated the scenic riverside property in honor of their mother. The family chose to give the acreage to the local land trust to ensure that it would remain as open space in perpetuity. “We wanted to be certain that nothing would be built there” said Stonerock. Kennedy added that she was pleased to give the lush riparian area to the Conservancy because “now the land has a purpose.” Pursuant to wishes of the donors, the grant deed carries a restriction limiting use to conservation objectives. This donation is the first land conservation conveyance recorded since the Ventura River Parkway project was announced by Trust for Public Land and the State Coastal Conservancy a few years ago. The Ventura Hillsides Conservancy serves as a key facilitator of the Parkway project, and is the only entity willing to hold land for conservation purposes in the lower Ventura River valley. The Ojai Valley Land Conservancy holds several properties along the river north of Foster Park. These parcels are in a relatively undisturbed riparian state. Only minor restoration work is needed. As riparian habitat supportive of river-dependent species, it is quite high quality. We are building a stewardship fund to support the management costs of this property. Now is a great time to donate to this fund. Please go to http://www.venturahillsides.org/donate.shtml