Natural History Wanderings

The voluntary agreement permanently protects the historic 1,741-acre working ranch from development, and it ensures that it will remain a home for species like the Bi-State sage-grouse, mule deer, American badger, bald eagle, and many other iconic Eastern Sierra species.

This conservation success brings the total lands protected by ESLT and partner land trusts in Bridgeport Valley to over 15,000 contiguous acres. When you drive through the valley on the 395, look across the meadows towards the mountains of Yosemite and know that these lands will remain open for wildlife to roam and water to flow through – forever!

Thank you to our conservation community for your support, to the visionary landowners whose dedication made this possible, and to our funding partners at California Strategic Growth Council’s Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program (SALC) and the California Wildlife Conservation Board. The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service provided crucial technical support.

We have achieved something amazing together. Not only in permanently protecting this land from development, but also by solidifying the future of Bridgeport Valley as a haven for wildlife, and as one of California’s largest intact mountain meadows. We could not have done this without you!