Conservation Land
Saving Wildlife One Acre at a Time!
PROTECTED
ACQUIRED
SAVED
Oswit Canyon
South Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, California
⚠️ PRIVATE PROPERTY with PUBLIC ACCESS:
✅ HOURS: DAWN - DUSK✅ STAY ON TRAIL AT ALL TIMES
❌ DO NOT DISTURB OR REMOVE WILDLIFE OR NATURAL RESOURCES
❌ NO DOGS
❌ NO BIKES, E-BIKES OR MOTORIZED VEHICLES
❌ NO DRONES
❌ NO SMOKING
❌ NO LOUD MUSIC OR NOISE
What is Oswit Canyon…?
Oswit Canyon is on S. Palm Canyon adjacent to the Canyon Heights neighborhood and the south trailhead for the S. Lykken Trail. It’s a spectacular canyon and home to endangered bighorn sheep, desert fox, bobcats, mountain lions, migratory birds, raptors and other wildlife. Although this canyon is wholly within the City of Palm Springs. Ask the hikers along the S. Lykken trail or those who know about Oswit Canyon. These two trails are known across the globe.
After a 3 year battle, the developer finally agreed to sell us the land if we can raise the funds by December 31, 2019. We’ gathered the majority of the funding needed from public funds, & fundraised the remaining one million dollars. This was a true public/private venture..
Save Oswit Canyon, Inc., a group of over 2,000 Palm Springs residents, created a Citizens Initiative to protect the Oswit Cone, which includes the entire canyon and alluvial fan.
Not one shovel’: Save Oswit Canyon completes $7.15M sale, land to be preserved and open to public.
Palm Hills
Above the Rimrock Vons shopping center in Palm Springs, California
⚠️ PRIVATE PROPERTY with PUBLIC ACCESS:
✅ HOURS: DAWN - DUSK✅ STAY ON TRAIL AT ALL TIMES
❌ DO NOT DISTURB OR REMOVE WILDLIFE OR NATURAL RESOURCES
❌ NO DOGS
❌ NO BIKES, E-BIKES OR MOTORIZED VEHICLES
❌ NO DRONES
❌ NO SMOKING
❌ NO LOUD MUSIC OR NOISE
A Moment of Pride.
We are proud we were able to facilitate this purchase and protect this spectacular land forever. It would have been a tragedy to lose this critical habitat, popular hiking area and the important wildlife corridor to development. With the help of our supporters, we will be good stewards of this land.
Jim Karpiak, Executive Director of the Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy said, “This acquisition is truly a dream come true for a generation of conservationists. It ensures that this large area remains in its natural state forever to support our endangered species, protect flows into the aquifer and provide options for outdoor recreation for future generations of Coachella Valley residents and visitors.”
It Takes A Village
“This acquisition demonstrates what can be achieved when partners come together to protect our scenic desert and ensure that threatened and endangered species can thrive,” said La Quinta Mayor Linda Evans, Chair of the Coachella Valley Conservation Commission. “We’re pleased to have worked with the Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy and Oswit Land Trust on this land deal and look forward to working with them to maintain the desert and trails long term. Residents and visitors alike will benefit from this for generations to come.”
"This acquisition is truly a dream come true for a generation of conservationists. It ensures that this large area remains in its natural state forever to support our endangered species, protect flows into the aquifer and provide options for outdoor recreation for future generations of Coachella Valley residents and visitors.”
Prescott Preserve
In the heart of Palm Springs between Sunrise & El Cielo.
⚠️ PRIVATE PROPERTY with PUBLIC ACCESS:
✅ HOURS: SUNRISE - SUNSET✅ STAY ON TRAIL AT ALL TIMES
✅ LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED ONLY ON MULTI-USE PATH CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO
✅ BIKES ALLOWED ONLY ON MULTI-USE PATH CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO
❌ DO NOT DISTURB OR REMOVE WILDLIFE OR NATURAL RESOURCES
❌ NO DRONES
❌ NO SMOKING
❌ NO LOUD MUSIC OR NOISE
An incredible act of generosity.
The Prescott Foundation decided to purchase the more than 100 acre Mesquite Golf Course and donate it to Oswit Land Trust so that we can begin turning our vision into a reality. The new name, Prescott Preserve, will honor and recognize the Prescott Foundation’s chair and president, Brad Prescott. Brad’s compassion, selflessness and generosity through this donation will leave a historical mark on Palm Springs and surrounding communities.
Prescott Preserve, when completed, will be lush with native plants and trees and will be a spectacular place for both humans and wildlife. It will include a large butterfly garden, a native celebration garden to honor and remember loved ones, designated bird watching areas, floats for migratory birds, educational signage, walking paths and more!
We will immediately begin applying for grants to plan and create the preserve. Existing golf cart paths will remain open to pedestrian traffic and leashed dogs during the planning and creating phase. The project starts with a full biological assessment of the property, followed shortly by the creation of a proposed map of the preserve that will be shared with the public.
I have always wanted to save land. When I met Jane and was introduced to Oswit Land Trust, I finally found a way that I could make my interest in saving land become a reality. Jane took me on a bike ride to show me the golf course properties and I immediately saw her vision. It will be incredible to see a beautiful nature preserve instead of construction and more houses.
Mesquite Ridge
Base of the San Jacinto Mountains, at the end of Mesquite Avenue.
⚠️ PRIVATE PROPERTY with PUBLIC ACCESS:
✅ HOURS: DAWN - DUSK✅ STAY ON TRAIL AT ALL TIMES
❌ DO NOT DISTURB OR REMOVE WILDLIFE OR NATURAL RESOURCES
❌ NO DOGS
❌ NO BIKES, E-BIKES OR MOTORIZED VEHICLES
❌ NO DRONES
❌ NO SMOKING
❌ NO LOUD MUSIC OR NOISE
Critically important for our community.
Nearly 4 years ago, we saw a “for sale” sign posted on a 30 acre property adjacent to the popular South Lykken hiking trail at the end of Mesquite Ave. The property was being marketed to build 95 condos or a hotel. We believed it was an important piece of property to get into conservation to retain the peace and tranquility of the South Lykken trail. Further research revealed that nearly half a mile of the Lykken trail went through this privately owned property that was slated for development.
For the Mesquite Ridge Acquisition Project, we partnered with Trust for Public Land (TPL) and the Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy (CVMC) to secure funding through two government programs: the California Natural Resources Agency’s EEMP grant and the US Fish & Wildlife Service’s section 6 grant, administered thorough the state’s Wildlife Conservation Board. We also received assistance from one of our incredibly generous donors to fill the gap of the funding needed.
Mesquite Ridge may not be as large as some of our other recently acquired properties, but it is critically important for our community. We have protected the beloved and popular South Lykken trail and secured wildlife habitat as the icing on the cake!
"This property may not be as large as some of the others we have recently acquired, but it is critically important for our community. We have protected the beloved and popular South Lykken Trail and secured wildlife habitat as the icing on the cake!"
Happy Valley
Indio Hills, California
A spectacular, undisturbed alluvial fan!
The property, referred to as Happy Valley, is a spectacular, undisturbed alluvial fan with diverse vegetation and significant value to native wildlife. The property is an important migration corridor between the Coachella Valley and Joshua Tree National Park and is critical for the endangered Mojave desert tortoise that have historically been reported within the property boundaries. This property also creates an important buffer zone for all wildlife since it abuts land that is already protected on two sides.
Jane Garrison, Founder and Executive Director of Oswit Land Trust, says “The acquisition of the Happy Valley property is so important for its biological value, vulnerability to destruction, critical wildlife habitat and its proximity to already conserved land which creates a necessary wildlife corridor. It is the perfect acquisition for wildlife.” She continues to state , “Oswit Land Trust is certainly fulfilling its mission of “Saving Wildlife One Acre at a Time” and we are not slowing down anytime soon!”
OLT is immensely grateful to the landowners who agreed to allow OLT to apply for grants to purchase the property. This process can take up to 2 years and can’t be done without the willingness and patience of landowners. The property was slated for development but now is protected in perpetuity.
"The acquisition of the Happy Valley property is so important for its biological value, vulnerability to destruction, critical wildlife habitat and its proximity to already conserved land which creates a necessary wildlife corridor. It is the perfect acquisition for wildlife.”"
Santa Rosa Hills
Hemet, California
Prime wildlife connectivity habitat
Santa Rosa Hills is 165 acres of prime wildlife connectivity habitat in Western Riverside County overlooking Diamond Valley Lake. Utilizing several million dollars in grant funding from state programs for habitat conservation, the acquisition took over two years to finalize and is the first acquisition in an overall wildlife corridor conceptualization that will eventually connect to the San Bernardino National Forest.
This acquisition, called ‘Santa Rosa Hills’, protects critical habitat at a wildland-urban interface in the San Jacinto Mountain foothills near Hemet, CA and strengthens wildlife corridor connectivity with other nearby local, state, and federal conserved lands including the San Bernardino National Forest. The habitats being protected in perpetuity include Riversidian sage scrub, Diegan coastal sage scrub, coast live oak woodland, and oak riparian woodland. Several key animal species will also be protected including federally threatened and state endangered animals and other species covered under the Western Riverside Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan. This acquisition also helps the state of California fulfill goals of 30×30, which is a state, federal and global initiative to save 30% of the planet’s land and water resources by 2030.
“The Santa Rosa Hills project is the culmination of two years of work with the landowner, the incredible staff of WCB and CalTrans’ EEM program. Oswit Land Trust is excited that we were able to acquire a property that otherwise would have been destroyed. Putting this property into conservation will provide a foothold in the region that will eventually be a robust wildlife corridor,” says Bettina Rosmarino, Land Acquisition Director for Oswit Land Trust.
OLT was successful in the extensive and challenging process of obtaining nearly 2 million dollars in grants for this purchase but still had to put $125,000 into the acquisition. OLT is asking the community for help. “We are hoping some angels step up and help us cover the $125,000 we had to put into saving this land. It is a small amount compared to the entire purchase price and certainly a small amount to save these spectacular 165 acres but it is a lot for a land trust that is supported 100% by donations. Donations can be given at oswitlandtrust.org/donate “ said Jane Garrison, Executive Director of OLT.
"The Santa Rosa Hills project is the culmination of two years of work with the landowner, the incredible staff of WCB and CalTrans’ EEM program. Oswit Land Trust is excited that we were able to acquire a property that otherwise would have been destroyed. Putting this property into conservation will provide a foothold in the region that will eventually be a robust wildlife corridor,"
“This region in Western Riverside County has incredible natural resources that are being bifurcated and fragmented by vast development and warehouse plans. Connectivity to existing conserved properties is essential for providing long-term nature based solutions to climate change and dwindling wildlife resources.”
Oswit Land Trust has been diligently expanding its work in the four years since operations including working with farm owners to protect arable land in the region and looking toward other regions in Southern California for land preservation opportunities. “In four short years, Oswit Land Trust has preserved over 10,000 acres of land through acquisition and conservation easements. We have several more projects under way and will continue this trajectory toward accessing every grant opportunity that we can in order to preserve land for wildlife.” said Bettina Rosmarino.
