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Many conservationists were skeptical when they learned of our plans for the Carrizo Plain more than 20 years ago. Preserving 250,000 acres was unheard of at the time, and the mention of our goal elicited plenty of doubt. But with our ability to think big, really big, we were able to save a quarter of a million acres of some of the last of California’s remaining heartland.
Two hours northeast of Santa Barbara, the Carrizo Plain National Monument has been called “the Serengeti of California,” so abundant is its plant and animal life. Thirteen species of endangered animals can be found at the Carrizo, from the San Joaquin kit fox to the blunt-nosed leopard lizard. Tule elk, pronghorn antelope and Western coyotes roam the great expanses.
Birdlife is plentiful, with hundreds of birds from condors to rough-legged hawks soaring overhead. Up to 10,000 sandhill cranes return to the Carrizo’s magnificent Soda Lake each winter. The massive monument holds vernal pools, blue oak woodlands and thousands of acres of grasslands. California’s infamous San Andreas Fault cuts right through the Plain. In short, it is a vast landscape packed with iconic California wildlife, geology and habitats.
Building a Model for Conservation
The Conservancy had long known the importance of the Carrizo Plain and purchased its first 82,000-acre parcel in 1988. Partnering with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the California Department of Fish and Game, we continued to buy more land, increasing the Carrizo Plain National Monument to our goal of 250,000 acres.
This pioneering partnership has proven to be an innovative model throughout the U.S. for managing enormous landscapes. The three organizations jointly care for the Plain, experimenting with the latest technologies and conservation practices to maintain the vibrancy of the region.
One of our newest projects is using satellite imagery to count and map giant kangaroo rat populations. The kangaroo rats heavily influence the health of the grass on which many species rely. Tracking this endangered species is critical to the land management decisions the partnership makes.
Visit the Carrizo Plain National Monument
While summer days are typically hot, the mornings and evenings can be cool. Winters are a terrific time to visit the Carrizo Plain. As the largest protected habitat under the Pacific Flyway, the Carrizo is a stopover point for thousands of birds throughout the winter. In spring, the Carrizo Plain is one of the wildflower enthusiast’s favorite haunts; the diversity and abundance can be stunning, and the region easily competes with any of California’s other known wildflower areas.
And, any time of year, you can enjoy self-guided tours complete with podcasts. In addition, the Guy L. Goodwin Education Center is open seasonally, from the beginning of December to the end of May. Be sure to come with a full tank of gas and drinking water, as there are no services available beyond the education center.
Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): Photo © Alan Schmierer (grasslands of the Carrizo Plain National Monument); Photo © Alan Schmierer (Soda Lake Road, Carrizo Plain National Monument).
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