The Tuolumne County Land Trust (TCLT) is one of many land trusts operating in California. It is the mission of the Tuolumne County Land Trust to perpetuate this area's important landscape values, including agricultural, scenic, natural, cultural, and recreational lands.

The main focus of the TCLT is working with the owners of private lands within Tuolumne County, who wish to protect the special features of their lands through voluntary private actions.

Since 1985, residents of Tuolumne County dedicated to the preservation of Tuolumne County's special private lands have volunteered their time and donated funds to assist the TCLT in its efforts. Members are affiliated with and generally care about conservation of: agricultural lands; natural landscapes; watersheds, rivers, streams, lakes, ponds and vernal pools; scenery and scenic vistas; recreational land, including trails; endangered species habitats; timber preserves; Native American sites; and historic sites. The TCLT is affiliated with the nationwide Land Trust Alliance; the statewide California Council of Land Trusts; and the local Sierra Cascade Land Trust Council.

"I just want my family land to stay the way it is for generations to come," was a quote from a rancher.   The TCLT is dedicated to perpetuating this area's agricultural, scenic, natural, and historical values as a private, non-profit, tax exempt 501(c)(3) land trust. The TCLT offers the community and future generations a way to preserve unique areas. Dry land grazing is an important part of our foothill landscapes. The community and land owners sometimes wish to protect lands with other special values. The TCLT serves landowners who wish to protect the special features of their lands through voluntary private actions, such as a technique called a conservation easement (described below). A goal of the TCLT is also to provide field trips to special lands for public education.

How is land protected?

Special features of properties are protected in perpetuity. A conservation easement is used as a voluntary long-term written agreement between the landowners who wish to protect their lands, and a land trust. A conservation easement document is tailored to satisfy the desires of the landowner and to meet the needs of the land and the community. Conservation easements are designed to guarantee that the conservation desired continues into the future. The restrictions set forth in the easement document run with the title to the property forever. The property remains in private ownership and can be used, subject to the conditions and terms of the easement, sold or bequeathed to heirs. Conservation easements are often combined with adjacent protected lands to protect large areas of agricultural lands, cultural resources and wildlife corridors.



What benefit does a landowner receive for a conservation easement?

In addition to protecting their land, donors generally receive federal income and estate tax reductions and, in some cases, partial property tax relief.

Who are the Tuolumne County Land Trust Board of Directors?

There are up to 15 citizens of Tuolumne County who make up the TCLT Board of Directors, as specified in the TCLT Bylaws. Past Board members have included Tuolumne County agricultural business owners, U.C. Cooperative Agriculture Extension Advisors, County Farm Bureau members, County Resource Conservation District members, Central Sierra Resource Conservation & Development District members, members of the County Board of Supervisors, members of the Sonora City Council and City Mayors, County Planning Commissioners, Forestry and Fire Protection (Calfire) professionals, Registered Professional Foresters, County Real Estate professionals, wildlife biologists, Certified Planners, Landscape Architects, recreational business owners, environmental photographers, historians, historic preservationists, Columbia College instructors, and educators. To become a member of the Board of Directors, residents of Tuolumne County can apply to the TCLT Board of Directors for openings of Board positions.

How does the TCLT operate?

The Tuolumne County Land Trust is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3), public benefit corporation. The TCLT protects land permanently by accepting easements that perpetuate agricultural, scenic, natural, or historical values. Occasionally, the TCLT assists private donors in the transfer of title of land to public agencies for protection of special values. With broad community support, land trusts can access state and federal funds not available in other ways. Our commitment is to reach out to all potential partners with whom we can share a common vision, including public/private partnerships, to benefit the whole community and to maximize the potential for land protection.