Siskiyou Land Trust has always had more inquiries than we could respond to, potential projects from landowners who want to provide permanent protection to the places they own and care about. The recent addition of our newest staff member means that in the next three to five years, we can now respond to interest from landowners not only in the Scott Valley, but also in the Upper Sacramento, Shasta and mid- Klamath river watersheds.
Ed Stanton joined SLT in late summer as Conservation Project Manager, a position made possible by a California Department of Conservation Land Trust Capacity and Project Development Grant. Ed has worked extensively with local, state and national conservation organizations. In his early career he developed conservation properties in southern California, often for endangered species recovery. He moved north to manage conservation real estate transactions in the Central Valley, Sierra Nevada, and Southern Cascades. He’s been involved with projects in Siskiyou County since 2007.
“I’ve worked in the land trust world for over two decades, and in recent years have been talking with Kathleen about mutual goals here in Siskiyou County, particularly around setting up conservation easements with working forest and agricultural easements…. Much of my experience includes working with large, national organizations. But I feel that conservation projects are so much better on a local level. The relationship with landowners is personal, the resources stay local, and local folks are managing them.”
Ed is a real treasure for SLT. His vast experience and his familiarity in the region are an incredible advantage in the work he’ll do. He also has a strong background in funding! “I’ve raised around $38 million in public grants for conservation land acquisitions and restoration projects. Most recently in 2020, a grant proposal I prepared for Shasta Valley RCD was awarded $3.1M by the Wildlife Conservation Board, funding the improvement of waterways and fish passage along the Shasta River.”
Ed Stanton is clearly a highly capable and experienced Conservation Project Manager. He will develop new SLT projects to submit for grant funding. The Board approved five active projects in the Shasta and Scott Valleys at its October 2020 board meeting, putting in motion a two to three year process to conserve nearly 4,000 acres of working ranches. Ed’s work for Siskiyou Land Trust is just one example of this year’s remarkable expansion of our capacity.
