CONSERVATION

EASEMENTS

HIKING TRAILS | PRESERVES | EASEMENTS | TRAIL UPDATES | TRAIL SAFETY | SPECIAL USE | WILDLIFE

Conservation Easements

The Fallbrook Land Conservancy works to protect land permanently through Conservation Easements and land mitigation projects.

  • Conservation Easements: These are legal agreements that limit development on private land while keeping ownership with the landowner. Easements help preserve wildlife habitat, open space, and scenic landscapes, ensuring these lands remain protected for future generations.

Civil Code Section 815: Legislature finds and declares that the preservation of land in its

natural, scenic, agricultural, historical, forested, or open‐space condition is among the

most important environmental assets of California. The Legislature further finds and

declares it to be the public policy and in the public interest of this state to encourage the

voluntary conveyance of conservation easements to qualified nonprofit organizations.

Land Mitigation

  • Land Mitigation: In some cases, development impacts sensitive habitats. Land mitigation offsets these impacts by restoring or protecting other natural areas, helping to maintain ecosystem balance and biodiversity.

Together, easements and mitigation efforts allow FLC to safeguard critical lands, protect natural resources, and support a resilient and thriving local environment.

Red Mountain

A hillside covered with blooming purple, white, and yellow wildflowers and shrubs, with a partly cloudy sky and a utility pole with power lines.
A mountain landscape with green and purple bushes, clear blue sky, and rolling hills.

  • Date of Acquisition: January 14, 2011

    Watershed: Santa Margarita River Watershed

    Red Mountain Conservation Bank is a 566-acre conservation bank, privately owned by Land to Sea Conservancy. Fallbrook Land Conservancy is grantee to the conservation easement, ensuring its permanent protection. The Preserve consists of coastal sage scrub, chaparral and riparian habitats, and supports a large segment of Rainbow Creek.

    More information on Red Mountain Conservation Bank can be found here.  The Red Mountain Conservation Bank - Mitigation Credit Services

Brook Forest

A hillside with green and brown shrubbery, trees, and a mountain under a clear blue sky.
Dry forest area with trees and shrubs, sandy ground with fallen leaves, some plastic pipes along the ground, sunlight filtering through the branches.

  • Date of Acquisition: March 29, 2016

    Watershed: San Luis Rey Watershed

    Brook Forest Mitigation Bank is 224 acres of conserved land located in Valley Center. Fallbrook Land Conservancy is grantee to the conservation easement, ensuring its permanent protection. The Preserve supports 237 species of plants, including Engelmann oak, and 104 species of animals, including at least 67 species of birds. 

    More information on Brook Forest Mitigation Bank can be found here.

    Brook Forest Conservation, Ecosystem and Mitigation Bank

Willow Road

A dry, shrub-covered hillside with a small valley or ravine in the center, under a blue sky with some clouds.
Hilly landscape with dry grass and sparse bushes, mountains in the background, cloudy sky overhead, and a weathered fence on the left side.

  • Date of Acquisition: February 17, 2016

    Watershed: San Diego River Watershed

    Willow Road Conservation Bank is 71 acres of conservation land in Lakeside. Fallbrook Land Conservancy is grantee to the conservation easement, ensuring its permanent protection. The Preserve supports species like the coastal California gnatcatcher, Palmer’s goldenbush, Lakeside lilac, and San Diego coast horned lizard. 

    More information on Willow Road Conservation Bank can be found here.

    The Willow Road Conservation Bank - Mitigation Credit Services

Creek Side

A wooden fence in front of dense green trees and bushes, with sunlight filtering through the leaves. The timestamp on the photo reads September 10, 2012, 11:04.

  • Date of Acquisition: September 15, 1995

    Watershed: San Luis Rey River

    Creekside Conservation Easement consists of two privately owned parcels in which a portion was set aside for permanent protection. These conservation easements protect riparian habitat along Cienega Creek in Fallbrook, ensuring lasting habitat for migratory and resident songbirds.

Sycamore

Satellite map showing a winding road labeled Sycamore, surrounded by residential homes, trees, and property boundaries.

  • Date of Acquisition: September 11, 1990

    Watershed: San Luis Rey River

    Sycamore Conservation Easement is a privately owned parcel with a portion set aside for permanent protection of riparian and oak woodlands. This conservation easement was set aside to protect oak woodland. 


Pauma Tribal Farms

Sign indicating the start of the Pauma Tribal walking trail, with a large tree, a white truck, and mountains in the background.
A farm field with rows of young trees and a white fence in the foreground, set against mountains under a clear blue sky.

  • Date of Acquisition: December 31, 2004

    Watershed: San Luis Rey River

    The Pauma Tribal Farms Agricultural Conservation Easement (formerly Tierra Miguel Farms) was acquired through a partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service and the California Department of Conservation to protect prime and agricultural farmland in Pauma Valley. Today, the Pauma Band of Luiseño Indians proudly farms and care for this land, while Fallbrook Land Conservancy is grantee to the conservation easement to ensure protection of its rich agricultural heritage and resources. 

    More information on Pauma Tribal Farms can be found here.

    Farms - Pauma Tribe Community

Skyline

Mountain landscape with green hills, rocky peaks, and a partly cloudy sky, with shrubbery and a large rock in the foreground.
A landscape of rolling hills with a mix of green and brown shrubbery, trees, rocks, and an overcast sky.

  • Date of Acquisition: April 11, 2024

    Watershed: Sweetwater River Watershed

    Skyline Conservation Bank is an approximately 200 acre Preserve in Jamul set aside to protect the endangered Hermes copper butterfly and Engelmann oak. Through a partnership with Endangered Habitats Conservancy and Skyline Land Partners, Fallbrook Land Conservancy is grantee to the conservation easement to ensure this Preserve’s permanent protection. 

    More information on Skyline Conservation Bank can be found here.

    Celebrating the Approval of the Skyline Conservation Bank — EnviroMINE, Inc.

What is Land Mitigation?

Land mitigation is a process used to offset environmental impacts caused by development. When construction or other land use activities harm habitats, wetlands, or sensitive ecosystems, mitigation ensures that equivalent natural areas are restored, preserved, or enhanced elsewhere.

It compensates for habitat loss so that overall ecosystem health is maintained.

  • It can include restoring degraded lands, creating new habitats, or protecting existing natural areas.

  • Mitigation projects are often required by law when development affects regulated habitats, wetlands, or endangered species.

  • The goal is to balance development with environmental protection, ensuring that wildlife, plants, and ecosystems continue to thrive.