RECENT NEWS

Rivers & Lands Conservancy’s monthly “Connecting with Nature” column runs the first Saturday of the month in all of the SoCal Newsgroup daily papers like The Press Enterprise. Our column covers local landscapes, wildlife, conservation news, and the many reasons to love the our natural, wild, and open spaces!

Catch our column in your local paper, or visit this page to catch up on our recent columns and occasional news releases.

Showy Penstemon flower

3/4/2023 Gardens benefit everyone, from people to wildlife

Gardens that attract wildlife offer physical, mental and community benefits. Gardens are a natural gathering point for families. Children are often fascinated by wildlife they attract and from here discover a grander vision of the world. There is so much to discover, and a little garden is just the start. It isn’t just the children though. Gardens are good for adults.
RLC Staff Maria Lum

2/4/2022 Colton sand dunes are a unique habitat in the Inland Empire

The disappearing Colton dunes, found only in the Inland Empire, get a helping hand from the community. Originally stretching forty square-miles from Ontario to Colton, the rare Colton dunes are rapidly diminishing.  With just over 400 acres under permanent conservation, stewardship of the remaining habitat is critical to the flora and fauna that reside there. 
Hillpointe Conservation Easement

1/6/2022 Rivers and Lands Conservancy Accepts Conservation Property in Chino Hills

Rivers and Lands Conservancy (RLC) is pleased to announce newest conservation property, the Hillpointe Conservation Easement. This now permanently protected property is located in the City of Chino Hills in San Bernardino County. Encompassing roughly 8 acres of open space, the Hillpointe property includes riparian scrub and forest, coastal sage scrub, and grasslands habitats as well as wetlands that provide retention of flood waters, sediment, and nutrients.
Volunteer at Santa Ana River

1/06/2023 Santa Ana River is a natural wonder in our own backyard

The Santa Ana River offers lessons in local ecology, environmental stewardship and connection. Most of us have childhood memories that capture our enthusiasm and appreciation for water in the heat of Southern California’s summers. Perhaps it was the simple joy of playing in the sprinklers of our front yard. Or maybe you had the good fortune of enjoying the wonders and curiosities of the wild Santa Ana River.
Waxwing Bird

12/3/2022 Bird watching can boost happiness, help conservation efforts

If the holidays have you down, grabbing a pair of binoculars, and stepping outside to look for birds might boost your mood. According to a 2020 article titled “The Importance of species diversity for human well-being in Europe,” published in Ecological Economics, happiness can tie directly into how many species of birds can be spotted in an environment. The research suggested that an additional 10% increase in bird species boosts life satisfaction as much as a comparable increase in income.
Mariposa Lily Purple Flower

11/30/2022 Rivers & Lands Conservancy Accepts Riparian Conservation Property in Yorba Linda

Rivers and Lands Conservancy (RLC) is pleased to announce the addition of the Kerrigan Riparian Conservation Project to its conserved lands. This new permanently protected conservation property is located in the City of Yorba Linda within Orange County, California. The 16.8-acre conservation easement consists of high-quality riparian and coastal sage scrub habitat for the coastal California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica) and other native wildlife.
Photo Oak Tree

11/5/2022 Read the New RLC Column in the Press Enterprise and San Bernardino Sun

Connecting with the natural, wild and open spaces in Southern California can improve your well-being. New studies on the advantages of interacting with nature are published every year, increasing the empirical evidence that nature provides measurable benefits to people. Recent scientific studies have focused on the positive effects on mental processes, cognitive ability, physical health and social interaction. There are published papers contending that increased time in green spaces reduce crime rates, violence and increase social cohesion. Recently, much has been written on how direct connections with nature can reduce anxiety and improve our mood.
RLC Staff Group Photo

3/24/2022 Rivers & Lands Conservancy Announces Co-Executive Directors

Rivers & Lands Conservancy's Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Nicole Padron and Rebecca K. O'Connor will lead the organization as Co-Executive Directors. Rebecca and Nicole stepped up to share leadership on an interim basis bringing stability and assisting in moving the organization forward following the unexpected passing of Executive Director, David Brunner. Nonprofit organizations are increasingly turning to the Co-Executive Director Model and Rivers & Lands Conservancy sees numerous benefits to embracing it. As Co-Leaders, Rebecca and Nicole bring the strength of their collective experiences, a passion for the organization, and a shared vision for its growth and success.

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