Site Description: The Lincoln Ranch Preserve consists of approximately 190 acres in the City of Murrieta, Riverside County, California.  The preserve is located adjacent to the Vista Murrieta High School, in the historic Los Alamos District.  Half of the preserve is owned by the Murrieta Valley Unified School District and half is owned by Hill Country, LLC.  The Center holds a conservation easement over the preserve and manages the site according to the requirements of the Assessment District 161 Multiple Species Subarea Habitat Conservation Plan.

Conservation Purpose: The Assessment District 161 Multiple Species Subarea Habitat Conservation Plan is the basis for the establishment of this preserve. Under this conservation plan, the school district and a residential developer purchased the preserve lands and established an endowment to fund the Center's management activities. The conservation plan was created to protect the federally threatened California gnatcatcher and endangered Quino checkerspot butterfly, as well as several species of birds, plant, reptiles and amphibians. In total, protection of 16 species is required under the conservation plan.

Habitat Types: The preserve primarily supports coastal sage scrub and chamise chaparral.  A narrow ephemeral creek bed supports some willow scrub, and a larger channel that parallels Interstate 215 supports a nice example of coast live oak woodland.

Management: Most of the species for which the conservation plan was created are found in sage scrub habitats, therefore the primary management objectives are aimed at protecting, enhancing and expanding the sage scrub communities. Several species, such as the rufous-crowned sparrow, covered under the conservation plan are associated more closely with chaparral.  The willow scrub habitat is being enhanced in hopes of supporting nesting least Bell's vireo, while fields formerly cultivated with winter grains are being converted to sage scrub through a combination of weed control techniques and seeding with native plants.

Public Access: Currently there is no public access to the preserve.
Manager: The preserve is managed by Kim Klementowski.

For information and inquiries please contact:

Kim Klementowski
Preserve Manager
Phone: (951) 226-7228
e-mail: kklementowski@cnlm.org