Stewards of the Land
A Conversation with Heather Brownlee
Landowner: Heather Brownlee
Easement Location: Magalia, California
Conservation Easement Completed: 1998
Land Trust Staff: Please introduce us to your property, and share what makes it unique.
Heather: It is wild land. You have a gorgeous view of the valley, springs, Hamlin Creek, forest, and scrubland. There is a lot of beauty packed into this 18 acres!
Land Trust Staff: Please tell us about your land ethic. Who, if anyone, has influenced how you think about land stewardship?
Heather: I knew when I was young that I enjoyed being outdoors, with nature and plants. I distinctly remember that in the 8th grade, we went on a field trip to a chaparral ecosystem, and I fell in love. I also loved the Laguna Beach area, and our family went to National Parks like Zion, Yosemite, and the Redwoods. I sensed the awesomeness of nature. I was about 19 when I felt the desire to get out of the overcrowded Los Angeles area and spread my wings. So who influenced my thoughts on land stewardship? I would say God, end of story!
Land Trust Staff: Why did you want to protect land? What factors played into your decision to purchase land that was already under a Conservation Easement?
Heather: I had heard coffee shop rumors around town about Conservation Easements, and most people looked at them as a negative thing. But I thought, the way Paradise is growing up, there are too few parcels being saved—I mean big parcels, and canyon parcels. So to me, the fact that this parcel had an Easement was a big plus in terms of the kind of real estate investment I wanted to make. It had already been protected, and now I get to continue to protect it.
Land Trust Staff: What benefits have you seen from the Conservation Easement? Does it play a part in your legacy planning efforts?
Heather: The land itself is part of the legacy I want to leave. Having this beautiful escape has really benefitted my mental health. I am always in awe when I am on the property. This is like my personal church, and it is very important to my well-being. I always find something amazing here, whether it is little orange dragonflies, or a hawk grabbing a finch, or a buzzard warming his body on a tree, or frogs and pollywogs.
A natural spring on the Hamlin Creek Conservation Easement puts on a vibrant display of wildflowers. Photo Credit: Malia Forbert, Stewardship Coordinator
“Land is limited, and we need to maintain a balance. The more populated our region gets, the more valuable protection of land and limited resources is.”
Land Trust Staff: Are there any insights that you would share with another landowner who is trying to decide if a Conservation Easement is right for them?
Heather: I think the pro’s outweigh the con’s if you think about what you are protecting. Land is limited, and we need to maintain a balance. The more populated our region gets, the more valuable protection of land and limited resources is. It seems like it’s getting harder to find truly wild places, not artificial outdoor experiences. Just look at the City of Chico; they’re even building fake lakes!
Land Trust Staff: Do you have any other thoughts about the future of open space protection that you’d like to share?
Heather: I think we need to find the balance between fire safety and preserving wild, natural forest landscapes. I believe there is a way forward for the Paradise Ridge, a way to have all the wonder and beauty while also feeling safe.