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All Land is BeautifulAuthor: Marshall Gorham
A series of conversations around the obvious, and not so obvious, natural beauty of California and beyond. Language: en Genres: Natural Sciences, Nature, Science Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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E26: Small Land Trust, Big Landscape with Ellie Routt of the Mother Lode Land Trust
Episode 32
Thursday, 29 January, 2026
In this episode, I sit down with Ellie Routt, executive director of the Mother Lode Land Trust (MLLT), to explore the unique character and on-the-ground work of a land trust serving some of California’s most rural counties—Tuolumne, Alpine, Calaveras, Amador, and El Dorado. Ellie offers a look into the organization’s distinct, community-driven approach to conservation and how it shapes both the land and the people who depend on it. We talk about their flagship property, the C & C Ranch—more than protected open space, it’s a community hub that hosts programs and partnerships ranging from biking and gardening, to art and outdoor education. Ellie also highlights MLLT’s commitment to preserving the region’s cultural and historical heritage, ensuring these landscapes remain vital to local identity. Unlike many land trusts that transfer conserved properties to public agencies, MLLT retains direct stewardship, allowing them to manage, restore, and protect these lands with long-term continuity. Looking ahead, projects like their planned acquisition near Kirkwood Ski Resort aim to expand public access and educational opportunities while safeguarding important natural areas. This conversation underscores the power of locally led conservation and the outsized impact small land trusts can have in strengthening communities, protecting landscapes, and keeping regional heritage alive.
