Redwood Coast Land Conservancy

Redwood Coast Land Conservancy Preserving, Restoring, and Sharing Mendonoma’s Coastlands since 1992

Stewardship Saturday: Treading Lightly on TrailsAs we repair and maintain trails Mill Bend Preserve, with the plans to e...
09/06/2026

Stewardship Saturday: Treading Lightly on Trails

As we repair and maintain trails Mill Bend Preserve, with the plans to expand the existing trail system, practicing “Leave No Trace” principles keeps fragile habitats safe! Staying on marked paths prevents soil erosion along sensitive riverbanks and protects native seedling roots. Thank you for doing your part!

See plans for trail expansion and restoration of surrounding land at our upcoming Pathways to Mill Bend Preserve event.

Flora & Fauna Friday: The Grey Fox in FallAs crisp fall weather arrives along the Gualala River, the Gray Fox becomes es...
09/04/2026

Flora & Fauna Friday: The Grey Fox in Fall

As crisp fall weather arrives along the Gualala River, the Gray Fox becomes especially active around Mill Bend Preserve! 🍂
Distinct with their salt-and-pepper coats, rusty orange neck accents, and black-tipped tails, gray foxes are unique among American canines—they can actually climb trees! Their rotating wrists and semi-retractable claws let them scramble up lower branches of redwoods and alders to forage or escape predators.
Fall is a busy season for these adaptable hunters. As seasonal fruits like huckleberries, wild grapes, and rose hips ripen alongside falling leaves, the gray fox shifts its diet to take full advantage of autumn’s harvest, supplementing its usual diet of small rodents and insects.
Protecting contiguous, quiet habitat corridors at Mill Bend gives native wildlife like the gray fox safe passage between coastal scrub, dense forest, and the river’s edge year-round. 🌲🐾

Photo by Craig Tooley

Thankful Thursday: Fueled by Community GenerosityRCLC acquired the 113-acre Mill Bend Preserve thanks to hundreds of loc...
09/04/2026

Thankful Thursday: Fueled by Community Generosity

RCLC acquired the 113-acre Mill Bend Preserve thanks to hundreds of local donors and supporters who stepped up to save this historic property from commercial development! Today, we thank every member whose support fuels our ongoing trail design and habitat restoration.

Photo by Gail Jackson

Trail Tuesday: RCLC’s Pathways to Mill Bend Preserve Trail Photo ContestCalling all local photographers! RCLC is hosting...
09/02/2026

Trail Tuesday: RCLC’s Pathways to Mill Bend Preserve Trail Photo Contest

Calling all local photographers! RCLC is hosting the Mill Bend Preserve Uplands Trail Photo Contest. Show us your best shots of forest paths, wildlife, and scenery along Mill Bend’s upland trails! Enter for a chance to win community prizes. Winning photos will be revealed at our Pathways to Mill Bend event on Oct 10. 📷 Submissions close Sept 25!

Mission Monday: Pathways to Mill Bend PreserveThe Redwood Coast Land Conservancy works to protect the natural communitie...
09/01/2026

Mission Monday: Pathways to Mill Bend Preserve

The Redwood Coast Land Conservancy works to protect the natural communities and scenic headlands of the Mendonoma coast—and connect people safely to them. Save the date! On Saturday, October 10, join us at the Gualala Arts Center for Pathways to Mill Bend Preserve, a celebration of our multiyear project to create walkable, accessible public trails linking downtown Gualala to Mill Bend Preserve.

Sunset Sunday: Vibrant Pink Skies Over Mill Bend PreserveThere is a rare moment right after the sun drops below the hori...
08/31/2026

Sunset Sunday: Vibrant Pink Skies Over Mill Bend Preserve
There is a rare moment right after the sun drops below the horizon when the sky above the Gualala River estuary turns a radiant pink. 🌸✨
Reflecting off the calm, mirror-like waters where the river meets the sea, these glowing hues light up the entire Mill Bend Preserve. Standing along the riverbank as the evening breeze cools down, you can watch the twilight sky shift from warm rose to deep violet while coastal birds settle in for the night.
It’s moments like this that remind us why protecting open space for our community—and for future generations to pause and take in—is so vital.
Where was your favorite spot to catch tonight’s sunset? 🌊🌲

Photo by David Bradbook

Stewardship Saturday: Giving Our Black-Tailed Deer Space to GrazeIf you’ve taken an early morning walk at Mill Bend Pres...
08/30/2026

Stewardship Saturday: Giving Our Black-Tailed Deer Space to Graze

If you’ve taken an early morning walk at Mill Bend Preserve, chances are you’ve spotted a Columbian black-tailed deer grazing peacefully in the coastal scrub.
These native herbivores rely on protected open space to forage on native shrubs, acorns, and coastal grasses. However, when deer feel startled by approaching hikers or off-leash pets, they expend critical energy running for cover—energy they need to survive winter months and raise young fawns.
You can help keep our local deer herds safe by giving them plenty of distance:
Observe from afar: Use binoculars or a zoom lens instead of stepping closer for a photo.
Keep pets tethered: Ensure dogs stay on leash so grazing deer aren't spooked or chased.
Stay on marked paths: Sticking to designated trails leaves brushy corridor habitat quiet and undisturbed.
Thank you for practicing respectful wildlife viewing and keeping our preserves a peaceful sanctuary for all coastal creatures! 🌊🌲

Photo by David Bradbook

Flora & Fauna Friday: Redwoods Beyond Their Majestic Scale Coast Redwoods serve as the structural anchor of our coastal ...
08/28/2026

Flora & Fauna Friday: Redwoods Beyond Their Majestic Scale

Coast Redwoods serve as the structural anchor of our coastal river corridors.
Rather than just standing tall, these ancient conifers create a complex, multi-layered forest canopy that buffers extreme weather, moderates local microclimates, and provides essential vertical habitat—from soil-level floor ecosystems all the way up to high-canopy nesting sites.
At preserves like Mill Bend, protecting secondary-growth redwood stands ensures stream bank stability along the Gualala River and safeguards regional biodiversity for centuries to come. 🦉

Photo by Grace O’Malley

Thankful Thursday: Gratitude for the Coastal Fog On hot inland days, we’re sending a little extra gratitude to our coast...
08/28/2026

Thankful Thursday: Gratitude for the Coastal Fog

On hot inland days, we’re sending a little extra gratitude to our coast’s built-in air conditioner: the seasonal fog! 🌫️
Far more than just scenic coastal atmosphere, fog is a critical lifeline for our local land preserves. Needles on our Coast Redwoods harvest this airborne moisture directly, drinking up to 40% of their annual water needs straight from the air during dry summer months. It cools microclimates, keeps understory ferns lush, and reduces evaporation across delicate river corridors like Mill Bend.
We’re so thankful for this natural cooling system that keeps our ecosystems resilient, our trails comfortable, and our forests thriving.

Photo by Gary Beall

Wildlife Wednesday: National Dog Day ReminderYou may want to celebrate National Dog Day by taking a walk at Mill Bend Pr...
08/26/2026

Wildlife Wednesday: National Dog Day Reminder

You may want to celebrate National Dog Day by taking a walk at Mill Bend Preserve. We welcome dogs on our properties, but require that you have your dog leashed.
Did you know that even the friendliest off-leash dogs can unintentionally stress coastal wildlife? Our properties are essential feeding and resting grounds for native animals. When a dog runs free, native animals perceive them as natural predators. This causes wildlife to waste vital energy fleeing, abandon their nests, or avoid key feeding spots altogether.
By keeping your dog on a leash while exploring Redwood Coast Land Conservancy properties, you allow our local wildlife to forage and rest safely while still enjoying a beautiful coastal walk together. Thank you for helping us keep our preserves wild and safe for everyone! 🌊

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Gualala, CA
95445

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+17078844426

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