In the spring of 2019, a large, relatively unknown poppy field in Southern California shocked the world with a dramatic “super bloom.” Blanketing the vast hillsides of Walker Canyon in bright orange, the blossoms attracted more than 800,000 nature lovers and photographers for a nearly month-long poppy-field frenzy. Now, The Conservation Fund is helping to permanently protect this land so the poppies can be enjoyed by tourists and wildlife for decades to come.

Owing to a year of abnormally heavy rains, residents and visitors got to experience this natural spectacle in Lake Elsinore, California. But few people who came to experience the poppies realized that they were actually exploring the private grounds of a 95-year-old landowner. When he saw how much the community was enjoying the outdoors and the beautiful poppies, he sought help from The Conservation Fund to ensure his property would remain protected for future generations to appreciate.

Our Role

TCF purchased the 271-acre property from the private landowner and played a major role in ensuring that the long-term conservation outcome for Walker Canyon maintained the environmental value of the poppy fields. By working with the Western Riverside County Conservation Authority and the for-profit natural resource mitigation company Ecosystem Investment Partners, we were able to secure an outcome for the land that ensures future explosions of colorful poppies and protects essential habitat for the federally endangered Stephens’ kangaroo rat and other rare species.

Why This Project Matters

This property encapsulates what makes TCF effective. We were able to move quickly — within 30 days of learning of the site’s importance — and strike a deal with the landowner that fulfilled his financial needs and fit the needs of Riverside County’s Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan and long-range plans for thoughtful development in the area. This project integrated conservation and commerce to everyone’s benefit.