2023 PROJECTS

A large downed tree at the HQs provided an opportunity for a habitat project.  Some of the logs and brush were cut and used at several troughs on the property. These old cattle troughs are too tall for wildlife to access. Logs piled up next to the trough create “stairs” for animals to climb to get to the water. In addition, tree limbs were used to create a brushpile near the trough so birds and smaller animals have a place to get shade from the heat and escape predators when they come to quench their thirst.

The 2023 record storms downed trees, washed out roads, and caused landslides, blocking access to much of the Chimineas Ranch.  Work shifted to the American Ranch Unit for the first habitat improvement project of the year. Members of CDFW's Natural Resource Volunteer Program, led by CRF Director Terry started removing barbed wire from a newly acquired 640-acre property.  The removal of wire from the one mile east boundary gives wildlife and public land hunters free access across the new property.  

The final project of the year was the replacement of another trough, this time on the American Ranch Unit. This area is heavily used by elk and pigs and the old trough was unserviceable. CRF purchased a large trough to meet the water needs of the many large thirsty animals. Delivery was made with the help of CRF’s heavy duty trailer acquired several years ago. CRF Director Don and CDFW Habitat Assistant Sean worked together to grade the site and install the trough.

The scouts worked hard, learned new  skills, and did a great job!  Retired CDFW Habitat Assistant Joe Lambirth and the Scoutmasters provided the training. CRF Director Terry  Palmisano was on hand to support the project. 

Another fantastic weekend for a junior hunter!  Cole, age 13, had never hunted big game before but calmly filled his cow elk tag in the first hour Saturday morning on the Chimineas Ranch.  Looking on proudly are his father (in the black vest), and two uncles who got him interested  in hunting.  The hunt was sponsored by the San Fernando Valley Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation which provided meals, guides, and  help cleaning the animal.  CRF hosted the group at the ranch headquarters. 

Water  had to be turned off to one of the troughs in September when it was  discovered a pipe between the tank and the trough was broken. CRF  Directors Don and Terry repaired the pipe and got water  flowing back into the trough.  With the temperature hovering around 105  degrees that day, if the trough had been a little bigger the wildlife  might have come for a drink and found both directors cooling their heels  in the water! 

YOUR FUNDRAISING DOLLARS HELPING WILDLIFE!  Funds raised from the Foundation’s February banquet have already proven to be a huge benefit to the wildlife on the Chimineas Ranch. The well pump for one of the troughs on the south end of the property froze up and needed to be replaced. This was especially critical as the south end of the ranch is much drier than the north side, and this trough has been heavily used for years by a wide variety of animals.

Sam Schley, with Santa Barbara Boy Scout Troop 26, completed his Eagle Scout project by designing, constructing, and fund raising for a wildlife guzzler on the Chimineas Ranch.  A guzzler is a water catchment system that collects rainfall, directs it into a storage tank, and then meters the water out into a trough so water is available to wildlife throughout the year.  He requested and received funding from the Chimineas Ranch Foundation, Santa Barbara County Fish and Wildlife Committee, and San Luis Obispo County Fish and Game Fines Committee.  CDFW provided the tank and trough.

The Hwy 166 entrance to the Chimineas Ranch got a new kiosk in September to welcome visitors and provide information about the property.  Two boxes attached to the kiosk hold the access permits visitors need to fill out before they enter the property. There is also a new picnic table so there is a place to sit to fill out those access forms. 

It takes a variety of skills to maintain a large working ranch and March has been busy! Here CRF Director Don Copeland welds a gate to repair it. The locked gate off Hwy 166 provides security for the property.