Conserved for
Acres:
25
The Modoc Preserve along Modoc Road is owned by the La Cumbre Mutual Water Company, which serves Hope Ranch and nearby neighborhoods. After reviewing various options for this land and seeking the approval of its shareholders, the Water Company in 1999 granted a conservation easement to the Land Trust to keep this land open and undeveloped for community benefit. The Water Company retains the right to build facilities like water wells, pipelines and access roads and otherwise the land will remain as open space.
Visiting the Modoc Preserve
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Located in Santa Barbara, the Preserve is accessed from Modoc Road or Vieja Drive, south of Highway 101.
About the County’s Proposed Multi-Use Bike Path Project
The Modoc Preserve is protected open space with native plant and animal habitat and public access trails under a conservation easement held by the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County.
The County of Santa Barbara is considering several proposals for a multi-use bike and pedestrian path in this area. On 11/01/22, the County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to approve the Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) assessment. The Land Trust has not approved any proposal that affects the Modoc Preserve or the conservation easement that protects it. Previously, the Land Trust notified the County that we, along with the landowner, La Cumbre Mutual Water Company, do not have enough information about the proposed project to make a determination about the path and the conservation easement. The Land Trust and the water company are working with Public Works and Supervisor Hart’s office to understand the design options and determine the project’s compatibility with the existing easement.
Find more information about the proposed Modoc Multi-Use Bike Path and sign up for updates here.
