A Different (valley) View
A different (valley) view
Ojai local shares some of his favorite shots from the area’s most beloved – and protected – lands
By Misty Hall
When Nathan Wickstrum was a kid, building bike jumps and swimming holes in the riverbottom made for a pretty good Saturday. The ecological ramifications of altering a stream bed, or disturbing plant life, never crossed his mind.
Now, a couple decades later, the Ojai native sees things much differently. As the communications and outreach manager for the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy, he has dedicated his life to protecting and preserving these lands he considered his childhood playground.
Of course, they’re still his playground – just in a much more sustainable way. You’ll still find him roaming all over the OVLC’s 2,300 acres of publicly accessible lands. You might pass him in the Valley View Preserve, on his way to check out a “Pink Moment” sunset, or sitting quietly on a bench in the Ojai Meadows Preserve, watching the ducks on the pond. In the spring, you might discover him laying across the trail in the Ventura River Preserve, striving to get the perfect shot of a wildflower. And with every trip into the OVLC’s many nature preserves, his reverence for the land only grows.
During his five years at the OVLC, Nathan has worked in restoration, stewardship, and now, development. Capturing the incredible biodiversity of the region through his photography, Nathan hopes he’ll inspire others to visit the Ojai Valley’s open spaces – respectfully.
Photo by Nathan Wickstrum
Late afternoon sun filters through the pinks and purples of blue dicks (Dichelostemma capitatum) and Catalina mariposa lilies (Calochortus catalinae) the Ventura River Preserve. Because it is a particularly sensitive spot for both plant and wildlife, this area along the Old Chaparral Crest Trail has been closed to the public. Although the OVLC strives to keep nature open to the public for generations to come, Nathan points out there’s a reason the word “preserve” shows up in each region under the OVLC’s stewardship. “While it’s disappointing to no longer be able to hike to this spot, the area’s closed for good reason. We’re happy to give the wildlife a place to be undisturbed and live in peace.”
Photo by Nathan Wickstrum
Nathan found more lupine a bit further into the Ventura River Preserve, back in Rice Canyon. Of course, you should never pick any wildflowers, but if you happen to pluck a stinging lupine, you’ll get a painful rebuke!
Photo by Nathan Wickstrum
Another showy purple species that pops up near the Ventura River: lupine (lupinus species). According to the OVLC, several species of this lanky lavender native can be found throughout the Ojai area.
Photo by Nathan Wickstrum
Those who hiked the Valley View Preserve prior to 2017’s Thomas Fire will note just how different the landscape is these days. Although fire is part of California’s natural ecology, several factors have made it harder for some areas to bounce back. Along with more frequent fires, fast-growing and highly invasive non-native grasses have crowded out slower-growing native plants. Still, “It’s a great place to hike, and provides some pf the best views of the valley,” Nathan says.
Photo by Nathan Wickstrum
What better represents California than the California poppy? Nathan remembers taking this shot of eschscholzia californica on a beautiful spring day in the Valley View Preserve above downtown Ojai. In a good rain year, bright patches of this iconic bloom can be seen from the valley floor. “When people are hiking by, they might not fully appreciate something so small,” he says. Getting low and shooting up, he says, “really puts into perspective how beautiful wildflowers are.”
Photo by Nathan Wickstrum
Those who hiked the Valley View Preserve prior to 2017’s Thomas Fire will note just how different the landscape is these days. Although fire is part of California’s natural ecology, several factors have made it harder for some areas to bounce back. Along with more frequent fires, fast-growing and highly invasive non-native grasses have crowded out slower-growing native plants. Still, “It’s a great place to hike, and provides some pf the best views of the valley,” Nathan says.
Photo by Nathan Wickstrum
A close-up of Nathan’s beloved valley oak.
Photo by Nathan Wickstrum
“This is my favorite valley oak in the entire valley,” Nathan says, of this beauty in the Ojai Saddle Trails. The Krishnamurti Foundation of America, in cooperation with the OVLC, has generously made the Ojai Saddle Trails available for the public to enjoy. It’s located not too far from the Ojai Meadows Preserve. “This stands as a reminder of what oak savanna is, and why it’s something we should cherish.”
Photo by Tania Parker
While Nathan has lots of photos from the Ojai Meadows Preserve, he especially loves this one, shot by OVLC deputy director Tania Parker. “This was from 2016, when we had planted native seed mix, and it finally decided to bloom,” Nathan recalls. “It was like a superbloom at the Ojai Meadows Preserve!” Invasive wild radish and filigree are crowded out here by California poppies, tidy tips, goldfields and purple owl’s clover. But even in a non superbloom year, Nathan says, “It’s amazing. You go out there and there are trails, and a diverse plant community. And the pond’s there now, which helps relieve flooding on the highway, and provides habitat for waterfowl and migratory birds, coyotes, bobcats, you name it – all sorts of wildlife.”
Love The Land. Be A Good Steward.
The pandemic has brought unprecedented interest in the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy’s open spaces. With little else to do, masses of people descended on trails that were never designed for so much traffic. Suddenly, what had been for years a few handfuls of people on the trails each day became hundreds of cars at the trailheads.
Most people (you’d think) know not to litter when in nature. But even small things can have a big impact, from walking off-trail to making rock stacks. Chaparral is an incredibly diverse ecosystem, but it’s also delicate. Read on for tips on how we can all be good stewards of the land, so that it stays pristine for generations to come.
As OVLC executive director Tom Maloney points out, “We’re here for the people of this place, but it’s going to take the people of this place to help us manage it.”
• Pick. Up. Your. Trash. Add a roll of trash bags to your hiking pack, and don’t plan on there being trash bins available at trailheads. This has been a massive problem during the pandemic. Trust me on this one: you don’t want to hear Tom, Tania, and Nathan’s horror stories about the amount of trash, or what they’ve found. Pack it in, pack it out.
• Stay on the trails, and don’t cut new ones. Remember: Wildflowers won’t grow where your feet go. Between climate change and the Thomas Fire recovery, local plants and wildlife have a hard enough time without people trampling through delicate regrowth. Trails are carefully planned and maintained to balance human enjoyment with ecosystem preservation.
On steep hillsides like Luci’s Trail (Valley View Preserve), the switchbacks are there for a reason. They help reduce the erosion that happens during a rain. Cutting straight up the hill “creates a fall line,” says Nathan Wickstrum, OVLC communications and outreach manager. “Water running off the trail impacts the trail below at a faster rate. As people cut trails further up, that trail (below) starts to disappear.” Which, in turn, creates a lot more maintenance work for OVLC staff and volunteers.
Not sure whether you’re on a sanctioned trail? Check out the OVLC’s handy Trailfinder app: ovlc.org/trailfinder.
• Keep your dog on a leash. Yes, even if he’s friendly, and even if he’s usually well-behaved.
“Your dog being off-leash disturbs wildlife, and lessens the amount of land the native animals have,” Tania says. The native killdeer, a species of plover, nests on the ground, and won’t return to its nest if it’s been trampled.
• Don’t stack rocks. Sure, they look cool. But they also provide habitat and shelter for insects, small animals, and plants. Leave them where they are. Speaking of which …
• Don’t build swimming holes. Altering the course of the river can have many unintended side effects, such as erosion, and preventing the growth and migration of native wildlife. “All those aquatic organisms needs to move up and down the river,” Tom says.
Before you head out, check the OVLC website to see whether swimming is currently permitted in existing natural swimming holes. If all else fails, the beach is less than 30 minutes away!
• Leave the barbecues (and boom boxes) at home. “There’s a difference between a park and a preserve,” Nathan points out. We love grilling – but it should be done at a place set up for it, like one of the many local parks or Lake Casitas. And hey, if you’re going out into nature, why drown out the sounds around you with the sound of music? Respect other preserve users (and the neighbors who live nearby!) by keeping the tunes at home.
• Consider donating. Whether it’s your time or your money, the OVLC needs your help as a community-supported nonprofit. Volunteer opportunities are opening up again soon! Check out ovlc.org/volunteer for dates.