The Ojai Valley Land Conservancy

What it reported doing in 2024

Ovlc's conservation action continues to evolve. Climate change is fueling landscape-scale shifts in our wildlands. Reversing these trends requires proactive work at all scales. While climate change is global, climate resilience requires a local strategy. Restoring native ecosystems enhances nature's ability to rebound from extreme climate events (heat, fire, drought, flood). While ovlc has done extensive work protecting and restoring native oak woodland and riparian habitats, we realize that these efforts need to expand to enhance habitat and build connectivity between protected lands. It is this understanding that has led ovlc to continue to grow the rewild ojai program. Our goal is to empower private landowners across a mosaic of land-use types to restore their land for climate resilience. By taking strategic steps today, ovlc can benefit the ecology of the valley forever. Investments in our natural capital are no-regrets actions that protect the attributes that make the ojai valley such a special place.today, ovlc has protected about one-third of the ventura river and manages over 2,600 acres of open space in the ojai valley. Within this geography, 2,000 acres are open for free public access. On these lands, ovlc maintains 27 miles of trails, guides hundreds of visitors, and hosts tens of thousands of schoolchildren, hikers, equestrians, bikers, and more each year.now, new threats from a changing climate threaten the ecology, livability, and character of the ojai valley. As the leading conservation organization in the valley, ovlc is turning to nature-based solutions to respond to these threats.water: in the ojai valley, water is scarcer than land. The city of ventura's threatened adjudication of water uses and the new focus on groundwater sustainability (two active groundwater sustainability agencies have been formed) are evidence that climate change is altering water regimes and threatening water supplies. The uncertainty around our ongoing drought coupled with the cost of water are causing farmers and large landowners to cease or curtail their orchard operations. Ovlc has grown its ability to intervene in the adjudication with legal representation. Ovlc is actively supporting the mediation process towards a physical solution of the threatened adjudication.ovlc is also expanding its role in support of the removal of the matilija dam. Ovlc acquired a parcel that may be instrumental in mitigating downstream risk to private and public property after dam removal. Ovlc's counsel is playing an increasing role in identifying ways to expedite dam removal by identifying non-structural means to mitigate risk to landowners.in addition to the scarcity of water, the changing climate presents a potential increase in extreme rain events with high potential for flooding. For flood mitigation, we are "planning for flood during the time of drought" with a focus on pursuing solutions to retain water and attenuate flows from heavy climate events. At ovlc's parkway preserve we received grant funds to create a plan that combines flood protection with habitat restoration and public access objectives. Ovlc will seek funds to continue the planning and implementation.for centuries, broad canopies of native oaks slowed and dispersed drenching rains, reducing erosion and runoff, while their deep roots sank water into our aquifers. By restoring oak woodlands in our preserves and working with private landowners to restore land back to native habitat, we hope to shift the ecosystem balance back toward one that is better suited to handle extreme water events. Ovlc has engaged with several private landowners on the restoration of their lands.habitats & biodiversity: ovlc has become the ojai valley's leader in restoring our river and creek habitats. Ovlc has received several million dollars in funding to lead efforts to eradicate non-native giant reed and other invasive plants from the ventura river watershed. As part of this effort, ovlc has received fir

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 43.5%; rating input score 43
• Program expense ratio: 67.8%; rating input score 68
• Fundraising efficiency: $11.92 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 43; 43rd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 43.3%; rating input score 90; 90th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 10.14; rating input score 91; 91st percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.01; rating input score 83; 83rd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 4.1%; rating input score 60; 60th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 8.7% per year; rating input score 100; 59th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 14.2% per year; rating input score 100; 80th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 12.8% per year; rating input score 100; 68th percentile among comparable filings