Sierra Club San Luis Obispo One Earth, One Chance Morro Rock, Home of the Peregrine Falcon Morros  (Nine Sisters) Preservation Fund

View of Bishop Peak,  Chumash Peak and Cerro Romauldo

Contents

• Morros (Nine Sisters) Introduction
• Sierra Clubs' Involvement with the Preservation of the Morros
• What is the Morros Preservation Fund?
• Current Projects in the Morros Region
• Projects of the Future
• How Can I Donate to the Morro Preservations Fund?
• The Nine Prominent Peaks of the Morros
• More Detailed Information on The Morros

Morros (Nine Sisters) Introduction

With nine major peaks, the Morros provide a unique horizon line to the City of San Luis Obispo. They can be viewed by two scenic drives: one along Highway 1 north through the "Valley of the Morros" to Morro Bay, the other driving northwest on Los Osos Valley Road to Los Osos. The Morros are more than just scenic, they provide recreation, unique habitat for endangered species of wildlife and vegetation, and are a unique geologic feature used by many geologists for teaching. But most of all, the Morros provide a sense of place: a place to call home, something local residents all relate to.

For several decades with the help of landowners, local residents, the Sierra Club, the Land Conservancy, public and private agencies, the Morros have been preserved reasonably well. Now with the Morros Preservation Fund, new steps can be taken to ensure the uniqueness of the Morros are maintained.

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Sierra Clubs' Involvement with the Preservation of the Morros

To take the steps needed to preserve the Morros for our children and children's children, funds must be raised to complete the task. The Sierra Club has recognized this. We contacted The Sierra Club Foundation to create a special "Morros Preservation Fund" within The Sierra Club Foundation. This gives residents, visitors, corporations, and public and private agencies the opportunity to make a tax-deductible donation to an important local cause.

Preserving the Morros is not a small task. It will need cooperation among landowners, government agencies, private agencies and community residents. All of whom need to express their concerns about the Morros and take a much more active stance.

With this combined effort, the Sierra Club believes the character of "Valley of the Morros" (Chorro Valley), along Highway 1 and the Los Osos Valley can be preserved for future generations.

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What is the Morros Preservation Fund?

Examples of of project fund uses are:

• Purchases of land, development rights, conservation easements, or other related agreements resulting in the further preservation of the Morros.
• Projects to improve or preserve habitat, and increase public awareness, along with other projects promoting the desire to preserve the Morros.
• Trail development, if it is in conjunction with habitat restoration, erosion or ecosystem improvement projects.

Current Projects in the Morros Region

These projects are:

• Acquisition of the Bishop Peak. Over the past five years, the Sierra Club has worked with land owners to acquire over 360 acres of Bishop Peak. 110 Acres from the Gnesa Family, 145 acres from the Ferrinni Family. In March of 1998, the Sierra Club donated $45,000 as matching funds for other grants received by the City of San Luis Obispo to purchase of 108 acres of the Bunnell Ranch. Without this donation by the Sierra Club, the Bishop Peak acquisition may not of occurred. The public support brought forth by the Sierra Club and the many many donors who contributed to the Morros Preservation, showed how important Bishop Peak really is to all of us. This is one project where all parties, including the Chamber of Commerce, SLO County, City of San Luis Obispo, The Land Conservancy, the landowner, and State Officials all agreed to work together toward a common goal.
• Morganti Acquisition. The Sierra Club has committed $10,000 towards the purchase of 165 acres of land on the Northwest corner of San Luis Mountain. The acreage will connect to the "Let It Be Nature Preserve." This property extends for 1 mile along Los Osos Valley Road. It includes a wonderful wetland area and is watershed to Laguna Lake.

• Construction of the Bishop Peak Trail. With the acquisition complete the Sierra Club, CCC, and CDF have created a network of trails to explore the Bishop Peak Natural Reserve. These new trails are essential to control the public in order to preserve the valuable habitat and sensitive areas surrounding Bishop Peak..

• Morros Advisory Committee(MAC) - The Sierra Club is working on a county wide committee made up of landowners in the Morros Region, environmental groups, government agencies (i.e. City of San Luis Obispo, Cal Poly), individuals, resource biologists and others to work out what might be the future of the Morros. Working in a cohesive manner to retain the rural character of the Morros, sensitive resources, habitat, wildlife, and provide limited recreation in the Morros.

Projects of the Future

The Sierra Club is interested in any project within the Morros to further preserve local lands, and the character of the Chorro Valley and Los Osos Valley corridors.

We are willing to work with and listen to any landowner, County of San Luis Obispo, City of San Luis Obispo, the Land Conservancy, or anyone else to help preserve the Morros for the future. For more information call Gary Felsman at (805-549-0532)

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How Can I Donate to the Morros Preservation Fund?

As with all negotiations and agreements, it is necessary to continually raise funds to make projects such as Bishop Peak happen. We appreciate all the donations received so far, and those that we will receive in the future. Donations can be of any amount, as every dollar received helps us reach our goal.

Donations to the "Morros Preservation Fund" are tax-deductible and are placed in a special account managed by The Sierra Club Foundation. There are many ways you can donate to this fund as listed below:

• A direct donation can be made to the Morros Fund by writing a check for any amount. The check should be made payable to the "Morros Preservation Fund", then mailed to the Santa Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club, P.O. Box 15755, San Luis Obispo, CA 93406.

To make a Donation please click here and print the donation form.




• Another way to donate is via bequest in your will. Just add a statement, indicating that a certain portion of your estate should go to the "Morros Preservation Fund" created by the Santa Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club. Be sure to get the exact wording from an estate planner, Santa Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club, or The Sierra Club Foundation.

Morro Peak Name	Elevation in Feet
Morro Rock	576'
Black Hill	665'
Cerro Cabrillo	911'
Hollister Peak	1,404'
Cerro Romauldo	1,306'
Chumash Peak	1,257'
Bishop Peak	1,559'
Cerro San Luis	1,292'
Islay Hill	775'

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	Santa Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club P.O. Box 15755 San Luis Obispo, CA 93406. Telephone 1-805-543-8717.
	Sierra Club National Office 85 Second St., Second Floor San Francisco, CA 94105-3441, USA. Telephone 1-415-977-5500 (voice), 1-415-977-5799 (FAX). Last updated 29 July 2001.