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130 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S U M M E R / F A L L 2 0 1 5 attained through efforts undertaken at the Tom Fazio-designed Preserve Golf Club. The course was shut down for a time last year, in order to replace some grasses with drought tolerant species and to allow others to die off. The driv- ing range in particular was left mostly—but art- fully—bare. "The entire course was designed to include underground drainage," says Arthur, "allowing us to recapture 10 percent of all the irrigation and rain water that it receives." A bank of LCD screens in Water Systems Manager Leif Utegaard's office displays the health of the Preserve's independent water infrastructure. "It's extensive," he says. "We get our water from wells and rainwater. This is a closed system; we don't import or export water." And they seem to be doing a good job: side-by-side moni- tors depict an image of the same holding pond. One is nearly dry, the other brimming with water. One might think the dry picture is of the current year, but surprisingly, the full one is current. "It did rain in December 2014, and we were able to capture a lot of that water," Utegaard says. "The rest is due to our redoubled conser- vation efforts." Living in Paradise What makes the Santa Lucia Preserve unique among luxury residential areas is the sense of true community that has developed there. "My wife Pat and I have never lived further from our neighbors," says resident Ron Eastman, "and we've never been closer to them." The Eastmans are a vital part of that community and they were among the early group of buyers. "We saw exactly what Tom Gray saw," Eastman adds. "And those of us who saw what he saw have formed a community. This is a beau- tiful place, and it offers wonderful recreation and amenities, but the real plus is that we all love this land, this place and each other." That's no accident. Early on, Gray and his partners conducted focus groups to determine who their target market might be. "We identi- fied two types of people," Gray explains. "First, there are those who are outwardly directed, more concerned with showcasing their success. Then there are the inwardly directed who are more comfortable in their own skins. They still like nice things and properly done service, but casualness is important to them and pretension not well-received. That was our buyer." The common denominator, in most cases, is a love of the environment. Perhaps they're not conservationists, but they do appreciate this place for what it is: a rare peek into the California of past centuries. "Where we are today as a community," says Eastman, "is that we have a shared focus on environmental, cultural and financial sustainabili- ty. We are validating this model. It can work. You actually can set aside 20,000 acres and create a legacy for future generations." Mike Kelly adds: "This was the first develop- ment of its kind in the country. It was an exper- iment initially to see if environment and con- servancy can sur vive with community. I think it's succeeded." More information about the Preserve can be found at www.santaluciapreserve.com (Left) Goats help maintain the Preserve's vast grasslands. (Above) The Tricolor Blackbird is one success story. Disappearing quickly elsewhere, the species appears to be making a comeback at the Preserve. (Below) Mountain lion cubs were pho- tographed by a motion-sensor camera. Photo: Christina Fischer Photo: Christina Fischer Photo: Santa Lucia Conservancy