The Estero Bluffs, a nearly 4 mile coastal plain north of Cayucos, is a state park and the centerpiece of the Cayucos Land Conservancy's conservation efforts. Shortly after the Trust for Public Land (TPL) purchased the property in 1998, the citizens of Cayucos held community meetings to distill and articulate the community's vision for the property. The Vision Statement was presented to the TPL in an effort to protect the bluffs and to keep them, as much as possible, the way they have been. TPL recognized the importance of the community's efforts and vision in a unique transfer of ownership. CLC was deeded a conservation easement while California Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) was given fee title. The easement was deeded in March, 2002 and runs in perpetuity. It empowers CLC to participate in the management of the property and requires CLC's concurrence on all management decisions. This is a unique ownership arrangement for State Parks and the ensuing novel relationship between Parks and CLC first focused on developing an Interim Use Plan (IUP) which was signed in March, 2003. The IUP serves as a framework for management decisions and for cooperation between CLC and DPR. In keeping with the community's vision, CLC has dedicated itself to being a steward of the property. CLC has instituted several stewardship projects. The "Third Saturday on the Bluffs" program offers guided hikes on the bluffs once per month. Every guide is an expert on some aspect of the property's resources e.g. birds, geology, whales, native plants, etc. There are periodic volunteer workdays to remove ancient fences or to clean trash out of gullies or parking areas.

CLC has also spearheaded two projects in order to better manage increased usage and to balance resource protection with visitor needs. First, the California Transportation Commission awarded a $1.8 million Scenic Highways grant to CalTrans to be used at Estero Bluffs. This grant began as a CLC idea and CLC in cooperation with CalTrans and State Parks was instrumental in the planning and coordination of the proposal. It will fund the organization of the parking areas, all-weather surfacing, the creation of safer, more accessible parking at the entrance closest to Cayucos and safe access-ways from parking areas to official entrances. Construction will be completed in 2010. Second, CLC is working with State Parks to fast-track the creation of a new entrance and parking area at the north end of the bluffs to replace two historic entrances which are closed seasonally to protect resources. The new access point will provide users a much shorter walk to the Villa Creek beach while avoiding the productive Snowy Plover nesting area between the beach and the highway.

CLC is currently in the process of acquiring a conservation easement on a ranch that is a dominant piece of the Cayucos viewshed and overlooks the Estero Bluffs. CLC's intention is to purchase an easement that will perpetually retire development rights and eliminate the possibility of any buildings on the ranch within sight of the Estero Bluffs and Highway 1. The financial pieces are falling into place for this easement that CLC began working on in 2004. The Conservancy raised $100,000 locally in the fall of 2004. In February 2006, CLC was awarded a $500,000 National Scenic Byways Grant by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Later in the spring of 2006 the Conservancy received another $150,000 in the form of a California Regional Transportation grant. These are three of the four funding pieces needed. CLC continues to work on the fourth.

Two subdivisions where established in the 1920's on the hillsides directly above Cayucos creating 1600 paper lots. Today people continue to buy and sell these lots under current SLO County standards spelling out minimum size, and water and sewer requirements. In addition the County has determined that the lots are geologically unstable and outside the Urban Reserve Line. One of CLC's goals is to purchase enough of these 1600 lots from willing sellers to preserve the hills above Cayucos as part of the greenbelt. CLC is well on its way to making this goal a reality. In 2003, using a $40,000 Coastal Resources Grant, CLC developed a strategic plan to guide future acquisition efforts and to purchase 17 available lots. In 2005, SLO County deeded to CLC fee title for 147 lots which the County had acquired through tax default. Since 2005 CLC has purchased from willing sellers or received as donations several more lots. The Conservancy now owns 160 lots or 10% of the 1600. The next step in the process is to create another strategic plan and to write grants for funds to purchase more lots.