Over 1200 Acres Saved in North Sierra Nevadas

-
Environment groups donate more scenic river property

http://www.sacbee.com/378/story/1848802.html?mi_rss=Environment

5/10/2009--Two environmental protection groups have donated more scenic river properties to the Tahoe National Forest.

Along with a 637-acre donation last fall, the latest parcels – all purchased from timber companies – add more than 1,200 acres to the forest."With so much private land within the boundary of the forest, these acquisitions are important to maintaining the health of the watershed and wildlife habitat," Forest Supervisor Tom Quinn said in a news release. The recent donations include a 548-acre parcel, known as "the Macklin property," along the Middle Yuba River about three miles south of Sierra City, and 94 acres on the north fork of the American River, near Green Valley and the forest's western boundary.

The Macklin parcel is in the same vicinity as 637 acres donated last fall along Milton Creek north of Jackson Meadow.

Both of the larger parcels, valued at more than $1 million and $825,000 respectively, were purchased from Sierra Pacific Industries with assistance from the Trust for Public Land.

The 94 acres, valued at $100,000, were purchased from Siller Brothers by the American River Conservancy and donated to the forest as part of a program to acquire private land within the wild-river corridor.– Barbara Barté Osborn