American River park grows...

http://arconservancy.org

1/31/2010--At year's end, ARC closed escrow on the last parcel required to complete the South Fork American River Trail. A bank or bridge loan of $190K was required to purchase this 40 acre parcel. ARC is asking trail users to pledge a donation during 2010 to help ARC pay-off this bank loan and open this trail to the public. ARC also expects to close escrow on another 735 acres of rare plant habitat, stream corridor and oak woodland associated with the Pine Hill Ecological Preserve during early February, 2010. This property will be acquired by ARC with a combination of competitive grants and mitigation funding from Folsom Dam improvement projects. Also, ARC continues to make progress on the acquisition of the 272 acre Gold Hill Ranch, the site of the Wakamatsu Tea and Silk Farm Colony established in 1868. This first Japanese Colony site in North America is also the birthplace of the first Japanese American and the burial site of the first Japanese immigrant to die on American soil. Recently, Senator Barbara Boxer and Congressman Tom McClintock introduced the Gold Hill Wakamatsu Colony Preservation Act into the Senate and House. The ARC has a contractual deadline of June 30, 2010 to raise an additional $1.2 million to complete this purchase. The American River Conservancy is working to advance other acquisitions projects throughout the Cosumnes and American River watersheds designed to protect native fisheries, unique and critical habitats, forest integrity, scenic, cultural and recreational lands. For additional information on any of ARC's conservation projects, please contact Elena DeLacy or Alan Ehrgott at (530) 295-2190