Central Valley and Sierra Nevadas:

Assorted Lands Saved in 2016

SHASTA COUNTY:

http://www.redding.com/news/local/open-space-plans-for-oregon-gulch-get-a-boost-33d6b24d-6b59-6926-e053-0100007f1dc5-381169071.html
5/27/2016: State parks may fund 165 acre purchase in Redding


GLENN COUNTY:

@Conserve_CA Feb 12, 2016
By matching fed funds with 1800 acres of land, we've helped protect small Hamilton City and river shore from floods http://www.chicoer.com/general-news/20160211/imperilled-j-levee-in-hamilton-city-gets-another-burst-of-funding


CALAVERAS COUNTY:



http://www.calaverasenterprise.com/opinion/article_26ab681a-3f16-11e6-a99f-1ff494a375fb.html
3257 acre agricultural conservation easement at Airola's Oak Canyon Ranch may be bought by Rangeland Trust (located in Copperopolis)


TUOLUMNE COUNTY:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvfsp30UQW0&feature=youtu.be
400 acres added to Yosemite National Park, Ackerson Meadow



NEVADA AND PLACER COUNTIES:

@BearYuba 7 Dec 2015
A new era of land conservation is dawning for Bear Yuba Land Trust http://www.bylt.org/sierra-nevada-protected-forever/
12,000 acres owned by PG&E will have conservation easements owned by BYLT


NEVADA COUNTY:

26 Dec 2015: 35 acre Clover Valley Preserve was given to BYLT, now removing garbage, mattresses & tires. More: http://www.bylt.org/land/clover-valley-preserve

http://www.capradio.org/69828
412 acres bought by Truckee Donner Land Trust and sold to USFS; at Castle Valley trailhead of PCT
http://blogs.usda.gov/2016/04/19/partnership-protects-public-access-in-a-landscape-fit-for-a-king/


PlacerLandTrust ‏@PlacerLandTrust Nov 2
3 yrs ago (2014), 7.5 acres of the Aeolia Preserve was permanently protected. Read more at:
http://www.placerlandtrust.org/project/aeolia-preserve/




TULARE COUNTY:

66 acre Craig ranch in Tulare County @savetheredwoods 4/4/16
Land donation by Save the Redwoods League and Sequoia Riverlands Trustto the federal Bureau of Land Management improves access to giant sequoia grove near Visalia: http://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/article61161792.html
https://www.savetheredwoods.org/league-announcement/save-redwoods-league-sequoia-riverlands-trust-donate-land-tulare-county-blm/
http://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/article61161792.html
MAP: https://www.savetheredwoods.org/protect/you-secured-a-new-gateway-to-giants/
http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/story/sports/outdoors/pathstopeaks/2016/03/04/nonprofits-donate-land-tulare-county/81337038/


KERN COUNTY:

https://kernvalleysun.com/kv_life/for-hot-springs-valley-acquisition#.V5EA0DLpL7E.twitter
CA SNC gives $500k for 189 acres near Lake Isabella

WCB 6/2016: CA Wildlife Conservation board deals

State $$ Will Save 2459 Acres at June Meeting

Notice of Meeting

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION BOARD

June 2, 2016 10:00 a.m. California State Capitol, Room 437 Sacramento, California 95814

http://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=116421

MAPS OF PURCHASES: https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=131696

CENTRAL VALLEY-SIERRA NEVADAS:

Oest Ranch Oak Woodlands Conservation Easement, Expansion 1, Placer County $495,000

grant to the Placer Land Trust to acquire a conservation easement over 77± acres of land for the protection of native oak woodland habitat and for the protection and preservation of sensitive biological resources located near the City of Auburn

Background: https://www.placer.ca.gov/upload/bos/cob/documents/sumarchv/2015/150505A/14g.pdf

Sheep Ranch Conservation Easement, Expansion 4, Calaveras County $270,000

acquisition of a conservation easement over 155± acres of land by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for the protection of habitat, including native oak woodlands, for the benefit of deer and mountain lions located near Arnold]

Bufford Ranch Conservation Easement, Expansion 1, Kern County $214,000

grant to the California Rangeland Trust to acquire a conservation easement over 261± acres of land to preserve, protect and sustain the rangeland, grazing land, grassland, working landscapes, wildlife habitat, and watersheds located approximately 12 miles south of Lake Isabella

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA:

Hanson Hills, Contra Costa County $10,000

acquire 76± acres of land for the protection and preservation of existing regional wildlife linkages, including grassland and oak woodland savannah habitat areas within the East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservation Plan/Natural Community Conservation Plan, located in the Diablo Mountain Range, west of the City of Brentwood

http://www.eastbaytimes.com/2016/09/29/antioch-deer-valley-regional-park-to-add-76-acres/

http://eastcountytoday.net/park-district-purchases-key-property-near-marsh-creek/

Silver Spur Ranch, Lake County $440,000

grant to Tuleyome to acquire in fee 1,280± acres of land for the protection of habitat such as blue oak woodland, riparian areas, and chaparral, and to provide for potential future wildlife oriented public use opportunities located near Clearlake Oaks. Seller: Dharma Realm Buddhist University

Background: https://tuleyome.wordpress.com/landtrust/silverspur/

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/5704049-181/state-funding-approved-to-buy?artslide=0

MAP:

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipMU8Br7ee4606HRy5JLGCYCHLnJmQ5igbjdG_Wa6e-3FKB9s4hG-rCYmWw-tPKK-g/photo/AF1QipNDb186d9Tc3ZtBEoBuvXkNHieBOLvo-uNji48?key=TlNuTFBQNVJfNTR0NVUyRTlrenhoR29kRWxJN1Nn

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA:

Puma Canyon, Expansion 7, San Bernardino County $105,000

grant to the Transition Habitat Conservancy for a cooperative project with National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to acquire 20± acres of land to conserve lower montane chaparral and woodland habitat for the benefit of deer, mountain lion, and other wildlife species located in Puma Canyon, near the community of Phelan

http://www.transitionhabitat.org/

http://www.transitionhabitat.org/Projects.html

Live Oak Canyon and Expansion 1, Riverside County $978,500

To consider the allocation of two grants, one to the Western Riverside County - Regional Conservation Authority and one to the City of Redlands for cooperative projects with Western Riverside County-Regional Conservation Authority, the Riverside Land Conservancy, and the City of Redlands to acquire a total of 162± acres of land from two separate landowners in Riverside and San Bernardino County.

Western Riverside MSHCP (2012) – Riverpark, Riverside County $818,500

acquire in fee 108± acres of land near the City of Lakeview

Canada de San Vicente Ecological Reserve, Expansion 1, San Diego County $370,000

acquisition in fee of 169± acres of land by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for the protection of core wildlife linkages and endangered species habitat located near the community of Lakeside

Hollenbeck Canyon Wildlife Area, Expansion 7 and 8, San Diego County $369,240

acquisition in fee of 141± acres of land from two separate landowners by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for the protection of core wildlife linkages and endangered species habitat, located near the community of Jamul

Sycuan Peak Ecological Reserve, Expansion 7, San Diego County $32,000

acquisition in fee of 10± acres of land by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) for the preservation and protection of habitat to protect rare, threatened, endangered and fully protected species, located near the community of Jamul

WCB 5/2015: State $$ Saves 6718 Acres from Bulldozers

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION BOARD FUNDS LAND PURCHASES

Development Rights purchased (also known as “conservation easements”): 4951 acres

Land purchased in full: 1767 acres

Taken from the May 21, 2015 Meeting Agenda

https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=99693

MAPS and PHOTOS OF ALL PURCHASES: https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=100450

IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY AND SIERRA NEVADAS:

Placer County OEST Ranch Oak Woodlands Conservation Easement, $189,000

grant to the Placer Land Trust to acquire a conservation easement over 36± acres of land located west of Highway 49, north of the City of Auburn in Placer County. WCB 5/21/2015

Allensworth Ecological Reserve, Expansion 58, Tulare County, $0.00

acquisition of three separate parcels of land totaling 4± acres. WCB 5/21/2015

Butte Creek Meadows Working Forest, Siskiyou County, $1,679,500

grant to Pacific Forest Trust to acquire a conservation easement over 3,468± acres of land for the protection of a mixed conifer working forest habitat linkages located near the community of Montague in Siskiyou County. WCB 5/21/2015

Spenceville Wildlife Area, Conservation Easement (Robinson Ranch) Nevada County, $2,135,000

acquisition of a conservation easement over 1,447± acres of land by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for a cooperative project with The Trust for Public Land, for the protection of native oak woodlands habitat near Penn Valley in Nevada County. WCB 5/21/2015

Daugherty Hill Wildlife Area, Expansion 14, Yuba County, $2,630,000

acquisition in fee of 732± acres of land by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. WCB 5/21/2015

Long Gulch Ranch,Tuolumne County, $876,000

grant to the Mother Lode Land Trust to acquire in fee 576± acres. WCB 5/21/2015

IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA:

Western Riverside MSHCP (2013) – Kaelin, Riverside County, $880,675

grant to the Western Riverside County Regional Conservation Authority to acquire 25± acres . WCB 5/21/2015

Western Riverside MSHCP (2014) – Lloyd, $118,750

grant to the Western Riverside County Regional Conservation Authority to acquire 162± acres. WCB 5/21/2015

Metcalf Bay – 2014 RLA Grant, San Bernardino County, $731,200

grant to the San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust (SBMLT)to acquire in fee 17± acres of land to promote recovery of rare and endangered plant and wildlife species, located within the City of Big Bear. WCB 5/21/2015

San Diego County Water Authority (Rancho Cielo) San Diego County, $1,520,000

grant to The Escondido Creek Conservancy (TECC)to assist with the acquisition of 251± acres. WCB 5/21/2015

WCB 11/2014 to 3/2015: More Critter Parks...

CA Wildlife Board Funds Purchase of 18,175 acres of Habitat and Buys 13,333 Acres of Development Rights

Taken from the Agendas for the California Wildlife Conservation Board for November 2014 to March 2015.... http://wcb.ca.gov

MAPS OF PURCHASES:
11/2014: https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=91387

2/2015: https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=98345

ON THE NORTH COAST:

Blue Creek, Humboldt/Del Norte County $5,035,000

--grant to Western Rivers Forestry for a cooperative project with the State Coastal Conservancy, Wyss Foundation, the Yurok Tribe and the New Market Tax Credit Program to acquire 6,479± acres of land near the town of Klamath, and traversing both Humboldt and Del Norte Counties. WCB 11/20/2014 and 3/12/2015

-------------------------------

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA:

East Contra Costa County NCCP/HCP (Viera/Perley) $882,500

--acquire 260± acres located in the Diablo Mountain Range, about 6 miles southeast of the Town of Clayton in Contra Costa County. WCB 2/25/2015

-------------------------------

CENTRAL VALLEY AND SIERRAS:

Granite Chief Wilderness--American River Headwaters, Placer County $3,500,000

--grant to American River Conservancy for a cooperative project with the California Natural Resources Agency and private donations to acquire 9,955± acres of land to help preserve alpine forests on the headwaters of the Middle and North Forks of the American River in Placer County. WCB 2/25/2015

INFO: http://www.arconservancy.org/atf/cf/%7B297DAEBE-1FFA-413C-8866-6AA8965863F7%7D/Granite%20Chief_7_30_Press.pdf

Mt. Shasta Headwaters Forest, Hancock Phase I (Town Block), Siskiyou/Shasta County

$9,090,000

--grant to the Pacific Forest Trust for a cooperative project with the California Department of Transportation to acquire a forest conservation easement over 12,644± acres of land covering a

significant portion of the upper watershed of the McCloud River, located near the town of McCloud and transversing both Siskiyou and Shasta Counties. WCB 11/20/2014

https://www.pacificforest.org/press-release-conservation-partnership-expands-watershed-protection/

MAP: https://www.pacificforest.org/conservation-project/mccloud-dogwood-butte/

Little Shasta Valley Conservation Easement, Fogg Gulch, Siskiyou County, $53,000

--grant to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation to acquire a conservation easement over 645± acres of land. WCB 11/20/2014

Allensworth Ecological Reserve, Expansion 50-56, Tulare County, $0.00

--acquisition of 8 separate parcels of land totaling 12.98+/- acres. The funding source is being

provided by the California Department of Corrections Statewide Electric Fence Project mitigation fund. WCB 11/20/2014

Allensworth Ecological Reserve, Expansion 57, Tulare County $0.00

--acquisition of two separate parcels totaling four± acres of land. WCB 2/25/2015

Barry Point Fire Forest Restoration, Modoc County $2,500,000

--grant to the Pacific Forest Trust for a cooperative project with the landowner to restore forest habitat within the privately-owned Collins Timber Company’s 32,686-acre Lakeview Tract, located just west of Goose Lake, approximately 30 miles north of the city of Alturas in Modoc County. WCB 11/20/2014

San Joaquin Wetlands Associates Settlement (MID Eminent Domain) Stanislaus County $0.00

--accept a perpetual conservation easement over 44± acres of natural and managed wetlands, upland

habitats, and riparian areas on 12 privately-owned parcels in western Stanislaus County as part of a Settlement Agreement related to the Modesto Irrigation District’s Westley to Rosemore Transmission Line Project. WCB 2/25/2015

East Sacramento County Blue Oak Legacy Area, Expansion 3 (Graves) $810,000

--grant to the Sacramento Valley Conservancy to acquire 100± acres approximately six miles south of the city of Folsom and three miles north of the community of Rancho Murrieta. WCB 2/25/2015

San Joaquin River Parkway, Jenco Farms , Fresno County, $911,400

--acquisition of 23± acres, WCB 2/25/2015

-------------------------------

CENTRAL COAST:

Burton Mesa Ecological Reserve, SLC Lease Amendment, Santa Barbara County, $0.00

-- adding 175± acres of land currently under the jurisdiction of the California State Lands Commission. WCB 2/25/2015

-------------------------------

LOS ANGELES COUNTY:

Liberty Canyon Wildlife Crossing, Los Angeles County $650,000

--grant to the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains for a cooperative project with Caltrans, Los Angeles County, a private landowner, and the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority to enhance an existing undercrossing to allow wildlife to cross Highway

101, located approximately nine miles east of Thousand Oaks in Los Angeles County.

WCB 11/20/2014

-------------------------------

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA:

Western Riverside - Monte Cristo, $60,800

--acquire 21± acres of land near the community of Murrieta. WCB 11/20/2014

Western Riverside - Oldar, $95,000

--acquire 157± acres of land near the community of Temecula. WCB 11/20/2014

Western Riverside, Evandel – Wilson, $146,200

--acquire 80± acres of land near the community of Murrieta. WCB 2/25/2015

Western Riverside, Evandel – Bergstein, $218,565

--acquire 108± acres near the community of Murrieta. WCB 2/25/2015

Metcalf Meadow, Recovery Land Acquisition Grant (2013), San Bernardino County $570,000

--grant to the San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust to acquire14± acres located within the city of Big Bear. WCB 11/20/2014

Puma Canyon, Expansion 5 (Saylor) San Bernardino County $44,000

--grant to Transition Habitat Conservancy to acquire six± acres of land, to conserve lower montane chaparral and woodland habitat for the benefit of deer, mountain lion and other wildlife species, located in Puma Canyon on the lower northern slopes of the San Bernardino Mountains, near the community of Pinon Hills in San Bernardino County. WCB 2/25/2015

County of San Diego (PWRG) San Diego County, $227,090

--grant to the Endangered Habitat Conservancy (EHC) to acquire fee title to 79± acres and then transfer the property to the State CDFW, located near El Cajon. WCB 2/25/2015

County of San Diego, $1,625,295

--grant to the Endangered Habitats Conservancy to acquire a total of 634± acres from three separate landowners near the city of El Cajon.WCB 2/25/2015

City of Carlsbad (Cielo del Norte, Phase ll) San Diego County, $10,000

--grant to The Escondido Creek Conservancy to acquire fee title to 242+/- acres of land

for the protection of California gnatcatcher habitat in San Diego County. WCB 2/25/2015

Tax $$ to save 6296 riverfront acres in Calif.

State Hands out $34 million for New 

River Parks and Trails

2012 PROPOSITION 84, ROUND 2, RIVER PARKWAYS GRANT RECIPIENTS

11/26/2012--The California Natural Resources Agency today announced over $34 million in funding for 33 proposed river parkway projects statewide. These projects will create recreation opportunities for families, restore fish and wildlife habitat, provide flood management, and enhance California’s river parkways.

…In total, the grants will fund more than 31 miles of trails and more than 7,500 acres of wildlife habitat restoration and land acquisition.

For full info release:

http://resources.ca.gov/bond/RP_Awards_2012.Final.pdf

-----------------------------------------------------

LIST OF LAND PURCHASES TO BE FUNDED:

Alpine County parks dept.:  6 acres--Markleeville Creek Acquisition - $136,000

El Dorado County:  American River Conservancy –2,566 acres-- Cosumnes River Parkway - $1,800,000

Yuba and Nevada Counties: Bear Yuba Land Trust – Rice’s Crossing: Yuba River Acquisition - $1,900,000

Acquire the 2,706-acre Rice’s Crossing property immediately below New Bullards Bar Dam adjacent to Yuba River State Park to provide trails for public use and improve river health for salmon fisheries.

http://www.appeal-democrat.com/articles/yuba-121413-river-land.html

The Rice's Crossing property spans both sides of the Middle Yuba River and is bounded by Bullards Bar Reservoir to the north and South Yuba River State Park to the south.

… "This property knits together more than 8,500 acres of protected open space and contains six miles of the Yuba River," said Markley Bavinger, project manager for the Trust for Public Land.

(BELOW: RICE'S CROSSING LOCATION)

L.A./San Bernardino County line: The Conservation Fund – Mount Baldy Ranch Land Acquisition - $868,000. Acquire 237 acres along San Antonio Creek in the San Gabriel Mountains

Humboldt County: Redwood Forest Foundation, Inc. – Ryan Creek Community Forest Project - $1,000,000. Acquire approximately 1,200 acres of timberland adjacent to Ryan Creek, establishing a Community Forest for the city of Eureka, which will practice sustainable timber management.

Tulare County: Sequoia Riverlands Trust – Kaweah Oaks Preserve Acquisition $410,181

Acquire approximately 22 acres of riparian habitat adding approximately one-half mile of creek frontage along Deep Creek to the Kaweah Oaks Preserve.

Nevada County:  The Sierra Fund – Deer Creek Tribute Trail & Restoration Project (Acquisition) $739,111. Acquire approximately 32 acres of riparian habitat for the purpose of habitat restoration/enhancement and public access.

Sonoma County parks dept:  Mark West Creek Regional Park and Open Space Preserve - $1,000,000

Acquire 297 acres in the Mark West Creek watershed creating a 1,100-acre regional park and open space preserve providing hikers, cyclists and equestrians access to 20 miles of developed trails crossing grasslands, woodlands and creeks.

Placer County: Trust for Public Land – North Fork American River – Big Bend Acquisition - $1,368,000. Acquire 460 acres known as the Big Bend Property which is bisected by the North Fork American River to protect habitat and wildlife corridors and improve public access to the river.

Mountain North of Tahoe is Saved from condos

Royal Gorge. We're Buying It!
8/6/2012--The Truckee Donner Land Trust and The Trust for Public Land have reached an agreement to purchase the 3,000-acre Royal Gorge property at Donner Summit after a proposed 950-home development at the site went into foreclosure. The Land Trust has been looking forward to this day for the last 20 years. We now have our best shot in a generation to protect all of Royal Gorge’s remarkable meadows, peaks, forests, streams, and lakes. We now face a Dec. 20, 2012 deadline to raise $13.5 million to complete the project. With your help, we can do this! Please donate now and help us protect this remarkable property.

http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/Donner-Summit-deal-by-land-trusts-3764910.php
The land trusts agreed to buy the property for $13.5 million seven years after a developer bought it for $30 million in hopes of building homes, lodges and other resort amenities at the 7,230-foot-elevation property just south of Interstate 80 near Donner Pass Road.

http://www.tdlandtrust.org/

http://www.sierrasun.com/article/20120806/NEWS/120809952/1066&ParentProfile=1051

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48540737/ns/local_news-sacramento_ca/t/donner-summit-land-be-preserved-open-space/
The land has old-growth red fir forests, lakes and the lush Van Norden Meadow, which is home to more than 150 species of butterflies, 16 amphibians, 100 birds, plus several endangered species, according to John Cobourn, a hydrologist at University of Nevada-Reno. It is also has the headwaters for three major rivers.

FOR BIG VERSION OF THIS MAP: http://www.tdlandtrust.org/sites/default/files/Royal%20Gorge%20Acquisition%20Map.pdf

Even More New Parks to Explore....

In the Sierra Nevadas and Central Valley:

IN SHASTA COUNTY:

Hathaway ranch 6630 acre conservation easement
http://www.pclfoundation.org/publications/sierranevada/shasta.html
http://www.shastalandtrust.org/content/view/19/1/

JS ranch 5940 ac conservation easement
http://www.alcnet.org/PR_JS_Ranch

---------------------------------------

IN TEHAMA COUNTY:

(NOT FINALIZED) 5545 ac Pine Creek CE—Rose Ranch, seeking $1 million of total $1.5 mil cost of CE from SNC
http://grants.sierranevada.ca.gov/Easygrants_WS_SNC/applicationpdf.aspx?id=385

80 acres—near Lassen NP—saved 4/2011
http://www.wildernesslandtrust.org/news/eighty-acre-added-to-the-lassen-volcanic-wilderness/

------------------------------------

IN PLUMAS COUNTY:

BY THE FEATHER RIVER LAND TRUST:

Heart-K ranch 884 acres
http://www.frlt.org/docs/hk_directions.pdf
http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Come-Celebrate--Heart-K---Signed--Sealed--Delivered-.html?soid=1102283092745&aid=3XGHZYiLLRU

Maddalena ranch—575 acres
http://frlt.org/oursuccesses.html
http://www.frlt.org/docs/madd-directions.pdf

Leonhardt Learning Landscape—42 acres,
http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs092/1102283092745/archive/1105007767955.html

318 acre conservation easement at Pierce Family ranch, completed 12/2010
http://www.flickr.com/photos/frlt/sets/72157625403168342/

-----------------------------

IN SIERRA COUNTY:

Sierra County Land Trust Protects Volcano and Young America Lakes
5/19/11 from High Sierra Rural Alliance
http://sierracountylandtrust.org/index.shtml
http://www.sierrafund.org/news/495-sclt

Thanks to the herculean efforts of Laurie Oberholtzer of the Sierra County Land Trust and Carl Somers of The Trust for Public Land, three more parcels totaling 835 acres surrounding the Sierra Buttes will be kept in trust for the public. One parcel contains Young America Lake. Another parcel includes Volcano Lake. The acquisition also includes a large portion of the craggy face of the Sierra Buttes.
Previous purchases by the SCLT have included two parcels bordering the eastern edges of Volcano Lake and four parcels on Upper and Lower Sardine Lakes. Their land holdings now total over 1500 acres. The public will now be able to enjoy un-gated access to these jewels in the Lakes Basin area which will be managed by SCLT for hiking and back country camping.
The most recent 835 acre purchase was made possible by a grant funded through Prop 50 in 2007 to the High Sierra Rural Alliance as sponsor for SCLT from the Sierra Nevada-Cascade Grant Program. HSRA is thrilled to have played a part in the acquisition of this unparalleled landscape for public use. We wish to thank everyone who helped make the purchase possible and wish the SCLT much good luck and further successes in protecting the treasures of Sierra County.

MAP OF Young America lake
http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=39.59960,-120.65091&z=15&t=T

map of Volcano lake
http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=39.60668,-120.62521&z=15&t=T

http://sierracountylandtrust.org/whatwedo.shtml
While much of the Lakes Basin is in the Tahoe National Forest, almost 3,000 acres are still privately owned, mostly old mining claims.

-----------------------

IN NEVADA COUNTY:

Sugarloaf Mtn-- 30 acres bought by city of Nevada City, 12/10/10
http://www.nevadacityadvocate.com/nevada-city/3498.html
http://sierrafoothillsreport.com/2011/01/31/nevada-city-gains-title-to-sugarloaf/

-----------------------------

IN PLACER COUNTY:

1800 acre Bruin ranch, (WCB 11/2010 gave half the purchase price)
http://www.tpl.org/what-we-do/where-we-work/california/northern-sierra-nevada/harvego-bear-river.html
http://auburnjournal.com/detail/144340.html

MAP: http://geocommons.com/overlays/68765

----------------------

TDLT buys 122 ac in Martis Valley,

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/12/3623207/preservation-trust-buys-martis.html#ixzz1MoxyPCwl
Approx. location: http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=39.29957,-120.10657&z=14&t=T

52 acre Big Gun preserve
http://www.placerlandtrust.org/news-detail.aspx?title=Big+Gun+Preserve+Protects+Endangered+Species&newsID=49

---------------------------

IN EL DORADO COUNTY:

1/18/2011
http://www.sacbee.com/2011/01/18/3330966/talks-begin-on-public-uses-for.html
The Bureau of Land Management acquired the 695-acre property near Rescue just beyond Folsom Lake in 2010.
http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/folsom/kanaka_valley.html

land ownership map: http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/ca/pdf/folsom/kanaka_valley.Par.75978.File.dat/ownership.pdf

topo map: http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/ca/pdf/folsom/kanaka_valley.Par.29358.File.dat/topo.pdf

---------------------------------

IN THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY

IN ALPINE COUNTY:

20 acres from Wilderness Land Trust to USFS
http://www.wildernesslandtrust.org/news/ilderness_land_trust_acquires_20_acres_to_add_to_the_mokelumne_wilderness/

http://www.wildernesslandtrust.org/news/wilderness-land-trust-permanently-protects-20-acre-private-inholding-as-part-of-the-mokelumne-wilderness/

-----------------------------------

IN MADERA COUNTY:

Topping ranch conservation easement—1362 acres
http://yubanet.com/regional/Sierra-Nevada-Conservancy-Board-Approves-10-Million-in-Bond-Funded-Watershed-Protection-Projects-in-the-Sierra.php

2990 acre conservation easement, by Sierra Foothill Conservancy
http://www.californiaoaks.org/html/current_issues.html

--------------------------------

IN TULARE COUNTY:

152 acre Dry Creek and 1819 acre Homer ranch preserves,
http://www.thesungazette.com/articles/2011/05/18/news/news04.txt
http://www.sequoiariverlands.org/map/nature-preserve-map.html

50 acres added to US BLM's Atwell Island preserve in 2010
http://www.alcnet.org/projects/overview/california/atwell_1
Atwell Island Land Retirement Demonstration Project,

------------------------------------

IN KERN COUNTY:

434 acres donated by National Audubon Society to feds, 3/10/11
http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/info/newsbytes/2011/471xtra_wild_adds.html

WCB 11/2010: Calif. Wildlife board to save 84,000 acres in November...

State Plans Big End of Year Land Purchases—over 84,000 acres of land and development rights

Deals include $15 million paid to the Tejon Ranch Company

NOTICE OF MEETING --WILDLIFE CONSERVATION BOARD
November 18, 2010

http://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=24287

MAPS: https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=25149

HIGHLIGHTS:

Heart K Ranch, 880 acre conservation easement, Plumas County

Lower Yuba River, Excelsior, 527± acres, Nevada and Yuba Counties

Bruin Ranch, 1,773± acres, Placer County

Oak Hills Ranch, conservation easement over 3,316 ± acres, Yolo County

Los Vaqueros Ranch Conservation Easement, 800± acres, Monterey County

Santa Clara River Watershed, 123± acres, Ventura County

Tejon Ranch -- conservation easements over 62,003± acres--$15.8 million Kern/Los Angeles Counties

Bottle Peak 418± acres $3.5 million San Diego County

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SPECIFICS ON AGENDA ITEMS


20. Heart K Ranch $1,090,000 Plumas County
To consider the acquisition of a conservation easement for the Department of Fish and Game over approximately 880± acres for protection of critical habitat for the Sloat Deer herd as well as protection of black oak woodland, montane riparian, and wet meadow habitats, located in the Genesee Valley along Indian Creek in Plumas County.

21. Upper Butte Basin Wildlife Area, Expansion 6 $1,120,000 Butte County
To consider the acquisition of 222± acres of land for the Department of Fish and Game for the protection of wetland habitat, located approximately five miles west of the City of Biggs in Butte County.

22. Lower Yuba River, Excelsior, Phase I, $3,216,440 Nevada and Yuba Counties
To consider the acquisition of 527± acres of land by the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) known as the Yuba Narrows Ranch for protection of deer and mountain lion habitat, located along the Yuba River within the lower Yuba River watershed, situated between the DFG Daugherty Hills and Spenceville Wildlife Areas, in Nevada and Yuba Counties.

23. Bruin Ranch Phase I, $4,515,000 Placer County
To consider the allocation for a grant to Placer Land Trust for a cooperative project with the Department of Fish and Game, Caltrans and Placer County to acquire 1,773± acres of property to protect habitat for threatened and endangered species, including blue oak woodland habitat and approximately three miles of riparian corridor along the Bear River, located in Placer County. Protection of this property will also allow the connection of a regional trail through previously protected land to Placer County's Hidden Falls Regional Park and Coon Creek.

24. Oak Hills Ranch, $2,296,000, Yolo County
To consider the allocation for a grant to the California Rangeland Trust for a conservation easement over 3,316 ± acres of native oak woodlands located south of the community of Dunnigan and north of the town of Esparto in Yolo County.

26. Los Vaqueros Ranch Conservation Easement, $1,210,000.00 Phase II Monterey County
To consider the allocation for a grant to The Nature Conservancy to acquire a conservation easement over 800± acres of property to protect critical steelhead habitat as well as habitat for sensitive wildlife species including the red-legged frog, yellow-legged frog, western pond turtle and intact populations of native fish, oak woodlands, and grasslands on the west side of Salina Valley along the Arroyo Seco River in Monterey County.

27. Santa Clara River Watershed, Totlcom , $2,298,500 Ventura County
To consider the allocation for a grant to The Nature Conservancy, the acceptance of a Recovery Land Acquisition Grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife; and the authorization to enter into an Agreement to Subgrant to The Nature Conservancy for a cooperative project with the State Coastal Conservancy, Santa Clara River Trustee Council and the Department of Fish and Game to acquire 123± acres of land for the protection of threatened and endangered species and habitat corridors, located south of the City of Ventura in Ventura County.

29. Tejon Ranch $15,800,000 Kern/Los Angeles Counties
To consider the allocation for five grants to the Tejon Ranch Conservancy to acquire five conservation easements over 62,003± acres for the protection of significant natural landscapes and wildlife linkages and corridors, located south of the City of Bakersfield and north of the City of Los Angeles, adjacent to Interstate 5 and State Highway 138, in Kern and Los Angeles Counties.

30. Bottle Peak $3,562,900 San Diego County
To consider the allocation for a grant to The Escondido Creek Conservancy to assist with the acquisition of 418± acres of property to anchor regional habitat conservation planning efforts, including a Natural Community Conservation Plan, in central San Diego County and provide a critical ecological link between coastal habitat and the higher elevation Cleveland National Forest.

NOTE: PART 2 OF THE AGENDA IS IN NEXT POST

Bear-Yuba Partneship launched to save land north of Sacto...

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At least 3000 acres saved is their first goal in the north Sierras

http://yubanet.com/regional/Placer-Land-Trust-Joins-Partnership-to-protect-Bear-River.php

By: Placer Land Trust
Date: November 14, 2009

Wilderness trails, water quality and scenic open space are just a few of the reasons that three conservation groups have joined forces with willing landowners to preserve land along the Bear River.

Placer Land Trust (PLT) and the Nevada County Land Trust (NCLT) have joined with the internationally known Trust for Public Land (TPL) to form the Bear-Yuba Partnership, a new initiative designed to encourage public and private investment in protection of the Sierra Nevada foothills in the Bear River and Yuba River watersheds....

Groups Appeal Court Loss over Placer County's Clover Valley

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Clover Valley Decision Appealed, --from California Oak Report

http://clovervalleyfoundation.org

The Clover Valley Foundation and Sierra Club have filed a "Notice of Appeal" to petition the 3rd District Court of Appeals for a rehearing of a February lower court decision. After thorough deliberation and research, both organizations are convinced that the Sacramento Superior Court decision was erroneous and the proposed Placer County project does indeed violate the California Environmental Quality Act.

Conservationists contend that the lower court decision was seriously flawed in the following areas: (1) encroachment into required stream setback buffers; (2) evaluation of significant growth-inducing impacts for the "oversized" sewer line expansion; (3) impact mitigation for removal of over 7,000 oaks at the project site; (4) reliance on unfinished federal review processes with regard to the historic and prehistoric sites; (5) deferred mitigation for a threatened species found on the site.

The ten-year grassroots effort to save the 622-acre Clover Valley is far from over. Background information regarding the Clover Valley conservation campaign can be found at the Clover Valley Foundation website.

Placer County park gift comes with controversial string attached...

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28 acre Placer park gift comes with troubling catch: The name of Shockley

May 18, 2009

http://www.sacbee.com/ourregion/story/1869647.html

AUBURN-- A rare gift of 28 acres of wild forest just north of the city limits has sparked charges of racism and has pitted environmentalists against social activists. The land known as Shockley Woods was bequeathed to the Auburn Recreation District with $50,000 for upkeep and one condition: It must be named for a man who believed African Americans are inferior and should be paid not to reproduce…

2 Land trusts save Bear River parcels in N. Sierras...

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Another 1500 Acres along the Bear River north Of Sacramento are Saved

from the California Oak Report, http://californiaoaks.org, April 2009 issue:

http://www.nevadacountylandtrust.org/gardenbar.html

The Nevada County Land Trust has announced that over 650 acres of rolling oak woodlands fronting the Bear River is in escrow for a sale at $3.1 million. If all pieces fall into place, the acquisition of the southern Nevada County property called Garden Bar Preserve will become a first-of-its kind purchase for the NCLT, more accustomed to dealing with land easements. The trust has 20 parcels in conservation easements, 90 percent of which were donated. “It’s a real change in strategy for the land trust,” said Executive Director Marty Coleman-Hunt.

It means there will be a permanently protected connected landscape of more than 3,000 acres. The goal is to improve wildlife corridors thereby enhancing migration and circulation between the Bear River and Spenceville. This region is under intensive development pressure.


This acquisition compliments 912 acres of land secured just across the river by the Placer County Land Trust and another 1,555 acres of agricultural easements held in the Bear River watershed. NCLT officials are banking on financial support coming largely from the state-run Wildlife Conservation Board, despite the uncertainty of the state’s budget and a hold on Proposition 84 contracts. “It’s something they’ve identified that they want to fund,” said NCLT president Joe Byrne. The Sierra Nevada Conservancy and State Resources Agency have also shown interest in the project. The land trust has set a goal of raising $300,000 from private donations.

http://www.placerlandtrust.org/

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Groups Seek Federal Funds for Sierra Nevada Checkerboard Buyout

http://www.tpl.org/tier3_cd.cfm?content_item_id=22789&folder_id=175

Tahoe National Forest, CA
Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund Project Need: $8 million
Acreage: 7,000

In the 19th century, in order to spur the construction of transcontinental railroads between the Pacific coast and the Mississippi valley, the federal government granted land to the railroads in alternating square miles. This “checkerboard” pattern of land ownership presents numerous challenges to landowners and managers. Fragmented ownership challenges public efforts in the
Sierra checkerboard to fight fires and to protect water quality, wildlife habitat, recreational access, and scenic views. The LWCF, in conjunction with state and philanthropic funds, is the primary federal tool in these efforts.

Acquisitions in the Sierra are focused on lands rich in natural resources: those that include or abut wild and scenic rivers, recreational trails, and wildlife migration corridors. Upcoming projects include parcels located in the watersheds of the North Fork American and the Yuba rivers. These and other Sierra rivers provide Californians with 60% of their water supply and support increasingly threatened fisheries and riparian corridors vital to wildlife. The parcels are also recreational attractions for winter sports enthusiasts, anglers, and hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail and at nearby lakes. Perhaps the greatest value of consolidated ownership lies in the preservation and restoration of intact ecosystems and watersheds, which are more likely to allow varied species to successfully adapt to the expected impacts of climate change. Sensitive species such as the American marten and Sierra Nevada red fox depend on habitat connectivity for their survival. Unfragmented forests recover faster and have significantly reduced damage costs from wildfires.

The Sierra’s natural resources have a profound impact on the entire state of California, and consolidation of the checkerboard is a multiyear effort that will eventually protect over 100,000 acres in partnership with federal, state, local, and private entities...

Alan Front, Senior Vice President of The Trust for Public Land (TPL) emphasized the wide array of public interests and benefits provided by LWCF. The LWCF is the premier program to fund land purchases across our nation's national parks, national wildlife refuges, national forests, Bureau of Land Management lands, national scenic and historic trails and other federal lands. The state grants component of the LWCF provides critical assistance to state and local parks for land protection and infrastructure needs. The Forest Legacy program awards grants to states to assist in the protection of working forest and recreation lands through purchases of land and conservation easements. Mr. Front emphasized the availability of a dedicated funding stream for the LWCF program from revenues the federal government receives from the leasing of oil and gas on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). This funding has been diverted to other uses. Authorized by Congress to receive $900 million annually, the LWCF has reached full funding of $900 million per year only once in its forty-four year history.

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Lawsuit Filed: Prime Agricultural Land Could be Paved by Sierra Foothills County

From 2/2009 Sierra Nevada Alliance Land Use newsletter

The Sierra Club filed a lawsuit challenging Placer County’s approval of the Regional University Specific Plan – part of large development proposal in Placer County. The issues here are numerous: a wealthy well-known developer with a lot of land, a growing county in need of a University, a Blueprint hailed by many as a model for other Blueprint processes, a county with a terrible history of land use planning and a fast growing population. I highly recommend reading these three article below, one by a reporter at the Bee, one by an opponent of the project, and one by a proponent for the project.

More than half of the Regional University project would consist of a 3,232 unit subdivision and 22 acres of shopping centers. The remainder of the project would be reserved as a site for a university, but the latest university to show interest, Drexel, has not yet committed to a campus there.

Placer County university plans are caught in opposing schools of thought, http://www.sacbee.com/740/story/1587610.html

The regional university plan creates a long peninsula of development; guess what will happen around it, http://www.sacbee.com/740/story/1587614.html

“The project's distinctive long and narrow shape is no accident. The 1,157-acre project was pieced together from portions of many parcels that in aggregate total 3,026 acres. The result is to stretch development from east to west away from Roseville, knifing deeply into agricultural land, with a uniquely sprawl-inducing effect. It is not hard to anticipate what's in store for the land adjacent to this urban peninsula.”

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Northern Sierra Partnership Launched

February 2009--5 conservation groups have joined in an effort to protect more than 100,000 acres in California's northern Sierra Nevada. The groups will work to attract $75-$100 million in private conservation funding to leverage $225-$300 million in federal, state and local funds. Other goals are to build regional support for land and water conservation, address the impacts of climate change, encourage sustainable economies in the northern Sierra, and serve as a model for nonprofit collaboration in other regions.

Click on map to enlarge

http://www.northernsierrapartnership.org/

http://www.tpl.org/tier3_cd.cfm?content_item_id=22704&folder_id=1705

Click to enlarge program area map.

Collaborating to Conserve

Northern Sierra's rapid growth threatens open space and drinking water
Nearly half of the land in the northern Sierra is privately owned, and threatened by the rapid pace of change in California. Population growth is driving an influx of new home, golf course, and ski resort development to the region, jeopardizing the source of clean drinking water for much of California and imperiling precious habitat.

Five conservation groups join forces
In October 2008, TPL and four other conservation organizations — Feather River Land Trust, Truckee Donner Land Trust, Sierra Business Council, and The Nature Conservancy — joined forces to create The Northern Sierra Partnership (NSP), a unique alliance whose goal is to protect 100,000 acres of the northern Sierra's highest-priority land and waters over the next five years.

Comprehensive plan secures resources for future generations
By developing a comprehensive plan that integrates land protection, restoration, policy development and community enhancement projects, TPL and its partners are working to ensure that the Sierra's remarkable natural, cultural, and recreational resources-and California's drinking water-will be protected for future generations.

overworked webmaster goes mad...starts posting loose news items...

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CENTRAL VALLEY-SIERRA NEVADA REGION-- ASSORTED WEBSITES:

PLUMAS AND SIERRA COUNTIES:

http://frlt.org/docs/summer07.pdf

map of lands saved in the Sierra Valley; group is based in Quincy in Plumas County;

Story on 160 acre conservation easement in Sierra Valley

--Also see website for 2007-2008 annual report: lands saved in 07-08 include 160-acre Dan Balderston Ranch in Sierra Valley saved with a conservation easement, 725 acre conservation easement at the Turner Creek Ranch, and contracted to buy the 976 acre Mello Ranch near Loyalton in Sierra County. All total in the FRLT’s history, 12 properties totaling nearly 30,000 acres have been saved in Sierra Valley by FRLT and its partner groups.

High Sierra Rural.org

on the Sierra Valley, how Sierra County strongly protects its rural qualities, while Plumas county does not

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PLACER COUNTY:

http://www.placer.ca.gov/Departments/CommunityDevelopment/Planning/PlacerLegacy/PlacerLegacyProperties.aspx

map of land preserved in Placer County

http://www.placer.ca.gov/Departments/CommunityDevelopment/Planning/PlacerLegacy/~/media/cdr/Planning/PlacerLegacy/Acquisitions/2007%2008YearEnd4thQtrReport.ashx

table lists 2687 acres saved since year 2000; around 1500 acres of that total is conservation easements

http://www.placer.ca.gov/Departments/CommunityDevelopment/Planning/PlacerLegacy/Accomplishments.aspx Placer legacy timeline

http://www.placer.ca.gov/Departments/CommunityDevelopment/Planning/PlacerLegacy/~/media/cdr/Planning/PlacerLegacy/PrimaryWatersheds.ashx

map of watersheds in Placer County

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SOLANO COUNTY:

http://www.solanocounty.com/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=4865

1580 acre Rockville Trails Estates project in Solano County—9/25/2008

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MERCED COUNTY:

http://www.ucop.edu/news/archives/2001/march20art1.htm

3/20/2001: With a grant in excess of $11 million from the Packard Foundation, UC will acquire the 7,030-acre Virginia Smith Trust parcel northeast of the city of Merced…After acquisition, the university plans to set aside 5,030 acres as a conservation preserve that would protect vernal pool habitat in perpetuity. The remaining 2,000 acres would be used for the proposed new UC Merced campus on the southwest portion of the Virginia Smith Trust lands; the campus portion would include a 750-acre natural reserve of vernal pool habitat protected from development….Triggering the release of $15 million in state-approved habitat acquisition funds from the Wildlife Conservation Board to ensure the conservation of key wetland and vernal pool resources in the surrounding area.

http://www.ucop.edu/news/archives/2001/march20art1a.htm

The UC Merced campus is planned to have an area of 2,000 acres, consisting of: 1) a developed campus of 910 acres; 2) a 750-acre natural reserve, and 3) a reserve of 340 acres for future potential development. The Campus will ultimately host 25,000 students. The Campus Community will be a planned development of approximately 2,000 acres that will eventually have about 30,000 residents.

…Under the proposal, the new campus would be situated away from the most sensitive vernal pool areas of the VST site. The new proposal also calls for the University to create the first phase of the campus on the Merced Hills Golf Course, which is part of the VST.

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TULARE COUNTY:

http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/article/20081120/NEWS01/811200316/1002

Exeter and Porterville landowners are wary of state park proposals

11-20-2008: The state's proposal would create a 1,000-acre park near Porterville and a 2,300-acre park near Exeter. A third plan would set aside 500 acres of trails along the Kings River near the Tulare County line just below the Pine Flat Dam….Jack Shannon, whose 4,000-acre cattle ranch near Porterville has been in his family for five generations, found out about the proposed Deer Creek park near his property only a few days ago. On Wednesday he made the hour-long drive to Visalia to find out more about the project….Chad Noble's 3,000-acre ranch property would be bisected by the proposed Deer Creek park….

http://www.sequoiariverlands.org/pdf/IRWMP/WaterConflExistPlans_QualQuant_EconSocial_07_22_08.pdf

-- Land use issues in foothills- urbanization and development moving up from the valley, relying heavily on groundwater

--New development drawing water from other people’s wells- example: Shaver Lake

--Tulare County directing all growth to the foothills to protect agriculture

--Diverting runoff from the Kings River into the San Joaquin to avoid local flooding of Homeland Ranch (Boswell) which is prime agricultural land.

--Yokohl Valley- proposing to build on a stream corridor,

--Shaver Lake development- will be looking for surface water

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KERN COUNTY:

http://www.cuddyvalley.org/blogs/nimby/?p=294

According to Tejon’s very own Draft Water Supply Assessment, this is how Centennial will look from the air. It’s beautiful. It’s like the tulip fields. Who needs wildflowers...

http://www.bakersfield.com/hourly_news/story/506919.html

7-26-2008: The PdV Wind Energy Project, proposed by enXco, would use 5,820 acres west of Rosamond to generate electricity for Southern California Edison.

http://www.topix.com/forum/city/pearsonville-ca/TPJ4IOKJ6DGJGT887

web comments on sale of Onyx Ranch

The windmills will be located on the southern-most section of the property, near the intersections of Jawbone Canyon and Kelso Valley Roads. Other areas closer to Lake Isabella will be olive orchards and vineyards. But whether the family gave some land to the BLM for OHV use, whether they held back any for themselves, and whether they kept the mineral rihts remains to be seen. They have always been responsible landowners, and so I can't see too much becoming tract homes.

http://www.kernsmartgrowth.com

http://www.kernsmartgrowth.com/notices.html

Pine Tree Wind Development Project by Wind Turbine Prometheus proposes a zone change from E (20) to A and A WE (Wind Energy) on 8,000 acres, along with CUPs to allow construction of a temporary batch plant, located 15 miles northeast of Tehachapi.

http://www.proland.com/antelope_valley.asp

Antelope Valley development booster website

http://gthompso.blogspot.com/2008/12/tehachapi.html

photos of Tehachapi region

http://www.cityofvernon.org/about_cov/2008NovGazette.pdf

vague city newsletter mentioning city purchase of portion of Onyx Ranch in the lower Sierra Nevadas