TRUCKEE DONNER LAND TRUST Preserving and protecting important historic, recreational and scenic open Fall Newsletter spaces in the greater Truckee region. Volume 30 ❖ Fall 2006 Fall 2006 Newsletter Page 2 WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS Maybe it’s a sign of the times The Truckee Donner Land Trust was or just plain dumb luck, but founded in 1990 in order to preserve whatever the reason, there sure and protect important historic, seems to be a lot of important recreational and scenic open spaces acreage for sale right now. in the greater Truckee region. Properties the Land Trust has eyed for years are now suddenly P.O. Box 8816, Truckee, CA 96162 for sale. So many in fact, we 10069 West River Street, Old Tonini House questioned our capacity to fund I can however, talk in Tel. 530.582.4711 them all. But in the end, Board generalities. The lands we are Fax 530.582.5528 and staff concluded that all pursuing and “have not gone email: [email protected] of these lands are simply too website: www.tdlandtrust.org public with” have a combined important not to protect. We’d be value of over $40,000,000. They remiss of our mission not to try; The Truckee Donner Land Trust is a total over 6,000 acres. 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization. All future generations will not easily donations to the Land Trust are tax- forgive us if these lands are lost Most of these properties are of deductible under the Internal Revenue to development. To paraphrase significant acreage with names Service Code. Will Rodgers about our natural on a USGS map that you’d readily landscape, “land, they’re not recognize. Many have familiar BOARD OF DIRECTORS making it anymore.” landmarks that you’d recall Martin D. Bern, President from your adventures Noelle Allen Hetz, Vice President hiking or biking, some William Thauvette, Secretary/Treasurer of these landmarks David Brown are breathtaking. The William Goerke properties are important Jeff Hamilton for a number of reasons Tamara Lieberman including habitat, Scott Ryan recreation, water quality and connectivity to ADVISORS public lands. All of these Gene Bowles lands are irreplaceable John Cobourn and treasured places. Kathleen Eagan The passage of Greg Faulkner Proposition 84 in Ralph Hunt An inholding the Land Trust is pursuing. November was very Judy Mayorga good news for the William McGlashan As much as I’d like to be more Sierra. It puts $54 million for Stephanie Olivieri specific about these properties, it’s conservation into the newly James L. Porter, Jr. in the seller’s and the Land Trust’s formed Sierra Conservancy. Craig Ritchey interests to keep our discussions But even with continued bond Kathleen Ritchie confidential. More than one land funding, if the Land Trust is trust has lost a deal when another going to seize the incredible STAFF buyer with intentions to develop opportunities available today, Perry Norris, Executive Director learns of the transaction and we’ll need to raise significant Stan Wingate, Associate Director makes a more lucrative offer. And money from donors like you. Kellie Wright, Development Director sellers tend to want to keep their I hope we can count on your Sara Taddo, Land Conservation Director discussions with a conservation generous support and continued Dale Lawrence, Membership Coordinator group confidential, lest their concern for the greater Truckee John Svahn, Donner Lake Rim Trail property suddenly be earmarked region. Coordinator as open space in the minds of the Warm regards, public and elected officials. Most FRONT COVER PHOTO: of the Land Trust’s transactions Truckee River Corridor involve non-disclosure agreements. Perry Norris, Executive Director Fall 2006 Newsletter Page 3 DONNER LAKE RIM TRAIL UPDATE Stunning new section completed on Donner Summit The 2006 Donner Lake Rim Jim Zellers, a Trail building season has been long-time resident a remarkable success. Although of Truckee, and delayed by heavy snows until July, professional Castle Peak beyond the new two-plus mile section south of Castle Peak. 150 volunteers completed a mountain biker, new and stunning section of said of the trail, trail across the southern flank of “it is impressive “This trail is exciting and technical, and Castle Peak on Donner Summit. when a trail a crucial link to the surrounding trails.” The new two-mile section through familiar extends from the Summit Lake/ terrain is made – Jim Zellers Warren Lake intersection north interesting.” of I-80 to Castle Valley Road. The Land Trust hosted Meet our new Rim The trail meanders through a numerous volunteer work weeks mature and majestic Red Fir for American Hiking Society and forest, crosses several small Sierra Club members. Numerous Trail Coordinator creeks flowing from Castle businesses and recreation groups Peak and passes through fields came out and volunteered to “The Donner of bleach-white granite. It is a build the new section, and Lake Rim Trail gorgeous trail. triumphed to completion. The trail also provides an We think you’ll agree that this is becoming a important link to the popular is one of the most spectacular treasured asset to Hole-in-the-Ground trail that trails on Donner Summit. The can now be accessed from Tahoe Land Trust welcomes you to our community. Donner or Negro Canyon via the explore this new trail. Donner Lake Rim Trail. I’m proud to be part of it.” – John Svahn Boys & Girls Club volunteer John Svahn is an active member of the trails and mountain biking community in Truckee and North on the Rim Trail Tahoe. He is an International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) trails advocate and is involved Thanks in part to a generous in local trail planning commissions. John and his grant from the Teichert wife Heather have made Truckee their home for Foundation, members of Boys eight years. and Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe joined the Land Trust on the newly completed section of Adopt a Bridge the Donner Lake Rim Trail for a Your generous donations enable day of trail work, environmental education and a whole lot of fun. the Land Trust to build bridges on We would like to thank Jaime the Donner Lake Rim Trail. Alvarez, Francisco Villalobos, Please call the Land Trust at Jorge Zamora, John Baker, and Volunteers from Boys & Girls Club 530-582-4711 for bridge Lu Lucero for j oining us. of North Lake Tahoe. adoption information. Fall 2006 Newsletter Page 4 L ONG TIME Land Trust inks protection of over 3,200 About the same time SPP contacted the Land Trust, they also called The Nature Conservancy. A conservation partnership was formed. Earlier this month, after four years of hard work, a deal was signed. What took so long? “As acquisitions go, this was a near perfect storm. A number of very complex issues were all transecting,” explained Mike Conner of The Nature Conservancy. “There were a number of issues well beyond price and terms.” The transaction includes acquiring 3,139 acres in fee title and another 93 acres under a conservation and Sierra Pacific Power Co. acquisitions includes over 3,200 acres of wild upland habitat. public access easement. The Land Trust and The Nature Shortly after wrapping-up the SPP has owned the property Conservancy also have an 2,000-acre Schallenberger Ridge since the 1880’s and looks option to purchase additional acquisition in 2002, tripling the favorably on the idea of their lands lands along the Truckee River size of Donner Memorial State being permanently protected by that SPP at this time is not Park, the Truckee Donner Land selling to a conservation buyer. prepared to part with. Trust received a call from Sierra Pacific Power (SPP) inquiring if the Land Trust was interested in purchasing several thousand acres in the Truckee River Canyon. An emergency meeting of the Land Trust Board was called, the vote was unanimous, champagne was poured, and the Land Trust was onto its next big project. “It’s rare to have opportunities for conservation of this size and of such biological significance.” The acquisitions include 93 acres of conservation easement on riparian – Sara Taddo, Land Conservation Director habitat and over seven miles of river frontage. Fall 2006 Newsletter Page 5 COMING ... acres in the Truckee River Corridor The acquisitions include most riparian area provides outstanding of the land between Floriston and habitat for fisheries and birds. The Stateline on the Northwest side of uplands provide critical wintering I-80. “Before crossing the river on habitat for the beleaguered I-80 at Floriston, the acquisitions Loyalton deer herd and other large include everything you see up to mammals. (See biological side bar Boca Ridge,” Norris said. “The page 15.) scale of these acquisitions, the The acquisitions also include lands they encompass, is mind an important section of the Lake boggling.” to Lake Trail, a planned 116-mile “It is rare to find opportunities trail along the Truckee River for conservation and open space between Lake Tahoe, and protection of this size and of Pyramid Lake. such biological importance,” Sara Taddo, the Land Trust’s Land Please see page 15 for more Conservation Director said. on the acquisitions’ biological Lisa Wallace of the Truckee importance. Tributaries to the Truckee River Watershed Council commented host the endangered Lahonton that “The benefits Cutthroat Trout populations. to the Town are Photo by Larry Prosser. numerous. Dramatic sections of the scenic I-80 corridor In most instances, raising the are permanently funds to complete a transaction is protected. For those the heavy lifting of a land trust’s heading west, this is work. “With the Truckee River the gateway to Sierra Canyon Project, the funds were and California.” in place years before we signed a “Public access to contract,” said Perry Norris, the the river for Land Trust’s Executive Director.