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Winter 2012 Land News Save Land. Build Trails. Encounter Nature. Contents Big Gains in Voluntary Land Conservation Both Nationwide and in Our Own Backyard page 1 & 3 Message from Joe Byrne, VP page 2 Winter Trail News page 3 Public Annual Report page 4 & 5 Treks Update page 6 Members Corner Big Gains in Voluntary page 7 Land Conservation Both Nationwide Upcoming Treks and in Our Own Backyard page 8 Our natural resources in Nevada County timber forests, historic sites, recreational are the source of our wealth. This is as true areas, watersheds, rivers and streams, and today as it was 150 years ago. And natural iconic landscapes. Occupying only a third resources are abundant here: gold and other of California’s landmass, the Sierra Cascade valuable minerals; snowpack, water and the region of the state provides over 65 percent rivers that convey it; trees for a sustainable of the state’s clean drinking water. Half of timber industry or for carbon sequestration California’s plant and animal species are and improved air quality; dedicated found in the Sierra Cascade region, and more open space for a diversity of wildlife and than 50 million visitors come each year to recreational amenities; and agriculture for enjoy the spectacular scenery and abundant local food safety. The well-being of our recreational opportunities found here. community is tightly linked with the health of It’s Official! our natural environment. Over the past year land conservation in our community paralleled this national trend. Hirschman Trail Opening The recent National Land Trust Census Bear Yuba Land Trust has been working with Saturday, March 24 at 9:00am from the Land Trust Alliance shows that the Stewardship Council on the permanent (Rain date March 31) conservation by land trusts in America protection of more than 18,000 acres of increased by 27% from 2005 to 2010. An PG&E-owned land here. This is truly a • Ribbon Cutting Ceremony 9am area over twice the size of all the national windfall for conservation for us. So far, BYLT • Mountain Bike Ride parks in the contiguous United States—47 has been recommended to hold conservation • Guided Hikes for All Levels million acres—are now protected by land easements on 2,029 of high elevation land trusts. In the same time period, the federal around four lakes: Fordyce, Meadow, White • Interpretive Signs conservation program added 500,000 acres Rock and Sterling Lakes. This area provides and a tragic 38% cut in funding. outdoor recreation and important wildlife Join Nevada City and the habitat in the upper elevations of the Sierra Land Trust for a Fun Day Land trusts in California reported an Nevada. Also BYLT will hold conservation of Festivities! increase of 34% in acres conserved over this easements over 60 acres along The Narrows period, representing 2.3 million acres. In of the Yuba River, just below Englebright Park at the Rood Center, walk to the Sierra Nevada and California Cascades, Dam. More PG&E news is forthcoming about the trailhead on Cement Hill Road 13 land trusts have successfully protected lands on both sides of the upper Bear River (follow the signs) wildlife habitat, agricultural lands, working – stretching from Lake Spaulding to Rollins continued on page 3 What does the Future Hold? Bear Yuba Message from the Vice-President, Joe Byrne Land Trust Mission As you read this newsletter, I am sure that you are struck as I am with Bear Yuba Land Trust exists to create a the thought, “You guys really have a lot going on.” That is true. We are balance between nature and the needs certainly at a point where our methods and means have to adjust to of the people who make a life and a accommodate these changes. I want to discuss three examples of how we are viewing our role livelihood here. This is our home. Our somewhat differently. mission is to enrich the deep community Land Conservation. We have a number of transactions where the Land Trust is the primary connection with our land – today, agent in preserving the land but where the ultimate land owner will be a land conservation tomorrow, and forever. partner. In Black Swan, Phases I and II, the ultimate holder will be the Department of Fish and Game. On the Independence Trail, the ultimate holder will be the State Parks. Other opportunities exist to put land in the hands of other governmental organizations such as the Board Staff Bureau of Land Management and the City of Nevada City. We will continue to be involved on of Directors Marty Coleman-Hunt all of these lands with stewardship responsibility, restoration and rehabilitation and public Executive Director Fran Cole recreation. As our organization grows, we have come to realize that every conservation project President Jean Gilbert is unique. Our expertise is in finding the best strategy to move land into protection, working Operations Manager with willing landowners, agencies, conservation groups and other community efforts. Joe Byrne Stacey Konner Vice-President Development Director Trails. The Land Trust is in the planning stage of numerous trails covering significant mileage Jim Ward Erin Tarr throughout our region. To accomplish the planning, design, construction and maintenance of Interim Treasurer Stewardship Program Manager this addition to our system we are cooperating with other trails groups representing the biking Jason Muir and equestrian communities. We are hopeful that this collaboration will result in a greater Secretary Chris Gee Lands Conservation public awareness of the beautiful trails in our community and the role that everyone who uses Jim Bair them can play in their creation and preservation. Coordinator Rebecca Coffman Bill Haire Special Projects. We have opportunities to work on unique projects which will substantially Trails Coordinator Brent Fraser benefit segments of our community. Our “Camp 19” project will be preservation of a Larry Gruver timber camp on property along Grouse Ridge. The land is presently owned by PG & E and is Susan Hoek Trails Coordinator scheduled for donation to the University of California Center of Forestry as part of a larger gift. Dave Palley Melony Vance We hope to develop an educational/training facility on the historic site which would provide Treks Coordinator a location for job training for the industry with an emphasis on conservation and alternative Jack Stillens Allison Dawson forestry methods as well as create a site memorializing the history of the timber industry in the Meredith Struthers Conservation Program Assistant Sierras. Another opportunity is to preserve and restore a large historic dairy farm as a natural Bill Trabucco Alyse Weyman park and equestrian center in South County on publicly-owned land. Outreach Coordinator One common thread running through all of these projects is collaboration. As we expand for Northern Foothills Partnership rapidly it is clear that cooperative ventures with other conservation groups and community organizations is the only way to keep up with the rapid growth while responsibly executing our increased obligations. By collaboration, all organizations can stretch limited financial and personnel resources to the maximum benefit of our community. If you would like to be a part Land News is a publication of of this, if you have any ideas which you would like us to consider or if you are part of a group Bear Yuba Land Trust that we can help or which can help us, let us know. We would love to hear from you. 12183 Auburn Rd. Grass Valley, CA 95949 (530) 272-5994 Welcome New Staff! www.BearYubaLandTrust.org [email protected] The Land Trust is delighted to announce three great additions to our staff: Stacey Konner joins us as our new Development Director Allison Dawson helps with trails and stewardship as Conservation Program Assistant Alyse Weyman liaisons for Northern Foothills Partnership as Outreach Coordinator Left to right: Stacey, Alyse and Allison 2 Winter 2012 Big Gains in Voluntary Trail News Land Conservation Both Nationwide The big news this winter is that the Hirschman and in Our Own Backyard Trail has been completed; all signs installed continued from cover well. Alta Brewer generously donated 40 and crushed rock placed on the muddy beautiful oak-studded acres in Alta Sierra sections near the pond. Construction of the to BYLT as open space for wildlife habitat, Hirschman Trail was a joint effort by the public recreation and permanent protection. Land Trust and the City of Nevada City. The 207 acres of land encompassing the An official opening for the trail is being Independence Trail, plus the trail itself will scheduled for the end of March with the City, be turned over to BYLT for ownership and weather permitting. management by Sequoya Challenge. We Adopt-A-Trail volunteers are needed entered into a sales agreement for a portion to adopt and maintain sections of the of the Black Swan Ranch in Smartsville. Hirschman Trail as well as sections of the And we helped Nevada City save Sugarloaf Deer Creek, Litton, and Narrow Gauge Mountain through a bridge loan. Trails. Adoptees are responsible for light maintenance of the trail, such as trimming Finally, we have entered into an option to back brush, as well as reporting serious purchase 2,700 acres of land at Rice’s Crossing conditions, such as down trees, that need stretching for 7 miles on both sides of the attention. Middle Yuba River between New Bullards Bar and the State Park at Bridgeport. This will This winter we have been working on the Lake, including Bear Valley and the pristine result in the permanent protection and new lay-out of the extension of the Wetherall 1,000-acre alpine meadow. Plus there recreation opportunities on a connected on the Woodpecker Property on Banner are 5,000 acres of land surrounding Lake landscape of more than 12 miles of the Yuba Mountain.