Fall 2014

Contents

It’s Fall! Take a Hike page 1

President’s Message page 2

Meet Your Board Members page 2

Support Local Trails page 3

Autumn on the Land page 4

Wildlife Wonders page 4

Honoring a Friend page 5

Best Trekking Year Ever! page 5

Making a Difference page 6

BYLT Thanks Community page 7

BYLT’s online Trails Portal page 8 The Hirschman Trail, built by BYLT, is a favorite of the season. 5th Annual Turkey Trek page 8 It’s Fall! Take a Hike

With the arrival of fall comes cooler days “There is no membership or entrance and nights meaning local trails are awash fees. Trails are open from dawn to dusk, in gold and crimson, providing a wealth so one can show up at any time and use of opportunities for families to unplug, the trail for their fitness activity, be it get outdoors, take a walk and encounter running, walking or cycling,” added Haire. Upcoming Treks the wonders of nature. BYLT trails are built with volunteer labor for 2014 With community support from and financial contributions. No tax dollars volunteers and donations, Bear Yuba are used. One third of local trails are built Nov 3 Treks for the Mind: Land Trust has built and maintains over on private land, where the landowner has Tree by David Suzuki 35 miles of local trails for hikers, runners, donated a trail easement that BYLT holds mountain bicyclists, equestrian riders, for public access. Nov 6 Armchair Trek: Rock Art of the wheelchair users and families. Trails Sierra Nevada with Bill Drake Trails are an asset to the local economy. Coordinator Bill Haire has built many Studies show that homes located near Nov 15 Spenceville with trails over the years and enjoys seeing public trails command a higher price Friends of Spenceville people use them. than homes located far from public Nov 18 Treks on Tuesday: “Trails provide a link between people trails. Sometimes trails are a determining Rattlesnake Trail and their natural environment. It brings factor when people seek employment Nov 28 Turkey Trek them into close contact with a landscape or relocating to a community. Many that is not so highly modified by human visitors to Nevada County see trails as an Nov 11 Armchair Trek: use and activities. Trails through open important part of their stay in town and Sierra Superlatives space allow people to get away from the reason for return. with Joe Medeiros artificial environment they spend most of By sending your contribution to the Dec 16 Treks on Tuesday: their lives within,” said Trails Coordinator annual Trails Appeal this fall, you can Union Hill Trails Bill Haire. maintain the local recreation trails you To register online, go to www.bylt.org Trails also provide an opportunity to love and help build two new trails with exercise outdoors. continued on page 3 Marty’s Message Bear Yuba Land Trust Just before my junior year in college I to wring-out Mission moved from Detroit to the Monterey the tensions of Peninsula. I took a couple of years off to the work week Bear Yuba Land Trust exists to create a balance between nature and the needs establish my residency, working odd and to recharge of the people who make a life and a jobs making pizza and doing data entry. my batteries… livelihood here. This is our home. I was about in love with a place as one to absorb the Our mission is to enrich the deep could be I guess, especially after coming essence of community connection with our from rust-belt urban landscape. nature and land –today, tomorrow, and forever. I determined I would hike a new trail in a reflect. different location every weekend for an We are very Board Staff entire year. No duplicates. I mean that’s lucky to live in of Directors Marty Coleman-Hunt 52 trails! Tree-line mountain trails, glacial a community with such direct access to Andy Cassano Executive Director lakes, river canyons, woodland foothills, nature. Studies show that people move President Jean Gilbert Operations Manager beach bluff trails, desert, volcanos, urban to Nevada County for the environmental Terry Hundemer Vice President Erin Tarr greenways, historic trails, snowshoe trails. quality. Real estate agents advertise the Jason Muir Stewardship Program Manager My yearlong commitment stretched to proximity of open space or a trail for the Secretary properties they are selling as a feature Rebecca Coffman Cathy Shirley two, then three years. It became harder Stewardship because life gets in the way sometimes. that increases value. Our community Brent Fraser Associate Four decades later I’m still hiking. has always had a deep connection to our Letty Litchfield John Thomson natural resources. Jack Stillens Stewardship The landscape has remained as wondrous Associate Bill Trabucco and humbling to me as my first year Someday I hope to really understand Melony Vance that I am a part of nature. I belong here Fran Cole Community Programs of hiking. Back then I was a wide-eyed Manager and I need to respect my place in this Michael Smiley youth, learning about this incredible Laura Petersen place I was to call home for the remainder web of life. It’s one of the reasons I do Bill Stewart Outreach Coordinator of my life. I marveled at the diversity of what I do for the land trust and for our Bill Haire Trails Coordinator trees, plants, wildlife, geology and terrain. community. Please join me. Larry Gruver I gained a respect for nature’s power Support trails. Support the conservation Trails Coordinator to endure, in spite of all we throw at it. of our most precious landscapes. And Shaun Clarke Today, when I spend time in nature it’s please, get outdoors this fall! Trails Coordinator for a more spiritual purpose. I am there Mariah Simpson By Marty Coleman-Hunt Office Assistant BYLT Executive Director

Land News Editor Laura Petersen Meet Your Board Members Graphic Design Ellen Baxter We are pleased to introduce Bill Stewart knew and appreciated every trail, plant Land News is a publication of and Michael Smiley as our newest and animal. Land trusts with a focus Bear Yuba Land Trust members of the Land on getting outdoors 12183 Auburn Rd Trust board. We also can bring some of Grass Valley, CA 95949 enthusiastically welcome these values to our (530) 272-5994 back a dear friend, Fran communities,” Bill said. www.BYLT.org • [email protected] Cole. Though not a resident of Bill Stewart is a Forestry Nevada County, Stewart Specialist at University of is a frequent visitor from the Land Trust as important work that California, Berkeley. Berkeley. While here, he helps to connect others to the landscape through trails and open space. After graduating from likes to hike local trails college, Bill Stewart lived and looks forward to Michael Smiley is a land planner, urban for five years in small exploring new ones. designer and landscape architect. villages in rural Sri Lanka. “My favorite trails are the Joining the land trust board is a natural He worked, talked and scenic ones along the fit for him. walked with villagers. steep canyons of the Yuba Michael grew up in Bend, Oregon when “I benefited from being River,” he said. it was a small town of 15,000 people immersed in a culture where everyone Stewart sees working more actively with continued on page 6 2 Fall 2014 It’s Fall! Take a Hike Support Local continued from cover Trails breathtaking views of the Yuba River - Deer Creek Environs Trail Love local trails? Now is your chance Yuba Narrows and Rice’s Crossing. This forested 1.5 mile loop located to contribute to the construction and Here is a handful of Land Trust favorite just a few minutes from downtown maintenance of family friendly trails trails for the season. Enjoy. Nevada City on the south side of Deer in the Bear and Yuba watersheds. Creek follows the old Rough and Ready Together we can reach this year’s Orene Wetherall ditch and remnants of the Providence goal to raise $60,000 and build new When the dogwood and big leaf maple Mine. With the completion of the new community trails. turn color in fall, the Orene Wetherall trail “Nisenan Tribute Bridge” spanning Deer To date, the Land Trust has built is striking in reds, bronze, and yellows. A Creek, the Environs Trail now connects and maintains over 35 miles of forested, easy side trail with some great with the Tribute Trail network on the trails used by all ages and abilities - views, the Orene Wetherall branches off north side of the creek. Interpretive hikers, runners, mountain bicyclists, the popular Cascade Canal trail on Banner signs along the trail tell the story of the equestrian riders, families and folks Mountain east of Nevada City. native Nisenan. with all levels of mobility. Hirschman Trail Some of your newest trails built with Only a mile from the heart of downtown community donations include: Black Nevada City, the first 0.4 miles of the Swan, Environ’s Trail, Hirschman’s Trail trail is wheelchair accessible and perfect and Orene Wetherall Trail. Upcoming for younger children. Named after the trails include the Bear Yuba Trail - an Hirschman brothers who were pioneer eight mile trail on PG&E lands around miners and merchants of the area, Bear Valley and westward along the the pond is now a picturesque picnic Bear River; and Rice’s Crossing – a destination for families. multi-use trail project commencing this year overlooking the Middle and “The Hirschman trail is a delight to hike North Yuba River. any time of the year, but in the fall, after we have a few light rains and the foliage Dogwood and Big Leaf maple trees show off begins to turn, is a great time to hike the their color on the Orene Wetherall Trail. trail. A stop at Hirschman Pond provides Black Swan Trail an opportunity to see a variety of waterfowl that are migrating from their Your newest community multi-use trail, summer homes to winter habitat,” said funded entirely by community support Trails Coordinator Bill Haire. and the 2013 Trails Appeal, is located in far Western Nevada County near the town of Smartsville. The two-mile Black Swan Trail completed Bill Haire and Orion Kroeger of BONC this summer passes working on the new trail extension in front through the Black of the county jail last spring. Swan Ranch, loops above a pond and A very generous local donor has come climbs onto a hydraulic forward with a challenge – to double mine escarpment for every dollar you give to build local spectacular views. trails, up to $30,000. At the pond, visitors A gift of $50 will become $100. A gift will be greeted by an of $1,000 will become $2,000. abundance of water Every gift will be matched – let’s work fowl, otters and pond together to surpass our goal! turtles. Eventually the trail will open up To contribute to local trails, go online: public access to the www.bylt.org, contact Jean at jean@ Yuba River through the bylt.org, 272-5994 x 205 or send a Yuba Narrows Fish and check to Bear Yuba Land Trust, 12183 Wildlife Area. Auburn Road, Grass Valley, CA 95949. For more information, visit us online at www.BYLT.org or call us at 530-272-5994 3 many of the Preserves that BYLT owns. John Thomson, the newest addition to the team, is hard at work at Rice’s Crossing. Cathy Shirley and I have been busy in the high country finishing up Baseline Reports on the upcoming PG&E donated Conservation Easements before the snow begins to fall. Our Adam Ryan Preserve in Alta Sierra is also in the midst of a major restoration project. Preliminary removal of 15 acres of Himalayan blackberry was a success, but as we all know, this plant does not stay gone without a lot of follow up work. Weekly morning visits with volunteers to apply herbicide has been hugely successful. This landscape is an example Stewardship Program Manager Erin Tarr and of where disturbance of the land was Stewardship Associate Cathy Shirley surveying the high country necessary in order for proper restoration to be successful. Long term vision is Autumn on the Land necessary here at Adam Ryan Preserve and we are positive the final outcome will The cool, brisk mornings of autumn everywhere. We have also seen turkeys be a beautiful, healthy, thriving forest. are my favorite time of year. Initial emerging in large numbers once again. Enjoy autumn on the land and continue much needed rains have assisted the The Lands Team has been out in the field to pray for rain. grasses and forbs with early growth assessing, monitoring and making plans and new green shoots are sprouting up By Erin Tarr for restoration and enhancement on Stewardship Program Manager

Wildlife Wonders A recent report by Sierra Streams Institute The Oak Titmouse experienced a 46 otherwise relatively dense forests. Olive- identified a diverse variety of bird species percent cumulative decline in California sided flycatchers have declined seriously at BYLT’s Woodpecker Preserve including foothills from 1966 to 1996. The decline throughout much of its range. Loss of five rare and declining species. Of these, of this species is linked to the increase wintering habitat and removal of snags the Hermit Warbler is the only likely in California’s population during the may be to blame. breeding species and the remainder twentieth century (from 1.5 million to Yellow Warbler – One bird was sited at are either migrants or post-breeding more than 30 million). Woodpecker Preserve in 2014. Yellow dispersers to the Woodpecker Preserve. Olive-Sided Flycatcher – Two birds Warblers prefer moist thickets, especially Hermit Warbler – Considered a were observed on the same day in 2013. along streams and in swampy areas. conservation priority because of their These flycatchers are mostly associated One of the most numerous warblers in habitat specialization in tall coniferous with edges, openings and clearings in North America, populations have slowly forests with a well-established canopy. declined since 1966. Active grazing of Large-scale logging and “mega” wildfires rangelands can promote the presence in the West continue to be a threat. of brown-headed cowbirds which Nuttall’s Woodpecker – A single bird parasitize their nests and have caused was observed in Woodpecker Preserve in the extirpation of yellow warbler in 2013 but not 2014. It is confined primarily lowland areas of the Central Valley and to the oak woodlands of California. Its foothills of the Sierra Nevada. limited range and loss of oak woodland Source: habitat make it vulnerable to encroaching “Woodpecker Preserve Bird Communities - A development. Report of 2013-2014 Bird Monitoring Efforts at Oak Titmouse – A single bird was the Woodpecker Preserve” Yellow Warble, above. observed at Woodpecker Preserve in Oak Titmouse, left. Ted Beedy, Co-Author of “Birds of the Sierra Nevada 2013 but not 2014. The Preserve is on Photos by Ted Beedy the edge of the bird’s elevation range. – Their Natural History, Status, and Distribution” 4 Fall 2014 Honoring a Friend Fourteen friends and colleagues circled around a new bench on the Hirschman Trail where Trails Coordinator Bill Haire worked with a power drill attaching a plaque memorializing Betty Jo “B.J.” Fisher. Last spring, B.J.’s closest associates at Telestream, Bernie Kringel and Sophia Day joined B.J.’s husband, Gordon Sakaue and approached Bear Yuba Land Trust to find the right place for a memorial bench. Bill Haire and Gordon Sakaue install a plaque on a new bench on the Hirschman “She would like it. This is a good spot,” Sophia Day, Bernie Kringel and Gordon Sakaue Trail. The bench is dedicated to Betty Jo said Fisher’s husband, Gordon Sakaue try out the new Hirshman Trail bench dedicated “B.J.” Fisher who died last year. looking around at the surrounding woods. to their friend, Betty Jo “B.J.” Fisher. Betty Jo Fisher loved the outdoors. The couple spent a decade backpacking in Valley Group, Ensemble Designs, TDK and was sick, I would bring her coffee and we’d their earlier years. Drawn by an electronics Telestream. From 1998 to 2012, Fisher just sit,” Kringel said. position at a local tech company, the worked for Telestream (a major Land Trust Betty Jo Fisher’s struggle with blood couple moved to Nevada County in 1985 sponsor). cancer ended last December. and started a family. “It’s perfect,” said Bernie Kringel after B.J.’s friends say they will all return to visit The new bench can be found on nearly she read the inscription on the plaque, a the bench, again and again and Gordon the highest point of the Land Trust trail touching Piglet and Pooh quote from looks forward to bringing his children. located on property owned by the City of A.A. Milne. “We will definitely walk out here when Nevada City. A butterfly flitted through the circle of we are all together for the holidays,” “Coming from either direction you’ve loved ones and down the path. said Gordon. climbed to this point and you’ve earned a Bernie and B.J. were friends for 19 years. To learn more about Bear Yuba Land rest,” Haire said. Over that time they spent many hours on Trust’s memorial bench program contact Most of the friends gathered on that warm local trails, especially their favorite, BYLT’s Community Programs Manager Melony Oct. 7 day knew Fisher as more than just a Litton Trail. Vance at 272-5994 200, [email protected]. co-worker at local tech companies, Grass “It’s kind of what we did. Later, when she

Cards and online “Trails program will focus on the majesty Portal.” In November, we’ll of the Sierra Nevada. Four hundred visit Rattlesnake Trail and miles long and nearly three miles high, in December we’ll walk the the mountain range is a majestic and Union Hill Trail system. spectacular place. Home to the highest Bill Drake, co-founder of peak in the lower forty-eight as well as the Friends of Sierra Rock thousands of species of marvelous plants Art will lead an Armchair and animals, John Muir’s “Range of Treks in November. Bill Light” captures our hearts and dreams. will discuss the Martis Joe’s presentation will summarize Complex (2,000-500AD) the many superlative aspects of the and the ancient petroglyph Sierra Nevada’s physical, biological and makers who are believed ecological character. to be the ancestors of the 2014 turned out to be our best trekking Maidu, Miwok, and Washoe year ever with a greater amount and people. We’ll see slide variety of outings to choose from and images of rock art sites in many new programs that had never As the trekking year winds down, mark Nevada, Placer, Sierra, and El Dorado been offered before! Looking forward your calendar for several opportunities to Counties. Several of the spots are located to 2015 –we will highlight some of our get outdoors, learn and get inspired by near the Yuba, Bear, and American rivers. most popular treks from the past 25 the landscape. Joe Medeiros, a former professor at Sierra years and continue to bring you new and interesting outings highlighting the Join the Land Trust for “Treks on Tuesday” College will lead December’s Armchair special place we call home. – highlighting hikes detailed in our Trail Trek. Joe’s slide-illustrated lecture Visit us online for more information at www.BearYubaLandTrust.org or call our office 530-272-5994 5 Making a Difference The 2014 Great Sierra River Cleanup basalt is now on the surface. Another was a great success and part of the interesting feature found at the site is largest volunteer day in California. BYLT the evidence of pillowing created when Volunteers collected 500 pounds of trash. lava was released into the water and Thanks to all of you who participated in cooled rapidly to form “pillows.” This is a the cleanup. somewhat rare occurrence that we have right here in our region. With the help of a great bunch of volunteers, the Land Trust cleaned up On the same day, Bear Yuba Land a remote location on the Yuba River on Trust volunteers also cleaned up the Saturday, Sept. 20. The channel - Independence Trail. Trails Coordinator a popular fishing access known as Larry Gruver managed the demolition the Yuba Narrows - had collected a of a wooden platform that had become considerable amount of litter due to rotten and unsafe. Six volunteers came human use. There was also evidence out to this location and used hammers that the site was used for camping. and pry bars to remove boards. Material was moved closer to the road for A total of ten people turned out for removal and the safety hazard has the Yuba Narrows cleanup. They hiked been remedied. in, bagged garbage and hauled it out. It was nothing short of extraordinary. The cleanup day is a great event but we Interesting finds included: A toilet seat, a need to have it every year. Think how tire and homemade mining equipment. wonderful it would be if there was no longer a need to expend all this time, The area is home to a unique geologic energy and effort picking up litter. basalt formation. Basalt is very hard BYLT’s tireless volunteers made a and usually found on the ocean floor. Shaun Clarke difference Sept. 20 during the 2014 Trails Coordinator Due to tectonic plate activity the Great Sierra River Cleanup.

Meet Your New Board Members continued from page 2

with one “I think the Land Trust is a really great “That kept me very busy, but I really chair lift way of setting a kind of hierarchy of missed being involved with BYLT, and a rope values. How do we not only protect land my fellow board members and the tow on Mt. but how do we utilize wonderful staff. BYLT is a Bachelor. land? If you listen to the small organization with a “I was land it will tell you what “can do” perspective that out in the to do.” energizes and inspires woods Fran Cole is an attorney me,” she said. and in the who spent a career in Fran grew up in a small mountains financial services. She town in Indiana. Her all the time first joined the Land family loved the land and growing Trust board in 2007. worked to preserve its up,” said She has served as landscapes. Michael. His President and a member “My father used to intimate of the Land Trust’s drive me around on relationship with nature as a boy Finance, Investments, Sundays through the developed into his strong land ethic today. Board Development, rural countryside, visiting “I am as much interested in where we Governance and Salter working farms and don’t build in society, as where we Fund Committees. She neighbors. My efforts on do build,” he said. Through his work, helped start the Land Trust’s popular behalf of BYLT fulfill me and honor the Michael is fascinated by the process of Equitrek program. values of my father and my family. I hope selecting sacred ground and working She returns to the board after a busy year my work inspires my own daughters to landscapes. running for county supervisor. do the same,” Fran said.

6 Fall 2014 Bear Yuba Land Trust Thanks Community

Bear Yuba Land Trust wishes to Mountain Bounty Farm, Sweet thank the community for a fun Roots Farm, Soil Sisters Farm, summer season of jazz music with Nana’s Artisan Bakery, Sierra David Benoit, The Sierra 5 and Nevada Brewery and Coufos Poncho Sanchez, part of Cellars. the 12th Annual Concert Thank you to our wonderful Benefit series. team of volunteers and especially Despite moving the final concert concert organizer Ellen Persa who indoors to accommodate rainy worked long hours in the heat weather, Poncho Sanchez fans of summer and the first chill of turned out in force at the North fall, flexed their muscles and kept Star House Sunday, Sept. 28 everything running smoothly. to hear and dance to some of The Land Trust couldn’t have the hottest Latin Jazz. It was a done it without you. memorable house party with Thanks to our local media: good food, award-winning music The Union, YubaNet, KVMR, KNCO, Sierra Food Wine Art, and friends. GoNevadaCounty.com, Nevada City Advocate, Auburn Journal “It was the most spectacular evening,” said BYLT board and Capital Public Radio. member Rebecca Coffman. Thank you to our generous sponsors: Meyers Investment Group (Robert W. Baird), BriarPatch Co-op, Caseywood, Coldwell Banker, Fine Line Joinery, KNCO, Star 94 FM, KVMR SPD, Telestream, The Union, Wells Fargo Advisers, and Youngs Carpet One. We also want to acknowledge: The Holiday Inn Express; Hansen Brothers, Food Bank, Prime Time Entertainment, and Jerianne Van Dijk. Thank you North Star Historic Conservancy board and docents – especially Peggy Levine - for your ongoing commitment to the restoration of this important architectural gem. This is just the beginning of many years of successful events to come. Bear Yuba Land Trust wants to hear from the community as we head into our 25th year saving land, building trails and providing nature programming. Let us know how you want to engage with Bear Yuba Land Trust in the coming years. Contact Outreach Coordinator Laura Petersen at laura@bylt. Thanks to all who bought tickets to the event, became org; 272-5994 x 211. members and donated items to the live and silent auctions. Your contributions help fund ongoing conservation projects, Or check us out online: www.bylt.org, Facebook, Twitter, trail building, nature education and a robust year-round Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest. trekking program. A special thank you to auctioneers Bo Littig, Jay Cooper and Robert Harris. Local Chef Antonio Ayestaran won the community salsa contest with his “Corno de Torro” (translation: Bulls Horn) fire roasted salsa – a winning combination of seven varieties of peppers grown at Sweet Roots Farm. Community judges sampled salsa from Diego’s Restaurant, Christopher’s Catering Company and BriarPatch Co-op. Community judges took their jobs seriously and cast their black bean votes. Thanks to Salsa Sierra for the dance lessons. Everyone loved learning salsa dance in the courtyard. Thank you Emily’s Catering and Cakes, Horn of the Bull Taqueria, OMG Healthy Hummus, Smiley Guys Barbecue,

For more information, visit us online at www.BYLT.org or call us at 530-272-5994 7 Have you checked out BYLT’s online Trails Portal recently?

We’ve added five new urban trails with downloadable maps to BYLT’s website! A special thank you to BYLT’s hardworking volunteers, Greg Archbald and Frank Hamlin. Condon Park – Located on 80 acres in Grass Valley, this maze-like trail system includes 3.5 miles of easy to moderate primary trails that weave through mixed conifer and hardwood forest. The Allison Ranch Canal runs through the Western end of the park, both as a ditch and a free-flowing stream. Nevada City Airport Trails - This 109 acre abandoned airport is a little- known and little-used property owned by the City of Nevada City. Though not officially open or managed for public use, it is permissible to visit. Nevada County Government Center Trails – Nevada County Government Center (aka Rood Center) has several nice places to walk, stroll, or ride a bike plus a gem of a little park complete with historic pond, piers and a picnic area. With two important trails along the Hwy 49 corridor, the Government Center Trails also serve to link downtown Nevada City with the Hirschman Pond. Osborne Hill Trails - Osborne Hill Trail Area makes up the southern arm of Empire Mine State Historic Park. This trail system has many loops, making for boundless riding or hiking options through deep woods and some open areas. Get off the couch, grab the kids Visitors will see remnants of mines such as pits and mine tailings. and head to the trail! Sugarloaf Mountain Trail – In 2011, the City of Nevada City acquired Sugar 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Loaf Mountain, the iconic landmark just north of town. Though not officially Friday, November 28 open or managed for public use, it is permissible to visit. Join us in our commitment to the land. Learn more at: www.bylt.org Please recycle this newsletter.