TRUCKEE DONNER LAND TRUST Preserving and protecting important historic, recreational and scenic open Spring Newsletter spaces in the greater Truckee region. Volume 33 ❖ May, 2008 Perazzo Meadows Soon to be protected see page 4 Thank you to our donors see page 6 Spring 2008 Newsletter Page 2 A FEW OF THE LANDS WE’VE PROTECTED – WITH YOUR HELP Over 12,600 acres protected to date with a value of $46,000,000. Schallenberger Ridge above Donner Lake, protected in 2002. This The Land Trust acquired over 2,000 acres above Independence was the Land Trust’s first multi-million dollar acquisition. Lake in 2006. Negro Canyon is heavily used by hikers, bikers, snowshoers, Through four separate acquisitions, the Land Trust has protected skiers and riders. The Land Trust acquired 240 acres in the over 1,350 acres in Gray Creek Canyon, an important tributary Canyon in 2005. to the Truckee River. The Land Trust has protected over 330 acres in Billy Mack In 2007, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, the Land Canyon, a critical part of the Donner Lake watershed. Trust protected 3,200 acres in the Truckee River Canyon between Floriston and the state line. Spring 2008 Newsletter Page 3 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE Protecting Historic Lands and Traditional Livelihoods for the Future of California Dear Friends, The Truckee Donner Land Trust has recently joined a unique partnership to safeguard at least 100,000 acres of the Northern Sierra’s highest-priority lands and waters over the next five to ten years. The Truckee Donner Land Trust, the Feather River Land Trust, The Trust for Public Land, The Nature Conservancy and the Sierra Business Council are the five members of what has come to be called The Northern Sierra Partnership. California’s Northern Sierra, the most botanically diverse region for its size in all of North America, is world-renowned for its mountains, open valleys, unique wildlife, expansive wetlands, vast forests and recreational opportunities. But growing threats could forever change this unique landscape. Urban sprawl is fragmenting the region’s natural open spaces. Catastrophic wildfires threaten communities and habitat for wildlife. Lack of coordination between private landowners, government agencies and businesses has left some of the most pristine natural areas – such as Perazzo Meadows featured on page 4 -- open to destructive development and further fragmentation. As threats to this region mount, this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity has arisen to protect the Northern Sierra. Unprecedented amounts of public bond dollars are now available for conservation projects and the newly created state agency, the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, means the time is right for all stakeholders to join forces and protect this region – before it’s too late. Inspired by leadership from the Morgan Family Hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail en route to Tinker Knob. Photo Foundation, The Northern Sierra Partnership will courtesy of Olof Carmel, www.carmelgallery.com. coordinate with both public and private campaign to raise up to $100 million in private funding that sectors to safeguard will leverage more than $300 million in local, state, and wildlife, protect federal funds for conservation projects in the region. working ranches, tribal The Partnership has identified priority lands for protection lands and productive based on the threats they face, the biological diversity they forests, and provide support, the recreational opportunities they offer, and the local communities as strategic leverage they hold. The Partnership also is working well as the broader with the Resources Legacy Fund to manage campaign dollars region with clean and develop innovative agreements to guide joint fundraising water, clean air and and resource allocation. world-class outdoor recreation. Warm regards, To achieve the Partnership’s ambitious conservation goals, the The Land Trust is pleased to partners will launch Perry Norris, Executive Director welcome long-time members a coordinated capital Penny and Bob Fink to our Advisory Committee. Spring 2008 Newsletter Page 4 P ER A ZZO primary tributary in the Truckee River watershed. This area is incredibly rich in biological and aquatic habitat value due to its proximity to neighboring public forestland in the northern range and critical watersheds in the Truckee River system. It is located on the eastern division of the Sierra Nevada checkerboard. The Sierra Nevada checkerboard is a land ownership pattern of alternating sections of public and private lands, and dates to the nineteenth century when the federal government granted Perazzo Meadows with the Little Truckee River in the foreground. every other square mile to the railroads as an incentive to Perazzo Meadows Perazzo Meadows is a large, wet complete the transcontinental meadow-riparian habitat system railroad. This checkerboard – soon to be protected. in the northern Sierra Nevada pattern presents many challenges on the Little Truckee River, a to management of the forests for Perazzo Meadows, a 992- acre landmark on the Little Truckee River with over 2.5 miles of river frontage, is close to being preserved forever. The Truckee Donner Land Trust, in partnership with The Trust for Public Land, inked a deal in January to acquire the property for its appraised value, $4 million. Also included in the transaction are 440 acres northwest of Castle Peak at the edge of Paradise Valley in the proposed Castle Peak Wilderness Area, and a 160- acre parcel in the Martis Valley that is immediately adjacent to Waddle Ranch. The Land Trust and TPL acquired the 1,482-acre Waddle Ranch in 2007. Perazzo Meadows. Spring 2008 Newsletter Page 5 M E A DOWS forest and watershed health and River watershed. This region Perazzo Meadows wild fire response. It is imperative of the northern Sierra Nevada Biological Facts that the most accessible and is noted for its biological biologically rich sections of this diversity and highly • The 982-acre parcel under contract checkerboard be protected for accessible recreational lands. includes approximately 2.5 miles of Following completion of public access, water quality and the Little Truckee River. biological habitat. the acquisition, the Land The Little Truckee River Trust will be constructing a • The extensive riverine, montane new parking area and trail is a target site of the United riparian, and wet meadow habitats States Forest Service (USFS) for for public access to the Little restoration of riparian habitat Truckee River. on the parcel are part of the Perazzo and water quality improvements. Funding for the project will Meadows complex, and are among The habitat conditions in Perazzo likely come from public and the finest examples of such habitats Meadows support rare species private sources. The Land in the Sierra Nevada. such as willow flycatchers, Trust, in partnership with peregrine falcons, bald and the Truckee River Watershed • There are approximately 100 acres of golden eagles, Lahontan cutthroat Council, has already received wet meadow-willow habitat within trout, and mountain yellow a $1.5 million grant for the the parcel. legged frog. Additionally, the acquisition from the State habitat conditions stretch in all Water Resources Control • The remaining 882 acres consist directions to neighboring areas Board, and an additional primarily of upland habitat that such as Independence Lake, $500,000 grant from WRCB Sagehen Creek Basin (designated for restoration. includes lodgepole pine, white fir, an Experimental Forest for wild red fir, Jeffrey pine, and Aspen stands black bear habitat), the Pacific important to fur bearing mammals. Crest, east to the Truckee River watershed, and west to the Yuba • The report Conservation of Aquatic Diversity in the Sierra Nevada (Pacific Rivers Council, 1998) identified the Little Truckee River as a conservation priority of great importance to the integrity and persistence of Sierra Nevada aquatic diversity. • The willow flycatcher Empidonax( traillii), a neotropical migrant bird species listed as endangered by the State of California, has been identified on Perazzo Meadows. • Waterways passing through Perazzo Meadows contain as many as six species native to the Lahontan Basin. • Non-fish wildlife species known to occur, or to have high potential of Truckee Donner Land Trust Lands and Conservation Director, Sara occurrence, in the Perazzo Meadows Taddo, was lucky enough to hitch a ride out of the Truckee Tahoe Airport are pine marten, mule deer of the for an aerial tour of the greater Truckee region. This photo is of the Loyalton Truckee herd, and Perazzo Meadows complex looking southwest. To see more of Sara’s mountain lion. Perazzo Meadows. aerial photos, visit our website, wwwtdlandtrust.org. Spring 2008 Newsletter Page 6 THANK YOU TO OUR 2007 DONORS Your generous and continued support preserves the scenic, recreational, and historic lands that we all cherish. $1,000,000 or More Carol & Michael F. Sabarese Fund Clint Edwards - Arbor Home (Waddle Ranch Campaign) - Truckee Tahoe Community Mortgage, Inc. Calfornia Resources Agency Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Euzent County of Placer Sierra Mountain Mortgage Fund Joanie & Ed Ferrera Fund - Lahontan State of California Wildlife - Truckee Tahoe Community Community Foundation Conservation Board Foundation Mr. Randy Gottfried Truckee Tahoe Airport District Timilick Steve & Jan Hamill Truckee Tahoe Community Mr. & Mrs. Jon Hartung $100,000 or More Foundation - Nature Fund Roger & Lynn Headrick Anonymous Truckee Tahoe Community Christopher & Coltrane