Placer Land Trust and Colfax-Todds Valley Consolidated Tribe Partner on Owl Creek Land Back Project
Project partners and supporters from Colfax-Todds Valley Consolidated Tribe, Placer Land Trust, CAL FIRE, California Council of Land Trusts, and California Natural Resources Agency celebrate the completion of the Owl Creek project.
Placer Land Trust is committed to protecting and caring for land in a way that is inclusive and equitable. One way to do that is by working with our local Native American Tribes, who have a long and deep relationship to these lands. We are honored to share the exciting news about the completion of our second Land Back project with the Colfax-Todds Valley Consolidated Tribe!
In April, we officially completed the Owl Creek Project, a 308-acre forest conservation and Tribal Land Back initiative in rural Placer County. Located near Foresthill, this land — known in Nisenan as Hym hym hop’ — is part of the Colfax-Todds Valley Consolidated Tribe’s ancestral homelands, and will now be owned by the Tribe.
The project was primarily supported by $1.36 million through CAL FIRE’s Forest Legacy Program. A perpetual conservation easement is held by Placer Land Trust as a condition of this funding, protecting the land forever from subdivision or development. The property holds deep cultural significance, with Tribal members recalling deep family connections to this land.
“For generations our Tribal members have lived on, traveled, and stewarded these lands along Owl Creek,” said Clyde Prout III, Chair of the Colfax-Todds Valley Consolidated Tribe. “This land has so much rich history and so many memories. It’s a monumental moment to have this land back in the Tribe’s hands. Taking Owl Creek back creates a place where past and present meet, a place to preserve our history and educate the next generation.”
This effort marks the second — and largest — Land Back project completed in partnership between Placer Land Trust and the Tribe.
“We are honored to continue our partnership with the Colfax-Todds Valley Consolidated Tribe, who for countless generations has had a deep relationship to this land and its care,” said Placer Land Trust Executive Director Jeff Darlington. “Together, we are working to address the injustices of the past while building our shared vision of conservation, connection, and stewardship for the future.”
Without conservation, the Owl Creek property was at risk of being subdivided for rural residential development. This project reflects strong collaboration and strategic timing between partners committed to protecting the land’s ecological and cultural values.
The Tribe has identified six acres as a designated area for a future Tribal headquarters and forest stewardship operations center, noting that land ownership is key to pursuing future federal recognition. Plans include the restoration and maintenance of fuels and forest health on the property, and eventual managed public access for recreation and education.
“This project represents a meaningful investment in both forest conservation and Tribal partnerships,” said CAL FIRE Director Joe Tyler. “By protecting this landscape from development and supporting Tribal stewardship, we are advancing California’s commitment to climate resilience, cultural preservation, and healthy forests.”
The Owl Creek Project was made possible through a combination of funding sources, including the CAL FIRE Forest Legacy Program, matching and in-kind contributions from both the Tribe and Placer Land Trust, $20,000 from the California Council of Land Trusts, and a discounted sale from the landowner exceeding $200,000 in value.
“Many of our Tribal ancestors were born in a place called Owl Creek; we have learned this through oral and written history,” said Pam Cubbler, Tribal Council Vice Chairwoman. “For many generations, our families have been hunting and gathering on this property. Our Tribe’s relationship with the Owl Creek property is not just physical or economic, but spiritual, cultural, and communal. The land represents our identity, heritage, and survival. It holds stories, traditions and sacred places that define our Tribe’s way of life.”
A dedication ceremony for Owl Creek was held on Wednesday, April 22. CTVCT leadership and Tribal members gathered with project partners from Placer Land Trust, CAL FIRE, California Council of Land Trusts, and other community supporters at the Owl creek site to celebrate the project’s successful completion.
The Owl Creek Project was made possible through a combination of funding sources, including the CAL FIRE Forest Legacy Program, matching and in-kind contributions from both the Colfax-Todds Valley Consolidated Tribe and Placer Land Trust, $20,000 from the California Council of Land Trusts, and a discounted sale from the landowner exceeding $200,000 in value.
Placer Land Trust is a California nonprofit public benefit organization that works with willing landowners and conservation partners to permanently protect and care for natural and agricultural lands in Placer County for current and future generations. Protecting these landscapes is essential to successfully build and sustain connections among people, their community, and the natural environment.
Colfax-Todds Valley Consolidated Tribe of the Colfax Rancheria is a California Tribe located in Placer County, comprised of (Nisenan) Maidu and Miwok people of the area. See www.colfaxrancheria.com.
The Owl Creek Project reflects CAL FIRE’s commitment to protecting working forests and supporting Tribal stewardship. Through the Forest Legacy Program, CAL FIRE conserves at-risk forest lands using conservation easements and land acquisition to ensure long-term environmental, economic, and climate benefits. Learn more about the Forest Legacy Program on the Program’s webpage.
California Council of Land Trusts is a partnership of land trusts working to conserve California’s land and water for all Californians through a strong network of land trusts with one cohesive voice across urban and rural communities. See calandtrusts.org.
