September 18, 2026
Last year, our community helped permanently protect the heart of Clover Valley. Hundreds of community members together raised over $1 million to support the protection of the 402-acre Clover Valley Preserve, while many more attended public meetings and wrote to our local officials in support of millions more in funding for Clover Valley. Thanks to this overwhelming community support, Placer Land Trust and our partners at Jessup University were able to purchase and place a permanent conservation easement on the property, guaranteeing that the heart of Clover Valley will remain protected open space.
We recently learned that, four months ago, Jessup University signed an agreement with a third party to allow construction of permanent infrastructure within the preserve, including roads, utilities, gas and sewer pipelines, and a retention basin. On September 16, 2026, Placer Land Trust filed a lawsuit in the Placer County Superior Court to prevent construction of development easements within Clover Valley Preserve.
Why has Placer Land Trust taken this legal action?
The Clover Valley Preserve conservation easement does not allow for this type of development without Placer Land Trust’s prior approval, since permanent infrastructure could harm the property’s important conservation features, including its open space, habitats for rare and threatened species, and historic cultural resources.
Placer Land Trust has an obligation to ensure that conservation easements are upheld, including the easement we co-hold on Clover Valley Preserve with Placer County. The impact of roads, pipelines, and utilities, in addition to the construction itself, could be felt across the valley, and we have no intention of allowing development to proceed that would jeopardize Clover Valley Preserve.
What is Placer Land Trust doing to resolve this matter?
We have been in conversation with our colleagues at Jessup University; however, to date, we have not been able to resolve the issue. Therefore, we have taken this stronger legal step so that no construction begins while we continue to work towards an amicable resolution.
What happens next?
We know that our community may be curious about how to help. At this time, we ask simply for your patience and understanding that we are limited in what we can share regarding legal proceedings. Placer Land Trust staff continue to monitor the Preserve and we will continue to legally defend the conservation easement.
This is the honest work of a land trust. As much as we love to share the good news about the places, species, and landowner stories that drive our mission, we also have to ensure those lands and ecosystems are respected in perpetuity. And it’s why we so appreciate your ongoing support.
Placer Land Trust plans to release a public statement in the coming weeks. Please stay tuned for updates as this matter continues to develop.
