Placer Land Trust protects Kidd & Cascade Lakes Preserve
Beautiful sunset view from the shore of Kidd Lake. Photo Courtesy: Joseph Dondelinger
A crown jewel near Donner Summit has been preserved!
Placer Land Trust (PLT) is pleased to announce the recent permanent protection of 248 beautiful acres at Kidd Lake and Cascade Lakes near Donner Summit.
This property is now called “Kidd & Cascade Lakes Preserve” and is owned and managed by Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E), who donated a conservation easement to PLT to ensure that the land will remain as open space scenery, wildlife habitat, and unparalleled recreational asset in perpetuity.
“We are pleased to have partnered with PG&E to protect this pristine land for good,” said PLT Executive Director, Jeff Darlington. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with PG&E to protect additional lands along the Interstate 80 corridor in the next couple years.”
Known well to Placer County residents and visitors alike, this area is rich in wildlife and recreation opportunities. Royal Gorge, the largest cross country ski resort in North America, leases the property to offer world-class cross country skiing and snowshoeing. PG&E also operates a group camp at Kidd Lake. There is ample space for hiking, swimming, biking aplenty…or simply staying quiet and taking in the beauty of the Sierra Nevada.
Kidd Lake covered in snow this spring. Photo Courtesy: Wes Woodland
Surrounding the area are mixed conifer forests that provide habitat for a diverse range of wildlife, including bear, deer and coyote. PLT’s role is to make sure that all this beauty and biodiversity remains protected for current and future generations to enjoy.
“PG&E is proud to partner with Placer Land Trust on the permanent protection of this amazing resource”, said Mike Schonherr, PG&E’s Director who oversees its land conservation commitment program. “The donation of this conservation easement is another important step in PG&E’s work to permanently protect more than 140,000 acres of watershed lands. We look forward to working with PLT on these and other lands in Placer County.”
Kidd & Cascade Lakes Preserve is the third property that PLT has preserved in partnership with PG&E and the Pacific Forest and Watershed Lands Stewardship Council. Through this joint effort, by the end of 2019 PLT will hold a dozen conservation easements guaranteeing protection of over 6,000 acres in the Bear River, Yuba River, and American River watersheds of Placer County.
From the Boardroom – Welcome our new Conservation Director
Lynnette Batt
We’ve had a few changes happening around the office.
First, we’d like to welcome Lynnette Batt as our new Conservation Director! This is a new position at PLT and we’re excited to have someone with Lynnette’s experience and education join our team!
Lynnette grew up in western Maine, in a small town called Farmington. Her family had an 80-acre horse farm where she grew to love horses and riding. It was also in this rural foothill area that she developed a love of nature. She considers herself a “woods girl”, spending afternoons hiking and climbing trees when she wasn’t on her horse.
After high school, Lynnette attended Bowdoin College in Maine where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Environmental Studies. She was also on the Nordic cross country ski team and played women’s rugby (something we don’t see too much here on the west coast).
She later attended Duke University in North Carolina to receive a Master of Environmental Management (MEM) in Ecosystem Science and Conservation, and focused on water resource management and restoration ecology.
She stayed in North Carolina nearly a decade, working several years as the Associate Director of River Restoration for the national nonprofit American Rivers. Her work there included developing a new river restoration program for North Carolina and other areas of the southeast. She also developed a regional GIS model to prioritize dam removals, and created partnerships with US Fish & Wildlife Services to expedite projects and reduce costs.
She was then hired by Unique Places, LLC, a conservation real estate company, to be their Director of Ecological Restoration. She spent the next couple years managing the development of private stream and wetland mitigation banks in North Carolina.
Lynnette met her partner Brian Graber while working at American Rivers, where he is the Director for River Restoration. They had the opportunity to move to California in 2015, as Brian relocated to the American Rivers’ Nevada City office. They’ve lived in Grass Valley for the past two years with their two shepherd mix dogs and Lynnette’s quarter horse.
She enjoys hiking, cross country skiing, backpacking, climbing, horseback riding and horse training. She misses snow and being around the water from the many Maine lakes, but said the Mediterranean climate in California is amazing and brings a lot of opportunity for conservation (and takes quite an adjustment.) She shared the story of hiking at Fairy Falls in the Spenceville Wildlife Area on a hot day in August soon after they arrived in California. By the time they were hiking back, the trail had gotten so hot that they had to carry one of the dogs back three miles on their shoulders.
We also want to thank Mehrey Vaghti for her service on our Board for the past several years. Mehrey first joined our Board in 2003, and is stepping off the Board to spend more time as a Restoration Ecologist and busy mom of two. The PLT Board and Staff are thankful for her service to our organization, and glad that she will remain engaged and supportive of our work.
Big Day of Giving!
Some of our staff using the Force on the Big Day of Giving.
WOW!! On May 4th PLT members sent a BIG message this year during the Big Day of Giving:
Conserving land is VERY IMPORTANT to our members and to the community!
Here are the results, thanks to our amazing supporters!
• 366 of our members set a record by giving over $143,000!!
• Placer Land Trust was the highest earner out of 600 participating nonprofits throughout the 4-county Sacramento region!
• Many of our members gave to our matching gift fund, which inspired 76 new members to join, and 28 lapsed members to give again and rejoin this thoughtful, caring community!
Just as exciting was the fact that the Big Day of Giving organizers exceeded their goal by raising $7.2 million for the nonprofits that make this region, OUR region, so vibrant. There are SO many worthy causes out there, and we know that they all serve a much-needed purpose–which is why we are SO honored to have your support! We hope that our member will feel proud too as they watch their investments being put to wise use right here in Placer County!
The next few years are going to be busy for us as we rapidly increase the number of permanently protected acres here in our backyard, and we’re FOREVER grateful that our community is right here with us making the work possible.
Thanks from all of us at Placer Land Trust!
And the Placer Conservator award goes to…
Placer Land Trust is thrilled to announce that Eric and Paula Peach will be honored with the 2017 Placer Conservator Award!
Every year, we recognize exceptional members of the community who support the mission of PLT and contribute to conservation and the quality of life in Placer County. The award goes to individuals or organizations enriching the quality of life in Placer County through resource conservation.
Please join us in celebrating the Peaches at the Placer Conservator on October 19, 2017, in Auburn.
Eric and Paula have made it their life’s mission to protect the American River.
They create opportunities for the community to learn more about the river and canyons in hopes that they will learn to love and care for the river as they do. Eric is on the board of Protect American River Canyons (PARC), and they are both educators and artists, using their talents to engage thousands of students in projects that instill a sense of love and appreciation for the natural world.
In addition to presenting Eric and Paula with our Placer Conservator award at the October 19 event, we’ll also be honoring some well-deserving volunteers for their service to our organization. We couldn’t take such good care of the land or educate the public about our mission without the generous service of our volunteers. We will be sharing more about all of these oustanding members of the community at the event, so be sure to save Thursday, Oct. 19, on your calendar!
The Placer Conservator is a great event where you can meet and spend time with like-minded people in our community, enjoy a great dinner and drinks, and celebrate those making a difference in our region. It’s also a fun way to give back to a cause you care deeply about, maybe even bringing home wonderful raffle and auction items. Proceeds will go right back into the community in the form of protected, restored and enhanced landscapes and natural playgrounds for all in Placer County to enjoy.
We are looking for sponsors for this event! Promote your business, support a great cause, and gain many other perks by sponsoring the annual Placer Conservator! Check out our website for more information on sponsorship levels and benefits, or contact Kara Walker at 530-887-9222, or kara.walker@placerlandtrust.org.
Conservation & Livestock Grazing
Conservation and Livestock Grazing …
The two don’t always go hand in hand – or so it might seem. But PLT makes it a point to work with ranchers who know the value of protecting land for future generations, and who get ‘er done accordingly. A case in point is our Doty Ravine Preserve in Lincoln.
When PLT acquired the 426-acre Doty Ravine Preserve in 2005, it was a mess: overgrazed in most places, with dangerous thatch build-up in other places, hydrologically impaired, and biologically degraded.
We began working with with Dan Macon who ran his sheep on the property for a few years to get it in shape, along with cattle from Imbach Ranch (Ron and Ryan Imbach, and Tracy Schohr). After experiencing working with Imbach Ranch for a few years and seeing the results of their grazing, when Dan and his sheep were done with the Preserve in 2012, we retained Imbach Ranch for continued cattle grazing.
Today Doty Ravine Preserve is in excellent condition with higher biodiversity and ecological function as well as greater grazing productivity for the rancher.
Top Photo: floodplain before Bottom Photo: Floodplain after
In addition to managing fuel loads on the Preserve (an ongoing job for both PLT and the cows) in 2008 we planted 5,000 trees and shrubs in a 20-acre section of floodplain along Doty Ravine in partnership with Westervelt Ecological Services. Over time this floodplain transformed from a seasonally green but low productivity area to one of high biodiversity that stays green year round.
This 20-acre area was off-limits to cattle grazing during the establishment period, but now cattle are using the floodplain during the late fall and early summer when upland feed has turned brown and lost nutrition. This seasonal “flash” grazing brings much needed protein to the livestock and may eventually extend the grazing season on the Preserve. It also helps reduce thatch (last year’s uneaten grass growth) and helps young trees to find sunlight and room to grow. The livestock also help control the number of new trees added to the system which helps maintain a balance between wetlands, grassland and riparian tree cover.
PLT and US Fish and Wildlife Service are currently working on a similar restoration project on the other side of the creek, and Imbach Ranch has been instrumental in the planning and construction phases of this new project.
By including good ranching partners in our planning we’re able to ensure we not only restore natural habitat and ecological function but provide an economically viable product for the rancher. As our #1 partner in preserve management, we would be foolish to leave them (ranchers) out of the discussion! As Land Manager Justin Wages says: “Managing working landscapes sustainably means working together.”
Great Sierra River Cleanup – Saturday, September 16th 9am-noon
2016 Great Sierra River Cleanup
For the past seven years, we have been proud to participate with the State’s largest volunteer cleanup effort — the annual Great Sierra River Cleanup.
This year on September 16th will be our eighth year hosting a cleanup, which helps keep our waterways free of trash and debris. This family friendly event is fun for all ages and open to anyone! (Getting wet not required)
Once again, we will be cleaning up trash along the Miner’s Ravine trail in Roseville. We had over 80 volunteers show up to help us last year, picking up nearly 800 pounds of trash along this popular trail – WOW!
The Great Sierra River Cleanup is coordinated by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy and is the premier volunteer event focused on removing trash and restoring the health of waterways throughout the Sierra Nevada Region. Every year it is held in conjunction with California Coastal Cleanup Day.
We hope you’ll join us! There are several ways you can get involved. For more information, to register to participate, or to sponsor the event, visit our website or contact Janet Voris at 530-887-9222.
Keep the Family Active – Get outdoors with PLT
You don’t have to search hard to find research touting the benefits of spending time in nature.
Whether your family needs to “unplug” and reconnect with each other, or reduce stress and take advantage of the many health benefits that come with being outdoors, PLT can help you achieve your goals.
PLT works with willing landowners to protect natural and agricultural lands in Placer County so the places that make this region special are still around for future generations. In some cases, we open these lands to the public allowing for outdoor recreation and exploration close to home.
In this issue of Wonders we’re detailing two of our preserves that make ideal outings for families—easily accessible for short or all day excursions:
Canyon View Preserve lies just north of Auburn with easy access and parking right off of I-80 at the Bowman Road exit. This preserve has 1.5 miles of trails that are open daily from dawn to dusk, plus a picnic area with tables and a shade awning where you can take in amazing views of the American River Canyon and the Foresthill Bridge. Canyon View Trail has been recognized and showcased by both National Geographic and the Sierra Nevada Geotourism Council as one of the easiest destinations to reach for travelers seeking an authentic experience of the region’s beauty.
Miners Ravine Preserve in Roseville has parking right off of Sierra College Boulevard. In addition to helping with flood control, this basin functions as a natural wetlands making it perfect for wildlife viewing. It’s also a wonderful place for a picnic. Don’t forget to bring your bikes or walking shoes as this preserve connects to 27 miles of paved bike trails throughout the City of Roseville.
AmeriCorps NCCC
AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps: Strengthening communities and developing leadership skills through service.
PLT once again had the opportunity to host an AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) team for 5 weeks this past spring.
AmeriCorps NCCC is a full-time, team based residential national service program for young adults who want to give back to communities in need at different locations across the country. The 11 young adults from Green Team 3 (ranging in age from 18-26) come from all across the country to serve in various locations for 10 months.
They arrived at PLT in mid-April, and we immediately got to work repairing and maintaining trails and removing invasive species at several preserves, and making improvements to the community garden at Auburn School Park Preserve. The team persevered through rain, heat, allergies, and one very bad case of poison oak, to accomplish a lot in the time we had them with us.
In addition they helped to set up for our annual volunteer appreciation picnic, and while it was pouring rain (remember that?) we loaned them to Stand Up Placer to help provide services to victims of domestic violence. Green Team 3 is currently in Roseburg, Oregon working for United Community Action Network. When they graduate later this month they are going to be a pretty accomplished group!
Here is a small taste of what NCCC Green Team 3 accomplished during five weeks with Placer Land Trust this spring:
• 3.5 miles of trails maintained
• 75,758.92 cubic feet of Himalayan Blackberry removed
• 32,779.03 square feet of riparian area restored.
To these wonderful young women and men … THANK YOU you for your service!
