Disappearing Landscapes Art Event
Locals to exhibit landscape art for PLT from Aug. 10 through Oct. 4
By Jessica Pierce
Loomis artist Victoria Brooks visited Placer Land Trust’s Shutamul Bear River Preserve to create artwork for the Disappearing Landscapes Art Event & Sale.
In celebration of our 15th anniversary, and to help raise money for our continuing efforts to preserve natural and agricultural lands, PLT is sponsoring the first annual “Disappearing Landscapes” Art Event & Sale from Aug. 10 through Oct. 4, 2006.
“The purpose of this event is to bring a heightened awareness of the disappearing indigenous landscapes of our area through the creative interpretations of local artists,” said PLT Board member, Linda Raimondi.
This event is free to the public and will be held at The Arts Building, 808 Lincoln Way, in Downtown Auburn, in conjunction with the Auburn Art Walk.
Over 30 of Placer County’s best artists will display their artwork for sale during this event, including artwork depicting PLT-preserved properties.
A “members-only” reception will be held on Thursday Aug. 10, for current PLT members to meet the artists, preview their work, and get first dibs on purchasing art.
“There’s a natural connection between art and the beauty that surrounds us here,” said Linda. “We are grateful that so many of our very talented artists have joined with us to help bring our agricultural and open space areas to the public’s attention.”
Proceeds from the sales of artwork benefit PLT, the artist, and the gallery.
PLT Supporters Celebrate
Shutamul Bear River Preserve
By Jeff Darlington
Rick Adams performed a traditional
Nisenan blessing for PLT’s Shutamul
Bear River Preserve.
PLT was joined by 75 supporters and members of the Native American community to celebrate the Trust’s newest property acquisition, 40 acres of beautiful wild and scenic land along the Bear River north of Auburn, preserved earlier this year.
At the dedication ceremony, Placer Land Trust and the United Auburn Indian Community (UAIC) revealed the name of the property: Shutamul Bear River Preserve.
“Our Nisenan ancestors hunted, fished, and lived along the Bear River, and this stretch of the Bear River has great importance to our culture and our history,” said Jessica Tavares, Tribal Chair for the UAIC. “The Nisenan village known as ‘Shutamul’ was located near this site, and we’re honored to have this name bestowed on the property.”
Representatives from three local Native American communities were on hand to celebrate. UAIC Tribal Secretary David Keyser spoke of the importance of this land to the Nisenan people, Rick Adams of the Shingle Springs Maidu Rancheria performed traditional flute music and Nisenan blessings for the river and the land, and Grayson Coney of the Grass Valley Tsi-Akim Maidu Tribe led a cultural tour of the indigenous archaeological sites.
The Bear River flows along two sides of the Shutamul property, moving from a gradual slope into a steep rocky gorge. The riverbank hosts a vibrant riparian corridor of trees and shrubs, and the uplands are dominated by blue oak woodlands. Blue oak woodlands contain the highest diversity of wildlife of any habitat in Placer County. A huge variety of terrestrial and aquatic wildlife call Shutamul home, including migratory waterfowl.
The Trust purchased the property using grant funds from private foundations. Funding for long-term management of the property was provided by Aronowitz & Skidmore Inc. and Emigrant Trails Greenway Trust.
Many thanks to Andy & Shana Laursen and others for their help in setting up the dedication ceremony!
From the Board Room
Why We Fundraise
By Linda Raimondi
Hello PLT Members!
As you may have noticed PLT is in a rapid expansion mode. For the past six months we have averaged 90 preserved acres per month!
You may also have noticed that we’ve stepped up our fundraising activities as well. Recently, you received an invitation to the Placer Conservator event honoring Joanne Neft. Our Disappearing Landscapes Art Event & Sale is taking place from August through October, and our annual Placer Harvest Celebration is set for November 4. There are also the appeals by mail that we send, including our summer appeal for your membership renewal.
Why all of these events? Why all these fundraisers? The answer is simple: we really do need the money.
As our organization — and therefore our capacity — has grown, so has the overhead for our day-to-day operations. Although we’ve been the recipients of some generous donations, these funds are restricted (by contract or by the wishes of the donors) to the acquisition of specific properties, or for ongoing land management and monitoring.
So, we have an ongoing need to go out into the community to find other sources of revenue to keep our operations funded. It is our goal through fundraising to raise money as well as our profile in the community through a variety of projects.
We’re trying to make our fundraising interesting to you through new ideas and venues — such as our new art event. Please let us know how we’re doing! We also partner with like-minded organizations to increase the value of your contribution. Also, whenever possible we leverage our resources through matching funds.
Please be assured that your membership contributions and all of the money donated to PLT is dedicated 100% to our mission and STAYS here to help preserve our indigenous landscapes.
We can’t say it enough … THANK YOU to every one of you for your continuing support. We can’t do it without you!
Has your annual membership expired?
If so, please renew today!
Your PLT membership expiration date is printed on your address label. If your membership has expired, please take a moment today to send us your annual contribution. PLT relies on membership support to provide critical operational funding. With your help, PLT can continue to work with willing landowners and conservation partners to preserve natural lands and family farms and ranches in Placer County for future generations.
Thank you!
Executive Director’s Report
Saving a Few Trees
Pictured above is local artist Patty Pieropan Dong’s artwork depicting the Shutamul Bear River Preserve. PLT saved a few thousand trees here amid the largest unfragmented stretch of oak woodlands in Placer County, not to mention protecting water quality, wildlife habitat, and indigenous Nisenan land.
You may have noticed that this edition of Land Lines is pretty thin — we did a 4-page edition instead of an 8-page edition this time around.
Although PLT has several projects close to completion, we really can’t talk about most of them until they’re completed. So we’ll save the space for the next Land Lines, and save a few trees by printing fewer pages now. For that matter, you can also request that we send you Land Lines via email — it comes to your Inbox in full color as a PDF file, saves us printing and mailing expenses, thus saving more trees.
One of the projects I can mention now is the Miner’s Ravine Preserve. PLT is working with the Placer County Flood Control & Water Conservation District and the CA Dept. of Water Resources to permanently preserve 28 acres of wetlands along Miner’s Ravine in Roseville. This property will include an off-channel water retention basin, providing flood control benefits for Placer and Sacramento Counties. The property also includes a public trail to some beautiful old trees along the creek that provide shade for important salmon habitat. Stay tuned for more details!
I’m also pleased to announce that PLT has received a $150,000 grant from the California Wildlife Foundation for oak woodland conservation. This funding will allow PLT to work with willing landowners to protect land within the largest unfragmented stretch of oak woodlands remaining in the County, between Coon Creek and the Bear River.
So, yeah, we’re saving a few thousand trees across the County as you read this, and we hope to save a few million more with your help!
JEFF DARLINGTON
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
