Press Room

In a year of hardship and sorrow, the field of conservation provided us with some moments of happiness and hope. Land Trusts across the United States completed projects to protect 1000’s of acres of wildlife habitat, scenic open space, and prime farmland.

This 40-acre property is in the Moody Ridge area, near Alta, and represents a key piece within a large block of conserved lands. The section of the North Fork American River below the preserve is federally-designated “Wild and Scenic” – the top designation reserved for the highest quality, undammed rivers in the US.

185-acre addition protects oak woodlands, water quality, and wildlife

Placer Land Trust has permanently protected the 192-acre Spring Garden Preserve on Foresthill Divide near the community of Foresthill. Spanning the canyons and watersheds of the North and Middle forks of the American River, the property was initially marketed for development, given its easy access, gentle topography, views of the rivers and proximity to other residential developments. Instead, the landowners worked with Placer Land Trust to ensure the forested land will continue to be open space forever.

Placer Land Trust has permanently protected a historic working landscape in North Auburn this month to ensure critical lands are kept open for agricultural production. Placer Land Trust and landowner Patti Beard placed an Agricultural Conservation Easement on the 137-acre Beard Ranch, permanently prohibiting subdivision and development while allowing the landowner to keep living on the property and continue ranching.

Over 137 acres of agricultural land and blue oak woodland are planned for conservation in North Auburn, with the Placer County Board of Supervisors approving the use of $205,000 of Placer Legacy open space funds. The funding will contribute to an agricultural conservation easement that will be held by the private nonprofit Placer Land Trust.

One of the oldest operating cattle operations in Placer County is protecting its agricultural land for generations, putting it into long-term conservancy. The Oest Ranch was founded in 1859 and is still in business just north of Auburn. The Oest family is now protecting the use of the 940-acre ranch with zoning and tax contracts that benefit the ag operations and discourage development of the property into commercial use or subdivisions.

Nearly 315 acres of oak woodlands just north of Auburn will be permanently conserved with the Placer County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approving $496,200 in Placer Legacy open space funds to buy three agricultural conservation easements over the land.

"Before Big Day of Giving, a lot of people would say Placer Land Trust was the best-kept secret in Placer County, and as you might imagine that's faint praise, we don't want to be a secret. Big Day of Giving allowed us to let that secret out to the community,"- Jeff Darlington, Placer Land Trust

Did you know that the California State Insect is the dogface butterfly? Hike along the Shutamul Bear River Preserve near Auburn, part of the Placer Land Trust, as Rob finds this incredibly rare creature found only in the golden state!

Placer Land Trust is pleased to announce the protection of 730 acres of prime recreation land near Auburn. In a continuing partnership with Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), Placer Land Trust has permanently protected the 548-acre Halsey Preserve and the 182-acre Rock Creek Preserve. These two properties – both owned by PG&E – contain lakes popular for fishing, hiking, picnicking and have paved parking lots for public access.

In May 2014, Placer Land Trust teamed up with federal nonprofit Trust for Public Land to acquire the “Big Bend North Fork Preserve” property for $1.4 million. Stretching along 10 miles of the North Fork of the American River, the property was previously owned by Foresthill Land Co., a developer with unrealized plans for housing there.