Quick Facts
- 192 acres protected from future development, located near the community of Foresthill on the Foresthill Divide
- Spans the canyons and watersheds of the North Fork and Middle Fork of the American River
- Flat to steep sloping landscape, featuring California black oak forests, madrone, Douglas fir forests, blue oak woodlands, and red osier dogwood shrubland
- Neighborhood trails on the property, with possibility of improvement for public recreation in the future
- Fee title held by Placer Land Trust since June 2020, with funding from California Department of Forestry and Fire (CAL FIRE) Forest Legacy Program (via the California Climate Investments program)
Watershed Protection and Scenic Open Space
The property that is now the Spring Garden Preserve was initially marketed for development, given its easy access, gentle topography, amazing views of the North and Middle Forks of the American River, and proximity to other residential developments. Instead, the landowners worked with us to ensure that this forested land will continue to be open space forever. Spring Garden Ravine runs across the property and ultimately into the Middle Fork American River. As the largest source of our drinking water, protection of the American River and its tributaries is a significant benefit to us all.
American River Foothills Habitat
A further benefit provided by Spring Garden Preserve is the safeguarding of wildlife habitat. A California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) search of the project area shows the occurrence of multiple special-status species within a five-mile radius of the property, including Black swift (Cypseloides niger), foothill yellow-legged frog (Rana boylii), and Sierra Nevada red fox (Vulpes vulpes necator). Rare plants in the area include Brandegee’s clarkia (Clarkia biloba ssp. brandegeeae), Butte County fritillary (Fritillaria eastwoodiae), and Nissenan manzanita (Arctostaphylos nissenana).
Where possible, Placer Land Trust looks to protect large blocks of land that are connected with other protected pieces to maximize the benefits for wildlife. This strategy is especially important to the black bear, bobcat, coyote, black-tailed deer, and mountain lion in the area. The addition of Spring Garden Preserve creates a larger contiguous piece of protected land. It lies directly next to the 416-acre Big Bend North Fork Preserve, which Placer Land Trust and The Trust for Public Land acquired for conservation from the same landowner in 2014, and then transferred to the California Department of Parks and Recreation to become a part of the Auburn State Recreation Area (ASRA).
Historical significance
Old topographic maps and documents show that the historic Spring Garden School was located on the property. Spring Garden Ranch and Spring Garden Mine were situated nearby, and served as one of the central mining hubs for the Foresthill area. A homestead was also located on the property, and Native American grinding rocks found on site indicate that this land was a food gathering and preparation site for local Indigenous peoples.
Forest Health and Restoration
Situated in the mid-elevation “transitional zone,” Spring Garden Preserve’s forest is unusually diverse in its composition. Pockets of mature madrone, blue oak savanna, and red osier dogwood shrubland are found on the property, as well as black oak, Douglas fir, and mixed conifer forest.
In line with the goals of the CAL FIRE Forest Legacy Program, which funded the purchase, the preserve will be managed to support ecologically-healthy, fire-resistant forests. The property was responsibly masticated in 2011, thinning out dense undergrowth and ladder fuels, and leaving all large trees in place. The healthier, lower-density forest is now more fire-resistant with lower fuel loads than before, which benefits adjacent residential properties and neighborhoods. Placer Land Trust will continue to maintain forest health and manage fuel loads with an eye toward ecological sustainability and intended future public use.
Public Access
There are existing trails on the property that are used by neighboring landowners and could be improved and used for future open public recreation. The trails will not be connected to the Foresthill Divide Loop Trail in the immediate future, but could potentially be connected to future planned trails in the Auburn State Recreation Area. Placer Land Trust plans to improve the existing trails for future public access — stay tuned!
Working with the Landowner and Funders
Instead of developing the land, the landowner Foresthill Land Company LLC, approached Placer Land Trust to purchase it for conservation, and agreed to wait for us to secure state grant funding. The landowner also very generously donated 25% of the sale price to PLT to fund long-term stewardship of the land and to cover our project costs. This has become our standard funding model for grant-funded projects.
The Spring Garden Preserve Property Fee Title Acquisition received funding through the California Department of Forestry and Fire (CAL FIRE) Forest Legacy Program, part of California Climate Investments (CCI). CCI is a statewide program that puts billions of cap-and-trade dollars to work reducing GHG emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment—particularly in disadvantaged communities. The cap-and-trade program also creates a financial incentive for industries to invest in clean technologies and develop innovative ways to reduce pollution. California Climate Investment projects include affordable housing, renewable energy, public transportation, zero-emission vehicles, environmental restoration, more sustainable agriculture, recycling and much more. At least 35 percent of these investments are located within and benefiting residents of disadvantaged communities, low-income communities, and low-income households across California. For more information, visit the California Climate Investments website at www.caclimateinvestments.ca.gov.
