Placer Land Trust is $1 million closer to securing a 185-acre parcel of land in North Auburn thanks to a grant from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy. The property provides connectivity with 8,300 acres of conserved land along the Bear River.
The grant would go toward the approximately $1.5 million purchase price of the privately owned piece of land. The Laursen South Preserve Expansion and Trail Connection Project will allow Placer Land Trust to expand on its 361 acres of Laursen Ranch it purchased in 2017.
Included in the sale is a donation of a one-half mile long trail easement across property that is not a part of the acquisition to provide connectivity between this property and the Laursen Ranch Bear River Preserve.
“This acquisition will protect the watershed and wildlife habitats, continue managed grazing on the property and expand the available landscape for docent-led recreational hiking,” the grant application stated.
The application stated the purchase of land was a “now or never” acquisition because the owners are “willing and able” to sell the property for residential development. The owners are actively engaged with Placer Land Trust, the application stated, awaiting confirmation of funds from Sierra Nevada Conservancy and the Wildlife Conservation Board.
The property, which is owned by the Laursen Family Trust, has been managed as a working landscape for cattle grazing, and Placer Land Trust plans to continue grazing operations on the property through ecologically based, adaptive land management.
“With this and other properties they hold, Placer Land Trust seeks to strike a balance with public use by providing managed outdoor recreation opportunities in beautiful areas where open public access may not be feasible under the land management plan,” the application stated.
The property provides Placer Land Trust to expand its docent-led hikes, clinics and other recreation events.
The property provides connectivity with 8,300 acres of conserved land along the Bear River. The donated easement will connect the preserved land to the Bear River. The application also states this acquisition will protect one of the last remaining blocks of blue oak woodland in this region of the foothills.
“There is limited remaining undeveloped land available for conservation in the foothills,” the application stated. “This acquisition will add to the county’s ability to provide recreational opportunities, balanced with watershed and wildlife conservation and the maintenance of working landscapes.”
The $1 million Sierra Nevada Conservancy grant is one of 27 projects the group funded for regional projects. The Sierra Nevada Conservancy Governing Board approved spending $13.5 million in grants focused on forest health, land conservation and community resilience.
The property provides Placer Land Trust to expand its docent-led hikes, clinics and other recreation events.
The property provides connectivity with 8,300 acres of conserved land along the Bear River. The donated easement will connect the preserved land to the Bear River. The application also states this acquisition will protect one of the last remaining blocks of blue oak woodland in this region of the foothills.
For more information on the Laursen South Preserve Expansion and Trail Connection Project and additional Sierra Nevada Conservancy grants, visit sierranevada.ca.gov.
CLICK HERE to see original article in the Auburn Journal newspaper.
The grant would go toward the approximately $1.5 million purchase price of the privately owned piece of land. The Laursen South Preserve Expansion and Trail Connection Project will allow Placer Land Trust to expand on its 361 acres of Laursen Ranch it purchased in 2017.
Included in the sale is a donation of a one-half mile long trail easement across property that is not a part of the acquisition to provide connectivity between this property and the Laursen Ranch Bear River Preserve.
“This acquisition will protect the watershed and wildlife habitats, continue managed grazing on the property and expand the available landscape for docent-led recreational hiking,” the grant application stated.
The application stated the purchase of land was a “now or never” acquisition because the owners are “willing and able” to sell the property for residential development. The owners are actively engaged with Placer Land Trust, the application stated, awaiting confirmation of funds from Sierra Nevada Conservancy and the Wildlife Conservation Board.
The property, which is owned by the Laursen Family Trust, has been managed as a working landscape for cattle grazing, and Placer Land Trust plans to continue grazing operations on the property through ecologically based, adaptive land management.
“With this and other properties they hold, Placer Land Trust seeks to strike a balance with public use by providing managed outdoor recreation opportunities in beautiful areas where open public access may not be feasible under the land management plan,” the application stated.
The property provides Placer Land Trust to expand its docent-led hikes, clinics and other recreation events.
The property provides connectivity with 8,300 acres of conserved land along the Bear River. The donated easement will connect the preserved land to the Bear River. The application also states this acquisition will protect one of the last remaining blocks of blue oak woodland in this region of the foothills.
“There is limited remaining undeveloped land available for conservation in the foothills,” the application stated. “This acquisition will add to the county’s ability to provide recreational opportunities, balanced with watershed and wildlife conservation and the maintenance of working landscapes.”
The $1 million Sierra Nevada Conservancy grant is one of 27 projects the group funded for regional projects. The Sierra Nevada Conservancy Governing Board approved spending $13.5 million in grants focused on forest health, land conservation and community resilience.
The property provides Placer Land Trust to expand its docent-led hikes, clinics and other recreation events.
The property provides connectivity with 8,300 acres of conserved land along the Bear River. The donated easement will connect the preserved land to the Bear River. The application also states this acquisition will protect one of the last remaining blocks of blue oak woodland in this region of the foothills.
For more information on the Laursen South Preserve Expansion and Trail Connection Project and additional Sierra Nevada Conservancy grants, visit sierranevada.ca.gov.
CLICK HERE to see original article in the Auburn Journal newspaper.
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