BEAR RIVER WATERSHED,
PLACER COUNTY

USING A WATERSHED-BASED APPROACH
TO PROTECT THE BEAR RIVER

Placer Land Trust is working with other parties to create a watershed-based approach to protection of the Bear River, which forms much of the northern boundary of Placer County.

PLT's Bear River Watershed Protection Program and related efforts are important for many reasons, not least of which is contamination of water quality by mercury and bioaccumulation. By preserving land along the Bear River in its natural state, water quality is protected. The Bear River watershed also contains thousands of acres of natural areas and working farms and ranches, all of which contribute to a scenic rural landscape of open spaces. In addition, the Bear River watershed forms an important part of the Spenceville Conceptual Area Protection Plan, an effort led by the California Dept. of Fish & Game to protect habitat lands in the foothills south of the Spenceville Wildlife Area.

Land acquisitions and conservation easements will play a big part in protecting this one-of-a-kind river, and that's where Placer Land Trust comes in. With a focus on the stretch of the Bear River from Lake Combie to Camp Far West Reservoir, PLT is talking with landowners about preserving over 2,000 acres adjacent to the river.

In late 2005 and 2006, PLT preserved the 40-acre Shutamul Bear River Preserve north of Auburn, our first project of the Bear River Watershed Protection Program. In 2007, PLT assisted Placer County in permanently preserving the 281-acre Kirk Ranch near Camp Far West Reservoir. In October 2007, PLT recorded a conservation easement on the 321-acre Liberty Ranch Big Hill Preserve. And in December 2007, PLT recorded a conservation easement on the 912-acre Garden Bar Preserve.

Joining us in this effort is the California Wildlife Foundation, California Oaks Foundation, Nevada County Land Trust, Placer Legacy, the Trust for Public Land, the Department of Fish & Game, the Sierra Business Council, Emigrant Trails Greenway Trust, the Sky View Foundation and others.

Placer Land Trust has received grant funding from several private sources to kick-start and sustain our land conservation planning, acquisition, and stewardship efforts. Funding support has also been provided by the State of California.

To return to the list of current Placer Land Trust projects, click here.

Placer Land Trust 11521 Blocker Drive, Suite 100 Auburn, CA 95603 (530) 887-9222 info@placerlandtrust.org

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