Local Conservation Groups Approved for $ 3.2 million in Funding from State of California River Parkways Grant Program
November 28, 2012: Grass Valley and Nevada City, California - New swimming holes, fishing areas, easy hiking trails, rugged wilderness trails, equestrian staging area, mountain biking adventures will soon be opened for public use in our community. California Secretary of Natural Resources, John Laird and the California Water Resources Agency publicly announced today approved funding for new trails, open space and recreation lands on Deer Creek and the Middle Yuba River, in a ceremony in Sacramento today. Read More>>>>
Water District Drops Garden Bar Dam Proposal
Trowbridge, CA - July 13, 2012 – The South Sutter Water District voted yesterday to stop pursuing a new dam on the Bear River, effectively ending a statewide struggle between Sierra conservationists and Southern California water providers. "This is a stunning victory for the Sierra Nevada and everyone who cares about our region's resources," said Peter Van Zant, Field Director of Sierra Watch, the Nevada City-based advocacy group that led the fight to stop the dam. "And it sends a clear message throughout the state: our rivers and canyons are worth more than a dam." Read More>>>>
John Olmsted’s Independence Trail and Sequoya Challenge Preserve Acquired
Grass Valley, CA - May 3, 2012 -- Sequoya Challenge has transferred ownership of the Independence Trail and the 207 acres on which the trail sits, to Bear Yuba Land Trust. Both organizations share a commitment to protecting natural habitats and providing public access parks and trails in Nevada County. BYLT plans to work with the many longtime community supporters to perform restoration and enhancement of the popular trail and to manage it for public recreation as it has been for the past 30 years. Read more>>>>
Andy Cassano to Receive Land Trust Award for Conservation Leadership
Grass Valley, CA - April 6, 2012 -- Bear Yuba Land Trust has selected Andrew R. Cassano to receive the 2012 William Nickerl Award for Conservation Leadership. The award is given to individuals who have inspired others through their passion, to work toward land conservation. Since 1969, Andy Cassano has been a local leader in all aspects of land surveying, city and regional planning, environmental planning and land conservation.
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Nevada County Board of Supervisors Votes to Oppose Garden Bar Dam
Nevada City, CA - Dec. 13, 2011 -- After a brief public hearing, the Board of Supervisors authorized a letter, drafted by Board Chair Ed Scofield, clearly affirming the importance of the Garden Bar Region and opposing the dam as a threat to the County's natural, cultural and agricultural heritage. Read more >>>
Big Gains in Voluntary Land Conservation Despite Recession
Grass Valley, CA – December 10, 2011 -- A new report called the National Land Trust Census from the Land Trust Alliance shows that land conservation by nonprofit land trusts across the United States is thriving, with more than 10 million acres conserved from 2005 to 2010. That’s an increase of 27 percent in just five years. A total of 47 million acres—an area over twice the size of all the national parks in the contiguous United States—are now protected by land trusts. Read more >>>
Nevada County Land Trust is now Bear Yuba Land Trust
Grass Valley, CA – Aug. 5, 2011 -- In recognition for the important northern Sierra foothills landscape in which we work, Nevada County Land Trust (NCLT) has changed its name to Bear Yuba Land Trust (BYLT). Bear Yuba Land Trust’s unique value comes from 20 years of working within the foothills from the Bear to the Yuba Rivers, and from the western crest of the Sierra peaks to the Sacramento Valley floor. Animal migration corridors, special habitat areas, watersheds and river canyons do not stop at the geopolitical county line, nor should conservation efforts. Read more >>>
Geri Vanderveer Bergen to be Honored for a Lifetime of Conservation Leadership at the Nevada County Land Trust Annual Oak Tree Ball
Grass Valley, CA - April 11, 2011 - Nevada County Land Trust, in celebration of its 21st anniversary is holding the second annual Oak Tree Ball on April 30 at Alta Sierra Country Club. In addition, NCLT will honor Geri Bergen with the William Nickerl Award for Conservation Leadership. Read more>>>
Nevada County Land Trust Names Fran Cole to President, Adds Two Program Staffers and AmeriCorps Member
Grass Valley, CA - January 15, 2011 - Nevada County Land Trust has made several changes to its Board of Directors including new officers, new members and retiring members. It has named Fran Cole as President. In addition, NCLT announces the hiring of Luci Wilson as Stewardship Coordinator and Field Biologist, Stacy Prater-Vigil as Youth Programs Coordinator, and Christopher Gee as Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Program (SNAP) Member. Read more>>>
Stop the Urban Southern California Water Grab from Nevada County!
Grass Valley, CA – July 22, 2010 – Remember the movie Chinatown? This situation is a déjà vu! A collection of Southern California urban communities are the primary funding source for a study to build an enormous dam on the Bear River, through an act of eminent domain, that will flood historic ranches, Native American archeological sites and permanently protected conservation lands. Read more >>>
Orene Wetherall Loop Trail on Banner Mountain Opens with Public Donations and Volunteer Labor; Nevada County Land Trust Kicks Off 2010 Trails Appeal for More Public Access Trails
Grass Valley, CA – June 16 2010 – Residents in the Banner Mountain area now have a new neighborhood trail thanks to the volunteer work parties and the many donations made to the 2009 Nevada County Land Trust Trails Appeal. The opening ceremony for the new trail was held as a part of this year’s National Trails Day, on June 5. Read more>>>
Nevada County Land Trust Honors John Taylor for a Lifetime of Conservation Leadership at the First Annual Oak Tree Ball
Grass Valley, CA – April 13, 2010 – "Mighty oaks from tiny acorns grow" is a well known Greek proverb. The oak is designated as the National Tree of the United States. Oak woodlands are the iconic landscape for California. Our Sierra foothill community are covered in oaks. Read more >>>
Nevada County Land Trust Holds Walk on the Wild Side Public Tours of Seven Conserved Lands on April 24
March 31, 2010 – Pastel painted fields of Spring flowers, cool silent pools created by beaver dams, fresh smells of the damp fertile earth. To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Nevada County Land Trust (NCLT) is honoring the tremendous community support for land conservation by offering seven public tours of permanently protected properties in our area. Read more >>>
2010 New Year’s Resolution Time: Please Join Team Land Trust!
January 8, 2010 – It’s that time of year when people are making New Year’s Resolutions again. Why not make one that supports land conservation in our community by volunteering with Nevada County Land Trust? Volunteers know their efforts directly help protect beautiful landscapes, local agriculture and open space right here in Western Nevada County. Plus volunteers have a lot of fun! Read more>>>
Nevada County Land Trust Accepting Applications for Al Salter Fund for the Benefit for Animals Grant
Grass Valley, CA – November 30, 2009 – Two years ago Nevada County Land Trust (NCLT) established a grant fund in the approximate amount of six hundred thousand dollars to be used to carry out the wishes expressed by Al Salter in his will, to promote the welfare of animals. For the third year in a row a committee made up of Land Trust Board members and community representatives, is accepting Requests for Funding from local animal welfare organizations and other interested parties. Read more>>>
Nevada County Land Trust Earns National Recognition: Accreditation Awarded by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission
August 10, 2009 (GRASS VALLEY, CA) – The Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, announced today that Nevada County Land Trust has been awarded accredited status. Read more>>>
LeeAnn Brook Creates Nevada County Land Trust Commemorative Poster
“Nature and open space has always been my first love as an artist,” said LeeAnn Brook, a Nevada City artist, graphics designer and owner of Brook Design Group, “ever since I was a young girl.” So when asked to create the first commemorative poster for Nevada County Land Trust, Brook felt the fit was perfect. “I quickly volunteered to not only design the piece, but to go out into the landscape and do the photography.” Read more>>>
NCLT Announces the Second William Nickerl Award for Conservation
Leadership Given to John Deveaux Olmsted
June 8, 2009 – NCLT announced Saturday at the local National Trails Day celebration the recipient of the second William Nickerl Award for Conservation Leadership in western Nevada County. Read more >>>
Dedication of Wildflower Ridge Trails: A Wild Landscape Close to Town
June 6, 2009 – Residents in the area west of Grass Valley along Rough and Ready Highway will soon have additional neighborhood trails thanks to the donation to NCLT of over two miles of public trail easement by Deer Creek Partner, a partnership managed by Grass Valley's Gold Country Lenders. Dedication of the new trail was conducted at a local celebration event on National Trails Day, 2009. Read more >>>
Stop the Closure of State Parks and Elimination of Williamson Act:
Maximum Pain; Minimal Gain
June 2009 – We urge your action to address two recent budget proposals that will have significant impacts on state parks and California's farmlands. In light of California's unprecedented economic crisis and the need to close an ever-increasing $25 billion budget gap, the Administration has proposed a host of deep budget cuts to balance California's budget. Unfortunately, these proposals include eliminating all General Fund support for Williamson Act subventions and state parks for what could be indefinitely. Read more >>>
Land Trust Summer Camp Inspires Early Appreciation of Nature
May 15, 2009 – This June, Burton Homestead will again be home to the Nevada County Land Trust Summer Day Camp. We will offer our usual Native American Camp and Nature Camp. Plus, we are adding a Kinder Camp for children ages 4-6 years. Camp begins June 8 and runs for 3 weeks through the end of June. On June 26th we will conclude our camp season with a potluck dinner and campfire for all the camp participants and their families. Read more>>>
National Trails Day: Community Celebration of Trails to be Held June 6
Grass Valley, CA – May 15, 2009 – On Saturday, June 6 community members will enjoy the second annual Nevada County Celebration of Trails. Events will include a series of hosted trail rides, walks, and other activities throughout the day, between 10:00 am and noon. At 12:30 pm, everyone is invited to a community event held in the parking area of Twin Cities Church in Grass Valley to share trails information and hear exciting announcements of new trails to be dedicated. Read more>>>
EquiTreks Ride at Willow Tree Ranch Announced
April 24, 2009 – EquiTreks are guided group rides on trails through open landscapes in Western Nevada County. The goal is to provide an enjoyable experience for horse lovers while encouraging an appreciation for our beautiful Foothills scenery and the desire to support conservation of this land for equestrian purposes. Read more>>>
2009 Grantees Announced: Al Salter Fund for the Benefit of Animals
April 8, 2009 – Nevada County Land Trust has announced the names of the organizations chosen this year to receive grant funding from the Al Salter Fund for the Benefit of Animals. Funds in the amount of $29,000 total will be distributed during this round. Read more>>>
Volunteers Complete Bridge Over Wolf Creek Linking Trail
March 18, 2009 – Fifteen volunteers worked tirelessly on a beautiful spring day last Saturday to finish constructing a trail bridge for Nevada County Land Trust. The new trail bridge over Wolf Creek along Brunswick Road is 30 feet in length, and was assembled in less than 8 hours. The bridge closes the missing link in a trail that parallels Brunswick Road from Town Talk Road to Loma Rica Drive. Read more>>>
Land Trust to Acquire Garden Bar Preserve: 652 Acres on the Bear River
January 2009 – In late 2008, NCLT entered into an agreement with a generous landowner to acquire an important landscape along the Bear River. The project includes 652 acres of Bear River frontage in southern Nevada County and is within the Spenceville Conservation Area Protection Plan. It is contiguous to 912 acres across the river which is protected with a conservation easement held by Placer County Land Trust. The acquisition of the Nevada County acreage will bring the total to 1,500+ acres of pristine watershed on either side of the river.
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Nevada County Land Trust Applies for National Accreditation
November 14, 2008 – Accredited land trusts meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. The accreditation seal lets the public know that the accredited land trust has undergone an extensive external review of the governance and management of its organization and the systems and policies it uses to protect land. Read more.....
Legal Dispute Over Land is Over: Community Wins!
September 8, 2008 – In a final ruling, Judge Robert Tamietti in the Nevada County and California State Superior Court has decided in favor of Nevada County Land Trust and landowners Bill and Anna Trabucco and Paul and Kellye Manuel in a civil lawsuit brought by adjacent landowner Ian Garfinkel who desired to build a road across protected land to gain access to his property.
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Winner of the First William Nickerl Award for Conservation Leadership Given to William (Bill) Nickerl
June 6, 2008 - Nevada County Land Trust (NCLT) announced today the establishment of the William Nickerl Award for Conservation Leadership in Western Nevada County. This award is named for William (Bill) Nickerl, an early organizer and founding Board member of Nevada County Land Trust. Read more...
Update: Salter Fund for the Benefit of Animals Grantees
March 7, 2008 – The Nevada County Land Trust has announced the names of the organizations chosen this year to receive grant funding from the Al Salter Fund for the Benefit of Animals. This announcement comes on the fifth anniversary of the gift of his land to the Land Trust on March 5, 2003. Read more...
Linden Lea Ranch Conservation Easement
Last weekend I was treated to a dinner cooked by Anna and Bill Trabucco at their newly- completed house off Bitney Springs Road. Anna and Bill lease land to rancher Jim Gates of Nevada County Free Range Beef, and were celebrating Jim’s long-awaited new label, recently approved by the US Department of Agriculture and that now adorns his packages of ground beef in BriarPatch’s freezer. Read more...
Two New Conservation Easements Totaling 240 Acres Announced
December 2007 – Thanks to the vision of two rural Nevada City families, the Nevada County Land Trust closed 2007 by conserving more than 240 acres within the Deer Creek watershed above Lake Wildwood. Al and Lynne Dover, who had previously donated a conservation easement on 15 acres of their Peaceful Valley Ranch, added over 83 acres to their easement. Just downstream, Holger and Tacy Hahn permanently conserved 158 acres on both sides of Deer Creek.