By Michael Mott / Auburn Journal
Beneath birds overhead and undisturbed ponderosa pines Thursday, leaders of Placer Land Trust officially donated 417 acres of American River lands to California State Parks.
The public land was the largest amount given in Northern California to state parks, about the size of Disneyland, said nonprofit Placer Land Trust, which has protected about 8,000 acres since its creation.
The “Big Bend North Fork Preserve” is part of the Auburn State Recreation Area east of Applegate and offers several access points to rafters, swimmers and kayakers.
A ceremony overlooking the river Thursday included an additional $95,000 endowment for land management, made possible by national nonprofit the Trust for Public Land and the original landowner, Foresthill Land Company. The land was originally three parcels that could have been developed, but now is protected in perpetuity.
Voters made the transaction possible, through $1.3 million in grant funding in 2013 from the California River Parkways grant program of the California Natural Resources Agency. The program started in 2002 under Prop. 50 and later supported by Prop. 84 funds from 2006. This year, $7.6 million was available for projects.
Placer Land Trust purchased the land at that point, serving as an intermediary between the landowner and state parks. They partnered with the Trust for Public Land, a national nonprofit which creates parks, but doesn’t acquire the land itself. They helped provide the $95,000 with the private landowner, ensuring the land can be managed going forward by state parks.
In 2013, the initial idea was it would be transferred immediately to state parks, but the state agency said they weren’t ready to take the property, which would have costs associated for fuel management, habitat protection and public recreation.
Placer Land Trust had to make a decision on whether then to hold the land, perhaps indefinitely, involving management costs and other fees going forward.
“Frankly, we were willing to hold it forever if necessary,” Executive Director Jeff Darlington said. “But within two years, they were ready to take on the commitment.”… Read more