From skiing, to backpacking, hiking and boating, there is so much to treasure about the Sierra and its stunning natural beauty. But as we enjoy winter weekends and summer vacations in the mountains, it’s easy to forget that these landscapes are under threat due to development, drought and climate change.
Palo Alto’s NSP is working to preserve the stunning beauty of the Sierra
Enter the Northern Sierra Partnership: A collaboration that maximizes impact
That’s why Palo Alto Pulse was excited to learn about the Northern Sierra Partnership (NSP), a Palo Alto-based collaboration of five environmental and conservation groups that is working to preserve six priority landscapes that are integral to the financial and ecological health of the Sierra.
Five nonprofits make the NSP a force for conservation
The groups included in the NSP are: the Feather River Land Trust, the Nature Conservancy, the Sierra Business Council, Truckee Donner Land Trust and the Trust for Public Land.
Jim and Becky Morgan, the Los Altos-based founders of the Morgan Family Foundation, provided the funding that encouraged the five groups to form the NSP in 2007.
50,000 acres conserved…and counting
Since its founding, the NSP has saved or acquired over 50,000 acres of land in its target area (roughly bordered by Highway 88 in the south and Highway 36 in the north) using two key strategies:
1) Acquisition: The NSP raises funds from supporters in the Bay Area, the Sierras and beyond to buy and restore land, making it available to the public for hiking and exploration.
2) Conservation easements: the NSP also works with Sierra-based ranchers to purchase the development rights for their land, allowing the ranchers to continue their livelihood in exchange for agreeing to never sell to developers.
“Conservation easements make good sense financially for land preservation advocates and for ranchers,” said Lucy Blake, NSP’s President. “The NSP’s organizations are working on a series of easements in the Sierra Valley that could double the amount of protected land in the next three to five years.”
Four keystone projects…including the latest just acquired in August 2015
Through these two strategies, the NSP and its partner organizations have preserved four large areas that provide essential open space in the Sierra:
Thanks to the NSP, Independence Lake is now open for hiking, boating and wildlife
- Waddle Ranch in Martis Valley: This former ranch is now preserved as a beautiful meadow near Truckee. See map and fact sheet for Waddle Ranch.
- Independence Lake, north of Truckee: Due to the efforts of the NSP, cut throat trout and kayakers can now enjoy this alpine lake. See map and fact sheet for Independence Lake.
- Royal Gorge cross country ski area: The NSP worked quickly to buy this 3,000 acre resort when it went into foreclosure, preventing 950 condos from being built on the land. See fact sheet for Royal Gorge.
And the newest acquisition, just completed in August 2015:
- American Rivers Headwaters: this 10,000 acre parcel is near Highway 90 in Placer County and will be a testing ground for water conservation and fire abatement techniques.
At this pace, the NSP is on track to preserve 100,000 acres by its target date of 2020.
If the NSP is focused on the Sierra, why is it based in Palo Alto?
Two reasons: leadership and resources. Both NSP’s executive director, Lucy Blake and campaign director, Elliot Wright, live in or around Palo Alto, and this location is an ideal hub for reaching supporters in Silicon Valley and the Bay Area.
“The ‘secret sauce’ of the NSP is our financial partners, both here and in the Sierras,” said Lucy Blake.
Care about the mountains…or your drinking water? If yes, get involved
The NSP is looking for supporters and advocates from Palo Alto who want to be part of its growing movement to preserve land in the Sierra.
While skiers, hikers and Tahoe vacation homeowners might resonate with NSP’s mission most easily, it’s important to remember that the Sierras are also the source of 60% of the drinking water in Palo Alto. Clearly, the health of this region is essential for all of us.
“From recreation to fire risk to clean water, there are so many compelling reasons to support land conservation in the Sierra. It’s an investment that’s good for you and for all of California,” said NSP’s Lucy Blake.
To learn more, visit the NSP website (www.northernsierrapartnership.org) or send email to lmendoza@northernsierrapartnership.org.
All photos courtesy of Northern Sierra Partnership.
helping preserve the Sierra is important for everyone in California
