Placer Land Trust

Recently I learned that the Placer Land Trust (PLT) has become involved in efforts to acquire private inholdings in and around the North Fork canyon. They are looking at parcels between Secret Ravine on the west (near the base of the Stevens Trail), and Green Valley on the east (near the base of the Green Valley Trail).

In this they seem to be allied with the American River Conservancy in its "Giant Gap Project." Lands purchased would go to the BLM, which administers the North Fork American Wild & Scenic River from Green Valley to the Colfax-Iowa Hill bridge.

The desired parcels include some, but not all, of the 800 acres currently for sale in the Gold Run Diggings. I consider acquisition of these lands to be of the very highest priority; they contain much of the Canyon Creek Trail and the Paleobotanist Trail, as well as the historic hydraulic mine pit of the Gold Run Ditch & Mining Company. I only wish the scope were broadened to encompass all the 800 acres.

The PLT's homepage is at

http://www.placerlandtrust.org/

and may I suggest, they are worthy of our support, and can accept tax-deductible donations. Information may be obtained by emailing

info@placerlandtrust.org

With regard to the PLT's work in the North Fork, the Sacramento Bee reports as follows:

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Trust receives donation

By Art Campos -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Thursday, November 18, 2004

The United Auburn Indian Community has donated $50,000 to Placer Land
Trust, a nonprofit agency that is raising money to buy and preserve 630 acres
of wildland within the North Fork American scenic corridor.

The tribe, which owns and operates Thunder Valley Casino, presented the
check Saturday in a ceremony at Beermann's restaurant in Lincoln.

The UAIC established the Community Giving Program as a philanthropic branch
of its tribal government. It provides up to $1 million annually to nonprofit
groups that support education, health, arts, the environment, community
development and social services.
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