Celebrating all we accomplished, together!
As we look ahead to what 2024 will bring, we’re also looking back on all we were able to accomplish in 2023, thanks to our members, partners, and community supporters. You helped us protect and care for important lands and waters, restore fire-impacted lands, and connect people of all ages to nature and a love of the land.
We invite you to reflect with us and celebrate all you helped make possible in 2023.
Norm Williams
Conserve: Protecting priority lands and waters…forever!
As we begin a new year, we’re celebrating an important milestone. FRLT has helped conserve over 100,000 acres of ecologically important lands to benefit water, wildlife, and people for generations to come.
Lake Almanor protected!
At the end of 2023, in partnership with Pacific Gas and Electric Company, FRLT completed the conservation of Lake Almanor. The conservation easement held by FRLT permanently protects 29,057 acres of PGE-owned land at Lake Almanor—including the reservoir itself—from subdivision and detrimental land use changes. This marks the culmination of a 20-year effort with partners to conserve over 43,000 acres of PG&E-owned reservoirs and Maidu homelands in the North Fork Feather River region.
Read more about this important milestone to conserve the largest reservoir in the Feather River region.
Protecting a wildlife corridor at the Middle Fork Feather River headwaters
You also helped us make significant progress on an exciting project with Sierra Nevada Journeys. We’re working with the outdoor camp to permanently conserve their property and adjacent lands with conservation easements, protecting a vital wildlife corridor at the headwaters of the Middle Fork Feather River.
Protecting working lands that benefit us all
Your support has also helped FRLT continue partnering with private landowners across the watershed, from Sierra Valley to Mountain Meadows, to conserve biodiverse working landscapes that hold ecologically important meadows, wetlands, and forests.
Care for: stewarding lands for water, wildlife, and community
Your generous support enabled our Land Stewardship team to manage and enhance conserved lands and restore habitats impacted by the Dixie and Beckwourth Complex fires, including:
- Managing our 5 public preserves across the watershed for water, wildlife habitat, sustainable agriculture, outdoor classrooms, and accessible recreation
- Implementing year 2 of our 3-year Fire Recovery Initiative to mitigate immediate fire impacts, while developing long-term restoration and resiliency plans for conserved lands
- Working with Plumas Audubon Society and our local community to mitigate fire damage at the Heart K Ranch, including felling dead trees, returning biomass to depleted soils, thinning understory, and dispersing firewood to community members in Genesee Valley
- Monitoring conservation easements on 27 properties each year (nearly 35,000 acres) to ensure the conservation values of these lands are upheld. We also welcomed Roslyn Peters as FRLT’s new Conservation Easement Program Manager.
- Piloting a seasonal Land Stewardship program with our new skilled local Resource Crew to tackle land management projects across the watershed
FRLT/Kristi Jamason
FRLT/Sophia Micheletti
Connect: restoring relationship to land and place
This year, you helped us build community through events at our five nature preserves and connect people of all ages with nature, including:
Creating a vibrant future at the Sierra Valley Preserve
- Raising the roof for our new Nature Center with a lot of help from our friends—from installing straw bale insulation, to plastering the walls, to weaving our willow shade panels, many loving hands are helping to build this beautiful center for ecological learning and connection
- Planning new trails and wildlife overlooks, beautiful interpretive signage, and indoor exhibits to deepen all of our connection to the beauty, cultural history, and biodiversity of Sierra Valley
- Welcoming Jenna Holland as FRLT’s Public Programs Manager. Jenna has launched a strategic plan for programs, volunteer opportunities, and events to engage our local community and visitors at the Preserve
Stay tuned for exciting opportunities to enjoy the Preserve! The new Nature Center is set to open in early summer 2024.
Events on the land
Engaging with our members and the public on the land through events at our preserves like a 23rd birthday ski and snowshoe at Olsen Barn Meadow, Let’s Go Birding Together with Plumas Audubon, Sierra Valley Art & Ag Trail, and our fall field day at Heart K Ranch
Learning Landscapes: Growing the next generation of earth’s stewards
- Connecting 2,500 school kids to nature through our K-12 Learning Landscapes program and outdoor classrooms across the watershed
- Completing a Learning Landscapes Program Audit, which revealed that prior to Covid annual visitations was nine per teacher, in 2022-2023 it had grown to 20 Learning Landscape visits per teacher/class
- Participating in the Youth Writing the Land Anthology collection with area poet Hayli Nicole, which resulted in the publication of a book of poetry featuring local student authors (available for purchase soon)
- Hosting the 4th annual K-12 Leadership Summit through Learning Landscapes with environmental education staff from 15 land trusts across the US
Connect with us!
Get the latest updates and event invites
Only because of YOU
It has been a busy and rewarding year!
FRLT is here because of our community. Together we are protecting the places that make this region so special and enriching our connection to nature. Thank you to all our supporters for another amazing year. We can’t wait to see what we accomplish together in the year to come.
Every acre we conserve begins with you
Join us in protecting critical headwaters and habitats for thousands of plant and wildlife species
Current Initiatives
A new Nature Center at the Sierra Valley Preserve
A new Nature Center and Preserve headquarters is planned where visitors and locals alike can experience the wonders of Sierra Valley and deepen our understanding of the natural world and our place in it.
Fire Recovery & Restoration in the Feather River Watershed
We've created an Emergency Fire Response Initiative—a 3-year effort that changes the way we do business in light of climate-driven megafires. Learn more about our plan that's already underway.
Sierra Valley Conservation Partnership
We’re conserving working family ranches in Sierra Valley, which hold the Sierra Nevada’s largest wetlands and montane meadows and sustain incredible biodiversity.
Protecting PG&E Headwater Lands
We worked with PG&E and Maidu Summit Consortium to protect 43,000+ acres of important Maidu homelands, headwaters, and habitats for public benefit.
Katie Bagby
Donor Relations & Communications
Katie works with donors to raise a strong base of financial and community support to accomplish FRLT’s mission and conserve the magnificent Feather River Country. Since 2009, she has co-led FRLT’s communications, telling the story of what our members are making possible, now and for future generations.
