About The Heart K
One of the Feather River Land Trust's most recent land acquisitions, the 883-acre Heart K Ranch in Genesee Valley, was purchased in December 2006. Purchase of the property was made possible with a low-interest, three-year bridge loan from The David and Lucile Packard Foundation with interest and principle being repaid with donations from private individuals and foundations.

FRLT is currently developing and implementing a management plan that will consider all the important values that make the ranch such a special place. The traditional uses of the ranch will be maintained, as ranching and sustainable timber harvest are balanced with the protection of riparian habitat along Indian Creek, black oak woodlands, and other sensitive areas on the ranch. Several Maidu cultural sites will be protected, along with the preservation of historical buildings and sites, with public recreation and education allowed on the ranch where ecologically compatible. Many of the above uses are already well underway.

The Land Trust and the local community will be working hard over the next years to raise the $2.5 million dollars to repay the loan, the $50,000 in annual holding costs, which include taxes and insurance as well as interest on the loan, and funding to manage the ranch. The ranch has three houses, three barns, and an irrigation system all suffering from deferred maintenance. The property has invasive plant challenges as well, but the many conservation values and community benefits afforded by the Heart K far outweigh these challenges. With the generous support of our members and volunteers, we remain committed and dedicated to doing right by the Heart K.

Feather River Land Trust