Sierra Booster April 25, 2003 FEATHER RIVER LAND TRUST  is pleased to announce the purchase of the 575-acre Maddalena ranch property in Sierra Valley. The land will be managed to continue grazing, host educational-visits by local schoolchildren, provide public recreational opportunities, conserve world-class wetland resources, and improve water quality. Benefit to Sierra Valley Economy    Wetlands on the property are home to more than 100 bird species and help improve our economy by supporting valuable Feather River fisheries and bird-watching opportunities. The purchase will also help ensure that the largest mountain valley in California, 30 minutes from Reno and 40 miles from Lake Tahoe, is maintained in agricultural production for generations to come......."The purchase of our property by the land trust will be a great benefit to our ranching operation" said Tony Maddalena. "The funds raised by the purchase helped us buy additional property adjacent to our home ranch in Sierra County, assisting us in our goal of consolidating operations to achieve a more cost effective business." In addition, Tony says any chance it could have been a golf course and doubled the size of Sierraville is now eliminated. "Its nice to know we have control," he says. In not wanting Sierra Valley to be a suburb of Reno or Truckee, Tony defends the Sierra County general plan, which ensures it stay rural with open space......."When ranchers and private organizations can work together to protect rangelands, wetlands, and important natural resources white helping to maintain ranching an integral part of the landscape in our valley, everybody wins," said Paul Hardy, Executive Director of the Feather River Land Trust....Tony admits people have a right to be leery over a land trust, but he feels the real enemy is big developers. He plans to lease back the Plumas County property for grazing. He is especially pleased over a plan to abandon the 1913 Hawley Townsite of 432 small lots near Beckwourth...The purchase was negotiated by a partnership between the Quincy-based Feather River Land Trust; the Sierra Business Council, a Truckee based business group that works to secure the social, natural and financial health of the Sierra Nevada; and the Nature Conservancy, a leader in national conservation efforts, who provided real estate services and advice.......The bulk of the funding for the project was provided through the Sierra Business Council with a generous grant from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. Additional funding came from donors to the Nature Conservancy and Feather River Land Trust......The ranch will continue in cattle production and adopt stewardship measures to help protect the headwaters of the Feather River. Land Trust to Pay Property Tax   "0ur land trust is very conscious of the financial pressures on local governments in these tight times," said Michael Yost, President of the Feather River Land Trust. "That is why, even though nonprofit organizations qualify for tax exemptions, we pledge to support our local government by paying property taxes on the Maddalena Ranch and other properties we protect."....."We can't wait to start running educational programs and tours on the property. We are also excited about supporting the local ranching community by leasing the property to continue grazing. We look forward to being a good neighbor in the valley for years to come," said Feather River Land Trust Board member Betsy Kraemer. Paul Hardy adds they are interested in development consistent with grazing and habitat protection and have talked about using some of the land for the proposed Sierra Valley Natural History Museum......The Maddalena property is the first acquisition by the Feather River Land Trust, which was formed three years ago by local residents. The mission of the land trust is to conserve and restore lands that make the Feather River region special. The land trust is supported by a membership of nearly 500 local residents and property owners. It is the second successful project by the Working Landscapes Initiative, a program of the Sierra Business Council designed to provide tools to landowners for protecting productive agricultural lands while adopting good stewardship practices. back to in the News

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