About Sierra Valley Preserve
Where the Middle Fork Feather River begins
Fast Facts
- 2,575 acres near Beckwourth, CA
- Purchased 2003-2019
- Protected for: Water, Wetlands, Biodiversity, Rare or threatened species, Climate resilience, Native homelands
- 1,100 acres of seasonal and permanent wetlands
- Home of the Sierra Valley Preserve Nature Center
- Landowner: Feather River Land Trust
Water & Ecology
The Sierra Valley Preserve’s network of braided wetland channels form the headwaters of the Middle Fork Feather River, a Wild and Scenic River. These high elevation freshwater wetlands support a rich variety of wildlife and botanical habitats including open water, and montane meadows, while upland areas include sagebrush, bitterbrush scrub, and dune habitats.
Photo by Andrew Wright/Lighthawkphoto
Photo by Jeff Bue
Photo by Andrew Wright/Lighthawkphoto
Photo by Andrew Wright/Lighthawkphoto
Flora & Fauna
Located along the Pacific Flyway, the Preserve’s 1,100 acres of seasonal and permanent wetlands and open water provide migratory and breeding habitat for 100+ bird species, including 17 rare or threatened species such as:
- Greater Sandhill Crane, Black Tern, and Yellow-headed Blackbirds.
Upland habitats support a diversity of wildlife species such as:
- Pronghorn, American Badger, Coyote, Western Meadowlark, Sage Thrasher, and mule deer herds.
Located at the convergence of three geographical regions, Sierra Valley is botanically biodiverse and includes unique plant species like:
- flowering bitterbrush, camas, Brown’s peony, sand lilies, Sierra Valley evening primrose, meadow penstemon, and wild iris.
Culture & History
The human history of Sierra Valley Preserve is as rich as its natural history. The Washoe and Maidu people are the first known inhabitants of Sierra Valley, managing and harvesting the valley’s abundant resources to sustain robust cultures, communities, and intertribal trade. Sierra Valley remains an important gathering place for Native people and continues to be an intermixing zone of cultural traditions from the Cascade, Sierra Nevada, and Great Basin regions.
The Preserve features a vibrant human history including prehistoric settlement and technology, native food and material procurement, historic exploration and transportation, European settlement, early settler agricultural practices, and water conveyance systems.
If you care about protecting Sierra Valley and the whole Feather River Watershed, don’t put off this decision: Join the Feather River Land Trust today and renew your membership every year. It is the best investment you can make in the long term sustainability of our region.
—Lucy Blake, Sierra Valley landowner and President, Northern Sierra Partnership
Working together to protect Sierra Valley Preserve
Conservation of the Sierra Valley Preserve is the result of a multi-year, multi-partner effort. In 2003, FRLT partnered with The Nature Conservancy and Sierra Business Council to acquire the 567-acre Maddalena Ranch, which the Maddalena-Tipton family leases a portion of for cattle-grazing. Collaborating again with TNC and the Northern Sierra Partnership, FRLT acquired the 331-acre Smith/Folchi Ranch in 2014 and the 1627-acre Bulson/Noble Ranch in 2016. FRLT’s most recent addition to the preserve, the 50-acre Marshall property, was protected in 2019 and is now the site of the Sierra Valley Preserve Nature Center.
FRLT, The Nature Conservancy, and the Northern Sierra Partnership worked together to create the new Nature Center for nature-based learning, recreation, and ecological stewardship.
Successful conservation of this special place would not have been possible without generous funding from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, the Community Foundation of Western Nevada, the Resources Legacy Fund, and the Northern Sierra Partnership, and with support for preliminary conservation work from the Firedoll Foundation, the Morgan Family Foundation, and FRLT member-donors.
Now more than ever, we need your support.
Help us protect vital agricultural lands, wetlands, and wildlife habitats
Stewardship of Sierra Valley Preserve
In 2018, FRLT adopted an ambitious land management plan for the Sierra Valley Preserve. Our approach to management is guided by the Preserve’s unique conservation values, visitor experience, and long-term sustainability. We use a wide range of adaptive management techniques to protect the Preserve’s ecological functions and water resources, including targeted livestock grazing of invasive species to enhance botanical species diversity. Scientific and anthropological research guides our work to protect the Preserve’s rich cultural and historical resources. An objective of the management plan is to work with tribal partners to incorporate Traditional Ecological Knowledge for stewardship and land-use when possible.
Recreation & Access
Sierra Valley Preserve offers a variety of recreational opportunities including birding, picnicking, trail walking, nature photography, and botanizing. Visitors can currently access the Preserve from three different entrance points. The Nature Center and North Entrance is located less than a mile south of the intersection of Highway 70 and County Road A23. There, experience exhibits and trails and learn about Sierra Valley’s unique ecology and cultural importance. The West Entrance is located approximately 2 miles south of the Nature Center on County Road A23, and features ADA access, a botanical trail, big views from the bluff trail and the historic Bulson House. The East Entrance (near the Maddalena corrals) is located on County Road A24, approximately 1.7 miles south of the intersection of Highway 70 and County Road A24. This property features a wildlife viewing platform, interpretive trail, picnic table, and benches. All outdoor facilities are open year-round, sunrise to sunset. The Nature Center is open Thursdays through Sundays, 10am to 3:30pm.
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Conservation FocusYou Can Count On Us
As a nationally accredited land trust, we are built to last. We leverage your donations with state, federal, and foundation dollars and strategic partnerships to achieve the greatest possible impact for the lands, waters, and people of the Feather River region. You can count on us to make careful and effective use of your support.
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