Washoe Homelands Returned in Northern Sierra

About the WélmeltiɁ Preserve

Protecting wildlife habitat and restoring Native homelands

Fast Facts

• 10,274 acres in Sierra and Lassen Counties, near Loyalton
• FRLT-supported return to Washoe ownership in 2026
• Wildlife species: Pronghorn, mule deer, wolves, mountain lions, Greater sage grouse, burrowing owl, prairie and Peregrine falcons
• Protected for: Open space, Native homelands, Rare and threatened wildlife species, Water, Biodiversity
• Landowner: Waší·šiw Land Trust

Working together to protect the WélmeltiɁ Preserve

The acquisition of the WélmeltiɁ Preserve is the culmination of a four-year collaboration between the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, the Feather River Land Trust, and the Northern Sierra Partnership. FRLT’s seasoned land protection staff worked closely with the Washoe Tribe to provide technical assistance on this project, which is one of the larger tribal land return efforts in California history.

The Tribal Council of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California formed a new land trust—the Waší·šiw Land Trust—in 2025 to facilitate the return of land from throughout the tribe’s expansive Sierra homelands to the ownership and care of the Washoe people. FRLT will continue to partner with the new Waší·šiw Land Trust as they get established and further conserve and steward Washoe homelands.

Funding for the purchase of the WélmeltiɁ Preserve was provided by the California Wildlife Conservation Board, a state grant-making agency dedicated to safeguarding California’s spectacular biological diversity and wild spaces for the benefit of present and future generations, in addition to support from private foundations and donors.

History & Culture

Since time immemorial, the Washoe people have inhabited a vast homeland, from south of Lake Tahoe north to Honey Lake and west to the Sierra Crest. During the Gold Rush and Silver Rush, Washoe people were violently and forcibly removed from their land. In the 1970s, the Loyalton Ranch property was purchased by the City of Santa Clara to explore geothermal energy sources, which was never pursued. In 2023, the City of Santa Clara listed the property for sale. The WélmeltiɁ Preserve is now conserved and returned to Washoe ownership and care, through the newly formed Waší·šiw Land Trust.

Water & Ecology

The WélmeltiɁ Preserve is located at the eastern edge of Sierra Valley near Loyalton and spans north into Lassen County. From sagebrush scrub and grasslands to conifer forests, aspen groves, and wet meadows, this beautiful landscape holds an outstanding diversity of habitat types and a rich network of 27 miles of creeks and springs, contributing a steady flow of clean water year-round. This water then makes its way to Sierra Valley, feeding the headwaters of the Middle Fork of the Feather River.

Flora & Fauna

With elevations ranging from 4,920 feet to 7,560 feet, the WélmeltiɁ Preserve’s diverse habitats and year-round water sources sustain a remarkable diversity of wildlife, including 33 special status species—from yellow warblers and Peregrine falcons to American badgers and ringtails.

The tribal preserve is largely surrounded by public lands, adding to a network of conserved lands in this critical wildlife corridor. Pronghorn, mule deer, mountain lion, and gray wolf range through the property, moving from winter habitat in the east to summer habitat in the west. The land also supports plants of cultural importance to the Washoe people, including pinyon pine, a food source that has been devastated by recent wildfires throughout Washoe homelands.

Stewardship of the WélmeltiɁ Preserve

The Waší·šiw Land Trust will be working to renew the abundance of culturally important flora and fauna on the land for traditional food and medicine, protecting sacred sites, reestablishing gathering places for tribal ceremony, restoring the landscape, and deepening tribal connection to the land through language and educational programs, especially for youth.

Ownership & Access

This property has been in private ownership since these lands were occupied during western settlement, including the decades the City of Santa Clara owned it for potential geothermal development. The WélmeltiɁ Preserve is now owned and managed by the Waší·šiw Land Trust for ecological and cultural restoration. Public access is not allowed at this time. The Waší·šiw Land Trust’s priority is to assess the baseline conditions of the preserve, including identifying and mitigating hazards. As part of their planning process, they will evaluate if and where public access is appropriate without hindering conservation and cultural goals. The Waší·šiw Land Trust welcomes input from Tribal members, the broader community, and interested partners. Please send comments or questions to info@wasi-siwlandtrust.org.

Learn more about the Waší·šiw Land Trust

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You 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.