LOWER CARPENTER VALLEY
Truckee Donner Land Trust and its partners, The Nature Conservancy, and the Northern Sierra Partnership are pleased to announce Lower Carpenter Valley, 1,320 acres just north of Truckee’s Town boundary and the Tahoe Donner subdivision. The Valley contains a variety of habitat types and is a top priority for biodiversity conservation in the Sierra Nevada. The entire Valley, thanks to conservation-minded private landowners to the west and the previous owners, provides an extremely large, complex mixture of high quality Sierran habitat.
If the Land Trust and its partners had not acquired the 600 acres in the lower meadow mere eight miles from downtown Truckee, it might have been subdivided into seven estate parcels. The impacts from development would be devastating to the meadow and rich habitat the lower meadow provides.
field notes
COOL FACTOR
Lower Carpenter Valley includes wet meadow, fresh water emergent wetland, riverine, and fen habitat types, as well as red fir, lodgepole pine, and mixed-conifer forest. It supports wildlife species including black bear, mountain lion, bobcat, coyote, and various bird species and is summer range for the Loyalton-Truckee deer herd. Several special-status species are likely found in Carpenter Valley including willow flycatcher, wolverine, mountain yellow-legged frog, and Pacific fisher.
Given its size, healthy geomorphic condition, and hydrologic regime, Carpenter Valley retains a large quantity of runoff from the Sierra Crest. During the summer, the meadow feeds Prosser Creek with clean, cold water, that in turn sustains high quality aquatic habitat in Prosser Creek and the Truckee River. It is, in short, an example of how a subalpine Sierra meadow should work. A field guide to wildflowers in the Valley is brought to you by Ann Penfield. Federal and state officials have identified the North Fork of Prosser Creek that bisects the meadow as ideal for the recovery of native Lahontan cutthroat trout.
WHAT TO DO
A new nature trail was completed for public access in 2020. The 2.75-mile one-way trail wanders above Prosser Creek on the edge of the forest and meadow, with long stretches of boardwalk to help protect the sensitive meadow habitat. Keep an eye out for beaver in the creek, many species of flowers and migrating birds in the meadow, and the always-impressive sandhill crane. The trail re-joins the dirt road for a short period of time to avoid private property.
To protect the delicate biodiversity, no dogs are allowed in Lower Carpenter Valley. Not even on leash – please leave your 4-legged pals at home.
The Valley contains a variety of habitat types and is a top priority for biodiversity conservation in the Sierra Nevada.
HOW TO GET THERE
Find Carpenter Valley road, the only turn North off Alder Creek Drive between the Tahoe Donner subdivision and Highway 89. This Forest Service dirt road is gated in the winter but drive-able in the summer. Four-wheel drive vehicles are recommended in early season when there are traces of snow on the road. Follow Carpenter Valley Road 2.25 miles from Alder Creek to a locked gate with Truckee Donner Land Trust signage. Please park in the parking area on the right hand side.
LOWER CARPENTER VALLEY WILDFLOWER GUIDE
Click the image to download a PDF to print.
RULES, REGULATIONS, GOOD TO KNOW
Clarifying ownership: Part of Carpenter Valley remains in private ownership. The Land Trust owns approximately 63% of the meadow that comprises the Valley’s floor that is the conservation prize. A lateral moraine neatly divides Land Trust and private ownership. (Please see map this page.) For good relations with the Land Trust’s neighbors, it is important to respect their right to privacy and not trespass onto property to the west. Signs mark the property boundaries.
Conservation Easement: Lower Carpenter Valley is a hotbed of biodiversity and your Land Trust is implementing a conservation easement that will allow us to protect it. No dogs or horses, please.
OTHER LAND TRUST PROPERTIES IN THE AREA
Crabtree Canyon
Part of the Lower Carpenter Valley acquisition, Crabtree Ridge/Crabtree Canyon was protected by a conservation easement and transitioned to Tahoe Donner Association’s land portfolio in April 2016. Tahoe Donner has winter cross country skiing trails (trail pass required at Tahoe Donner Cross County) and summer hiking and mountain biking trails accessible through Euer Valley.
Approximately 3 miles as the crow flies North of Carpenter Valley over Carpenter Peak, it’s on the Land Trust’s to do list to link Lower Carpenter Valley to Independence Lake via trail. Stay tuned!