Help Summer Conservation and Stewardship after a Record Breaking Winter
As we turn the page on a winter for the record books, I’m excited about what this incredible snowpack brings – from increased water supply for people and nature, to the beauty of full lakes, lush meadows, and wildflowers galore on Truckee Donner Land Trust lands.
More than 50 feet of snow has fallen on Donner Summit so far, doubling the region’s average year. This winter is a reminder of nature’s awesome power and underscores the importance of conservation. Healthy meadows and forests are key to storing, moderating, and filtering water as it melts.
Following a winter of non-stop storms, the Land Trust’s stewardship team will have a lot of work to do, addressing numerous impacts to our lands and trails. The team is ready and eager to tackle those needs as soon as they can.
Deep winter snow in Lower Carpenter Valley (left) should make for great wildflowers this summer (right). Lupine photo by Geoff Griffin.
That’s where you can help. Please donate today to support the Land Trust’s stewardship crew as they take on the big projects that come after a big winter. We want to ensure these special places are ready for you to explore as soon as possible, and for generations to come.
Displaced boardwalks, rolled boulders, and downed trees are some of the projects winter will leave behind.
Big winters like this can mean clearing dozens of downed trees, moving displaced boulders off trails and repairing foot bridges like those in Johnson Canyon damaged by big snow loads.
The aftermath of a big winter can also mean realigning boardwalks pushed out of place in Lower Carpenter Valley and fixing the signage you rely on to access and enjoy the land.
Your support helps us work with hundreds of volunteers to care for 50 miles of trail as the snow melts, and complete necessary maintenance at the Webber Lake Campground and the Frog Lake Backcountry Huts.
We look forward to getting your favorite hike, run, ride, or overnight adventure in prime condition.
Your donation today will ensure the Land Trust can take on the large stewardship to-do list ahead. Your gift helps us care for our lands so that you, your family, and your friends will be able to enjoy open space now and in the future.
Your support also bolsters the Land Trust’s focus on forest health beyond the immediate stewardship priorities revealed after this winter.
Overly dense forests pose wildfire risks and draw too much groundwater, putting stress on the entire ecosystem. The Land Trust’s work in places like Donner Summit, Webber Lake, and Perazzo Meadows will ensure more water makes it downstream for improved water supply and ecological benefits near and far.
Your support will also help the Land Trust and our partners complete the restoration of Lacey Meadow and Van Norden Meadow. Protected and restored meadows better manage the massive spring runoff that occurs after big winters, and they store cool, clean snowmelt for the lean years.
Please make a gift today to safeguard the future of beautiful landscapes and ample, clean water in our region. Your donation helps the Land Trust continue to care for the forests, meadows, and watersheds we all rely on – this season, and every season.
Conserving new lands remains a top priority for the Land Trust. There are more mountain meadows, forests, and streams ahead that will be protected with your support. Each new acquisition builds on the last one, connecting protected landscapes, maintaining habitat connectivity, and growing our region’s resilience to a changing climate.
Your support grows the Land Trust’s conserved acreage and expands the recreation and access opportunities we all love.
With 40,000 acres protected and at least 25,000 more identified for future protection, there’s still so much work to do. I can’t wait to partner with you to see it done
On behalf of the board and staff of the Land Trust, I thank you for all you do, and look forward to all we can accomplish together.
Wishing you a beautiful spring season,
John Svahn, Executive Director
P.S. Your generous gift today will help the Land Trust tackle the big projects we anticipate after a big winter. Thank you for caring for diverse protected lands this year, and for generations to come.