Exclusive: State’s largest river park in works on Yuba

The Trust for Public Land is proposing to purchase 2,706 acres along the Yuba River — a deal that, if nailed down, could create the longest river conservation project in the state.

Straddling the borders of Yuba and Nevada counties, the land is a 9.5-mile stretch along the Yuba between Bullards Bar and Bridgeport. It is owned by developer Phil Lester and two partners, and it has been eyed for conservation for nearly a decade.

“We’re in pretty advanced discussions with the owner of the property. We don’t have a written agreement yet, but we hope to in the very near future,” said Erik Vink, project manager for the Trust for Public Land.

The group is a national nonprofit that works to acquire and protect lands for conservation. It has protected several properties in the Yuba River watershed and Spenceville Wildlife Area.

The Yuba River property supports water and power production facilities operated by the Yuba County Water Agency, an agency being considered to manage the land.

There has been no formal agreement with the water agency, which owns four power houses in the Yuba River watershed including the New Colgate, which generates more electricity than any other powerhouse supplying Pacific Gas and Electric Co.

On Tuesday, the Nevada County Board of Supervisors will consider approving a resolution in support of the Trust for Public Land’s acquisition of the site known as Rice’s Crossing for the purpose of promoting public access, recreational opportunities and preserving a wildlife corridor.

“The project will benefit the County of Nevada by protecting an important watershed and resource in the Yuba River,” said county Planning Director Jory Stewart in her staff report to the board. “The acquisition of the Rice’s Crossing property would provide a nearly complete recreational and habitat connection between the South Yuba River State Park and Bullards Bar Recreation Area.”

Small-town connections

The property made up of 13 different parcels is “also central to a 20-mile north-to-south oak woodland corridor” that begins at the California Department of Fish and Game’s Daughtery Hill Wildlife Area and extends to the University of California Field Research Station, south to Beale Air Force Base and the Spenceville Wildlife Area, Jory said.

No residences sit on the property, which has been logged in the recent past, Vink said.

“It would be the longest single river conservation project in the state of California,” said Shawn Garvey, member of the Yuba River Land and Water Conservancy, founder of the Sierra Fund and former director of the South Yuba River Citizens League.

(Garvey recently purchased one of the last level pieces of property overlooking the Yuba River canyon from naturalist John Olmsted.)

“It’s a beautiful piece of property,” Lester said of his own substantial holdings. “The river runs through it. It’s very inspiring to be at the top of the property.”

Lester and two partners purchased the land from PG&E about a dozen years ago.

In 2000 when Garvey was with the Sierra Fund, he approached Lester the intent of finding a public agency to purchase Lester’s land for conservation. He then introduced Lester to the Trust for Public Land.

Millions more needed to close deal

The deal is being aided by the Sierra Fund, which a year ago landed a $1 million grant from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy for the land acquisition.

The Sierra Fund is now headed by former Nevada County supervisor Izzy Martin. In the past has been overseen by such notable locals as retired state court of appeals Judge Bill Newsom and natural foods millionaire Michael Funk.

(Funk is the CEO of United Natural Foods Inc., the largest wholesaler of natural food. Funk also is a former SYRCL board member and lives in a high-end, off-the-grid home along a section of the South Yuba. He was with SYRCL when the river received federal Wild and Scenic designation.)

The Trust for Public Land must locate millions more dollars to secure the land acquisition. The group has applied for an additional $2.5 million from the California Resources Agency’s river parkway program and needs an additional $5 million from state, federal or other sources.

“It’s a tough environment out there for raising funding for these types of acquisitions,” the trust’s Vink said. “We hope we’ll be successful. That remains to be seen.”

To contact Staff Writer Laura Brown, e-mail lbrown@theunion.com or call 477-4231.