New Public Lands Expand Sacramento River Bend Outstanding Natural Area
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 10/01/2010
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA: The Sacramento River Bend Outstanding Natural Area (ONA) 120 miles north of Sacramento grew by nearly 10 acres recently when the American Land Conservancy conveyed another parcel of high priority habitat to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The 9.73-acre property, conveyed to BLM in August, is now in public ownership, the newest addition to the 17,000-acre ONA. The area is a low-elevation landscape containing now-rare oak woodlands, 25 miles of some of California’s last intact riparian habitat, and excellent spawning grounds for salmon and steelhead trout. Funding for the acquisition was secured through the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund program.
“The Sacramento River Bend is one of California’s historic ecological and recreation treasures,” said Kerry O’Toole, President of ALC. “ALC is proud to be part of protecting this unique area, which provides excellent recreation benefits to people as well as high quality habitat for fish and wildlife.”
In addition to conserving riparian and oak woodland habitat, preventing residential development, and creating important long term outdoor recreation opportunities, the acquisition adds approximately a half-mile of river frontage with high quality shoreline riparian habitat, and includes a tremendous and unique viewshed of the River Bend and surrounding land.
American Land Conservancy has worked with BLM in the Sacramento River Bend since 1992, protecting 1,652 acres to date (including this property). ALC’s long-standing work with local landowners and other stakeholders in this area has made it an integral part of ongoing conservation efforts in the region. With the help of ALC and other partners, the BLM has acquired nearly 14,000 acres along the Sacramento River in the past 20 years.
“This acquisition places another small but critical piece in the puzzle for the Sacramento River Bend,” said Natural Resource Specialist, Kelly Williams, of BLM’s Redding, California Field Office. “This parcel was a prime building lot on the river and its purchase prevented further habitat fragmentation in this fragile riparian system.” The parcel is also within a region designated as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) by the BLM.
The 40,000-acre Upper Sacramento Area of Critical Environmental Concern contains approximately 52 miles of Sacramento River frontage as well as multiple tributaries of the Sacramento River. The Sacramento River winds through oak forested bluffs and canyons and makes three sweeping oxbow bends within the ACEC.
The area has a rich cultural history, serving as the historic territorial intersection of the Yana and Nomlaki Native American tribes. It is also a popular canoeing, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and wildlife viewing area. Securing this property, which was under immense development pressure, ensures important riparian habitat is protected, and also creates new public access to an array of outdoor recreational opportunities. ALC and BLM are continuing their partnership in the area, with additional projects underway that will further expand the Sacramento River Bend ONA.
Learn more about ALC's work in the Sacramento River Bend ONA here.
American Land Conservancy is a non-profit conservation organization dedicated to protecting America’s natural heritage by conserving land for the benefit of people and wildlife. Since its founding in 1990, ALC has conserved more than 256,000 acres of land and water resources, working landscapes, parks, and wildlife habitat across the country. This project is part of ALC’s Central Valley & Foothills Program, which has protected more than 20,000 acres in the region.
The Bureau of Land Management is an agency within the U.S. Department of the Interior that administers 261 million surface acres of America's public lands. The 17,000-acre Sacramento River Bend Area of Critical Environmental Concern is managed by BLM's Redding Field Office.
Contact: Ed Stanton, Program Manager
415-912-3666
ed@alcnet.org
