FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 21, 2011

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA: Building on its longstanding commitment to conservation in the Sacramento River Bend, the American Land Conservancy (ALC), in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), today added another 10 acres to the popular recreation area 120 miles north of Sacramento. The property is now in public ownership and will be managed to protect important wildlife habitat and provide new outdoor recreation opportunities.

The Sacramento River Bend Outstanding Natural Area (ONA) is a roughly 18,000-acre area managed by the BLM that is under consideration as a National Recreation Area. It 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.

“ALC has had a long-term commitment to the Sacramento River Bend and we are excited to build on past efforts through another acquisition in this unique area,” said ALC president, Kerry O’Toole. “This area provides an excellent mix of recreation benefits and high quality habitat for fish and wildlife, and we are proud to be part of conserving it.”

The project conserves riparian areas, oak woodlands, and anadromous fish habitat. This is the third contiguous parcel ALC has acquired in three years, adding approximately a half mile of river frontage with high quality shoreline riparian habitat and a unique view of the River Bend and surrounding land.

American Land Conservancy has worked with BLM in the Sacramento River Bend since 1992, protecting 1,662 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 roughly 14,000 acres along the Sacramento River in the past 20 years.

“Project by project we are completing a puzzle of protected properties in the Sacramento River Bend,” said Edward Stanton, ALC Central Valley & Foothills Program manager. “It is important for wildlife to have contiguous habitat in order to thrive– especially in an area that otherwise is experiencing extreme development pressures. The protected areas of the ONA will only continue to increase in conservation importance over time.”

The area also 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.

The protected property had been developed as a single family residence in the 1960s. As a result of this project, the structures will be removed, riparian areas will be enhanced, and the property will be restored to oak woodland. Lands throughout the Sacramento River Bend ONA have faced immense development pressure. This and other projects completed by ALC and BLM in the area protect important habitat and create new public access to an array of outdoor recreational opportunities. ALC and BLM are continuing their partnership here, with additional projects underway that will further expand the Sacramento River Bend ONA.

Learn more about ALC’s work in the Sacramento River Bend Area here.

Contact: Edward Stanton, Program Manager
415-912-3666
ed@alcnet.org

American Land Conservancy is a non-profit conservation organization that conserves 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 Sacramento River Bend Area of Critical Environmental Concern is managed by BLM's Redding Field Office.