The watershedsheds of the Bear and Yuba rivers, in the Sierra Nevada foothills, are initmately linked to California's history, sense of place, and way of life. Their emblematic grasslands and rolling oak woodlands are rich in plant and animal diversity, provide critical habitat for threatened and endangered species, and host much needed outdoor recreation. The Bear and Yuba Rivers also carry vital water from Sierra Nevada snowmelt to homes and farms across the State.
Bruin Ranch
Placer County's Bruin Ranch offers the many environmental, economic and scenic benefits these foothills provide. As one of the largest intact oak woodlands ranches in the Bear-Yuba foothills, it was listed as high priority for protection in a 2008 regional conservation assessment. Its 2,300 acres include blue oak woodlands, annual grasslands and rangelands, seasonal wetlands, and riparian corridors - a diversity of available habitat for species of special concern, including the foothill yellow-legged frog, the black rail, and the western pond turtle.
Hikers and other nature lovers can find both excitement and solitude at Bruin Ranch, only a 20-minute drive from Interstate 80 in Auburn. The ranch's Bald Rock Mountain offers sweeping views of the High Sierra and the Central Valley, while the property includes nearly three miles of Bear River frontage.
Landscape Connections
In 2009, The Trust for Public Land, the Placer Land Trust, and the Nevada County Land Trust formed the Bear-Yuba Partnership to conserve the waterways, ranchlands, and oak woodlands of the Placer, Nevada, and Yuba county foothills. The conservation of Bruin Ranch is a cornerstone project in this strategic effort, linking to other conservation properties on both sides of the Bear River and helping to create a north-south wildlife corridor that includes protected lands along Coon Creek, home to some of the last remaining Chinook salmon in Placer County.
Threat
Located just outside Auburn, Bruin Ranch was slated for a residential subdivision offering easy access to jobs in Auburn and Sacramento. Given its scenic location along the Bear
River in the state’s fastest-growing county, the property continues to be at risk for residential development. The current slow-down of the housing market has provided the conservation community with one last opportunity to protect this special place and its valuable resources.
Our Vision for Protection
The Placer Land Trust and The Trust for Public Land are working to purchase Bruin Ranch. The goal is to protect the ranch from development while implementing management strategies that will conserve wildlife habitat, protect riparian areas, promote sustainable agricultural practices, and mitigate for climate change. Eventually, a public trail system would give visitors access to the ranch’s rivers, hills, and other natural features.
As planned, a system of hiking trails will connect Bruin Ranch to Placer County’s Hidden Falls Regional Park to the south, creating an unparalleled recreational experience in the Sierra Nevada foothills.
