What is Canyon Springs?
Two hundred ninety acres at the Eastern edge of Truckee, Nevada County. The site is adjacent to 4,500 acres of undeveloped land, known as Raley Teel, creating a gateway to the Martis Valley for connectivity, habitat, and refuge for wildlife in the Truckee-Tahoe watershed. There are seven parcels, making the landscape known as Canyon Springs or Tahoe Boca Estates. Various property owners have owned the parcels over the last three decades. There have been four failed development proposals since the mid-80s. See the location map HERE.
Why have development proposals been challenged on the site?
Since 1987, MAP has been challenging inappropriate development proposals on the site known as Canyon Springs and Tahoe Boca Estates. The property is a known and active wildlife corridor for the Loyalton-Verdi mule deer and other species connecting to the Martis Valley for refuge. The area was originally zoned for large acre parcels and not high-density housing at the edge of town. When the town was incorporated the zoning was increased to 3x the existing, approved density. The site has significant environmental constraints that need to be considered with development, such as expansive soils, high-severity fire danger, and a deer migration corridor.
What about Truckee-Tahoe’s workforce housing crisis?
Previous developers never intended for the site to accommodate the workforce due to the exorbitant cost of building necessary infrastructure, including roads and bridges. Lack of services, transit, increased greenhouse gas emissions, and vehicle miles traveled to make this one of Truckee's least suitable workforce housing options when considering the buildout of the community.
What are the environmental constraints?
The parcels contain many sensitive features, including seasonal wetlands, steep slopes, Washoe artifacts, expansive soils, drainage features to Glenshire Pond and Truckee River, high-fire, and critical wildlife habitat for migration and connection to the Martis Valley. More than thirty years of environmental analysis disclose the site's sensitive ecosystem attributes, which would create severe impacts if developed.
Under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), a project must disclose and work to mitigate environmental impacts to protect natural resources and dangers to protect public safety. If a project is unable to mitigate, jurisdictions can deny a project based on significant and unavoidable environmental impacts. Previous proposals could not mitigate development impacts due to increased greenhouse gas emissions, vehicle miles traveled, loss of habitat, and expansive soils and required a statement of overriding considerations in the EIR process.
What will it cost to permanently protect Canyon Springs?
The cost to purchase and steward Canyon Springs is $12,500,000. The purchase price to buy the land from the current owners is $11.6 million. The remaining funds we are working to raise will be for future stewardship and recreation planning. We need to raise $11.6 by December 15th to complete the purchase agreement.
Will Canyon Springs be open to the public?
Yes, the land known as Canyon Springs will be owned by the Truckee Donner Land Trust (TDLT), after successfully completing the acquisition campaign. TDLT plans to work with MAP, SOS Glenshire, and the community at large on future trail improvements.
Large Landscape Connectivity
The acquisition of Canyon Springs is one small piece of the puzzle for large landscape connectivity from Eastern Truckee, to the Martis Valley, Mount Rose Wilderness, and the Lake Tahoe Basin. MAP is actively working to protect 8,500 acres through our Save Tahoe campaign, while also working to help protect an additional 4,500 acres of privately owned land in Unincorporated Nevada County and Placer County. These efforts have been underway for many years, working to protect 12,000 acres from the threats of irresponsible development.
What are the future stewardship plans for Canyon Springs?
Future stewardship plans include forest and fuels management, trail improvements, habitat restoration for wildlife, trailhead construction, signage, pet waste stations, and community engagement to help preserve community open space in Eastern Truckee.
How can the community help support the acquisition?
Any donation amount can make a difference to protect open space in Eastern Truckee. All donations are tax-deductible through TDLT, MAP, and SOS Glenshire and will directly fund the purchase of Canyon Springs. Please share our social posts and emails too!
What happens if we are not able to raise all of the money?
The Truckee Donner Land Trust has always met fundraising goals for acquisitions, but if the land trust and partners are unsuccessful all donations will be returned to the donor.
How much has been secured?
The Martis Fund awarded a 6 million dollar grant and MAP and TDLT have 3.9 million in conservation funds to support the acquisition, leaving 1.7 million to raise.
Have other questions? Call our office at 530.582.6751 or email info@mapf.org