Project at a Glance

• Year conserved: 2011

• Acres: 835

• Project partners: The Trust for Public Land, Sierra County Land Trust

• Owned by: Sierra County Land Trust

• Things to do: Hiking, mountain biking, backcountry skiing, fishing

Conservation History & Values

In 2011, the Trust for Public Land worked with the Sierra County Land Trust to purchase 835 acres at the heart of the Sierra Buttes, including Volcano Lake, Young America Lake, part of the rocky face of the Buttes and land along the shoreline of Upper and Lower Sardine Lakes. The acquisition provided new public access to the U.S. Forest Service look-out atop the Buttes and conserved habitat for a number of rare and endangered species. The lands conserved are at the headwaters of the North Yuba River, a critical source of clean water for our thirsty state.

The northernmost granitic outcropping in the Sierra Nevada, the Sierra Buttes rise more than 4,500 feet above the North Fork of the Yuba River, providing a stunning backdrop to the sparking lakes of the aptly-named Lakes Basin. Few realize that this ostensibly pristine landscape was the epicenter of extensive mining operations during the Gold Rush. Old mines and mining structures still dot the landscape, along with pre-World War II lodges and campgrounds that have accommodated visitors for generations. The 19,000-acre Lakes Basin still has a number of private in-holdings (totaling approximately 3,000 acres) that conservationists consider a high priority for protection given the Basin’s outstanding recreational and scenic values, as well as its importance for wildlife.

Recreation & Restoration

The Sierra County Land Trust is now the owner and steward of these and other lands it has acquired in the Lakes Basin, now totaling 1,645 acres. The Trust’s goals are to maintain the land’s ecological integrity, protect water quality for downstream users and safeguard the myriad of recreational opportunities for visitors.