Deer and Mill Creek, Lassen National Forest: The parcel of landwill help complete a continuous protected fish and wildlife habitatarea along about 30 miles of Deer Creek, one of the most productivesalmon-producing streams in the Sacramento River system. As adam-free stream with little development, Deer Creek has abundantfish and wildlife. $1.5 million Eldorado Meadows, Eldorado National Forest: This project is part ofthe Sierra Nevada Checkerboard Initiative, a large ongoing effortto address land ownership patterns intermingled with private andpublic land. $1.5 million Stony Creek Consolidation; Shasta-Trinity National Forest: Thisparcel, within the congressionally designated Shasta-TrinityNational Recreation Area, is a donut hole in the midst of ForestService recreation facilities on the shore of Lake Shasta and isthreatened with incompatible subdivision and development.Acquisition will preserve the high quality visual character of thiskey recreation area while preventing lakeshore degradation andhabitat fragmentation.
$800,000 Fleming Ranch, San Bernardino National Forest: Will conserve andenhance resources in the San Jacinto Mountains in part byimplementing fire and biofuels management that would preventemissions release, maintain sequestration in forests, and throughrestoration practices advance carbon migration. $1.5 million Sierra Nevada Inholdings, Tahoe and Eldorado National Forests: Willleverage a large land donation to purchase vital areas threatenedby incompatible development. This acquisition will preserve anancient petroglyph, as well as conserve meadows, wetlands andriparian areas at the headwaters of the American and Yoba rivers.$2 million California/Oregon/Washington: Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, multiple national forests: Thearea was one of first two congressionally designated nationalscenic trials. The acquisition will help protect critical portionsof the 2,650 mile trail system that stretches from Mexico intoCanada.
The land will help protect key wildlife corridors thatsupport the migration of the grey wolf, grizzly bear, elk, deer,coyote and moose as well as protecting the trail from encroachingdevelopment. $1 million Colorado: Little Echo Lake, Arapaho National Forest: The acquisition willforever preserve a spectacular mountain lake and surrounding landadjacent to the 17,000-acre James Peak Wilderness Area andconcurrently protect Denver's water supply. Adding the parcel tothe national forest also will enhance recreational opportunities byproviding legal access into the wilderness area and nearbyContinental Divide Trail. The area is home to the federallythreatened Canada lynx as well as the Boreal toad and wolverinewhich are designated by the Forest Service as sensitive species.$950,000 Ophir Valley, Uncompahgre National Forest: The acquisition willprotect breathtaking mountain vistas, including a portion of theHowards Fork drainage, a narrow steep valley roughly 2,500 feetbelow the top of Ophir Pass, and areas that link Telluride toSilverthorne. Led Growing Lights
Recreational access for hunting and four-wheeldrives, fishing rock climbing, sightseeing, camping, hiking andhorseback riding will be significantly enhanced. $1.5 million Georgia: Georgia Mountains and Rivers, Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest:Georgia's national forests are near population centers numbering inthe millions, creating tremendous pressures for clean water andrecreation on the nearby public lands. These acquisitions focus onproviding recreation opportunities and protecting watershed andwetlands in an area where the viability and availability of clean,abundant water is critical. $2 million Idaho: Salmon-Selway Initiative Area, Salmon-Challis and Sawtooth NationalForests: The Morgan Ranch is an old homestead that lies upstreamfrom the Middle Fork of the Salmon River within the Frank ChurchRiver of No Return Wilderness Area. The 18 miles of Sulphur Creek,a tributary of the Middle Fork, provides significant spawning andrearing habitat for three species of fish listed under theEndangered Species Act: Chinook salmon, steelhead trout and bulltrout. Led Aquarium Lighting
$3.5 million Upper Lochsa, Clearwater National Forest: The parcel includeshabitat for threatened steelhead and bull trout, denning andforaging habitat for Canada lynx, critical elk winter range andportions of the Nez Perce National Historic Trail. The Nez PerceTribe has contributed more than $7 million in non-federal moniestoward aquatic habitat restoration in the Upper Lochsa drainagearea and proposes to continue funding of roughly $1 million peryear. $1 million Indiana: Hoosier National Forest: This project is focused on the protectionof the Lost River, a subterranean river that is associated with thesecond largest cave system in the State. The river supports aunique ecosystem that has been found to contain at least 15globally-imperiled subterranean species. Aquarium Light Fixtures
Acquisition of this parcelwill protect several sinkhole entrances to the Lost River cavesystem. $466,000 Michigan: Great Lakes/Great Lands, Hiawatha and Ottawa National Forests: Thisacquisition will directly support the Great Lakes RestorationInitiative by protecting watershed health and integrity in theGreat Lakes region. The project will also help ensure theconservation of the Sturgeon Wild & Scenic River and associatedwetlands. These parcels provide travel connectivity for theendangered Eastern Gray Wolf and the threatened Canadian Lynx aswell as habitat for other sensitive and endangered species.$640,000 Missouri: Missouri Ozarks, Mark Twain National Forest: The land, whichinclude prime riparian river frontage on the Current River, willhelp connect existing national forest lands to the Ozark NationalScenic Riverways. Consolidating the lands will help protectwatershed quality and provide maximum benefit for both resident andmigratory wildlife species.
$990,000 Montana: Legacy Completion, Lolo and Flathead National Forests: The projectwill enhance resource management within and adjacent to the Crownof the Continent by protecting healthy watersheds, diverse habitatsfor threatened and endangered species, and open space on alandscape-scale and public access to high quality recreationopportunities. This parcel is a part of the Montana Legacy project,one of the most ambitious conservation projects in modern ForestService history and includes a 111,740 acre donation fromconservation partners. $2 million Tenderfoot Part I, Lewis and Clark National Forest: The Tenderfootwatershed in Central Montana is remarkably diverse spanning areasfrom 3,200 feet elevations sub-alpine mountains to grass meadowsand riparian areas. The acquisition parcels will provide highquality water and fisheries habitat for west slope cutthroat trout,and habitat for elk, moose, deer and many other wildlife species.The land offers incredible scenic views and extraordinaryrecreation opportunities, especially for anglers and hunters. $2million New Mexico: Miranda Canyon Phase I, Carson National Forest: The land offersbreathtaking views from its numerous ridges and peaks of the RioGrande Gorge to the west and Wheeler Peak to the north.
Historicalfeatures include the Camino Real Trail, unique geologic featuressuch as a small volcano and 1.7 billion-year-old rock outcrops thatrival the age of rocks found at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.Hunting, sightseeing, camping, hiking, interpretation and horsebackriding will be enhanced. $3,442,000 North Carolina: North Carolina Threatened Treasures, National Forests in NorthCarolina: Nationally, land managed by the National Forests in NorthCarolina rank second in recreation visits but are among the mostvulnerable to adjacent commercial and residential development.Forest fragmentation is a major issue and the acquisition will helpto ensure recreation access, ecological integrity and watershedvalues on adjacent federal lands and for downstream resources. $1million Oregon: Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman NationalForest: One of America's most treasured landscapes, Hell's Canyonis renowned for its natural, historical, archaeological andrecreational values. The properties will serve as public gatewaysto thousands of acres of public lands and are home to 14 key fishand wildlife species, including Oregon's largest Rocky Mountainbighorn sheep herd. The land also contains habitat for rare plantsand at-risk bird species including the yellow breasted chat,mountain quail, Lewis' woodpecker and willow flycatcher.
$1,417,500 Oregon/Washington: Pacific North West Streams, multiple national forests: Landsselected for acquisition include key habitat for at-risk fishstocks. Immediate public benefits will be secured public access,increased recreation opportunities and more efficient long-termmanagement and restoration of key stream, riparian areas, tidalmarsh and estuary needed for bird and wildlife recovery. $1.1million Tennessee: Rocky Fork, Cherokee National Forest: This acquisition will provideprotection for what was recently one of the largest contiguoustracts of private forest land in the East. The Forest Serviceidentified Rocky Fork as a "national priority" because of its highnatural resource values and recreational opportunities including aportion of the Appalachian Trail, blue-ribbon trout fishing, and avariety of recreational activities such as wildlife watching, rockclimbing and hunting. $5 million Utah: Bonneville Shoreline Trail, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest:This parcel is becoming one of the last undeveloped areas on theWasatch Front for traditional summer/winter range for deer and elk.Several parcels have historical nesting habitats for peregrinefalcon, a sensitive species.
Unique features, such as waterfallsand montane riparian areas add to the biological and recreationalvalue of the land. $600,000 Uinta-Wasatch-Cache, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest: The landhas historic significance because it once supported construction ofthe Trans-Continental Railroad as well as the early fur trappingand logging industries. The acquisition offers a rare opportunityto enhance public access and sustain recreational opportunities,protect wildlife and fish habitat and limit the spread ofdevelopment. $1.2 million Washington: Washington Cascade Ecosystem, Wenatchee National Forest: Theacquisition is part of a larger, landscape-scale effort to resolvethe fragmented land ownership pattern across Washington's CentralCascades. Threading through the area are several north-southwildlife corridors that need to be protected and restored topreserve healthy wildlife populations.
$1.5 million Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2012. All rights reserved.
$800,000 Fleming Ranch, San Bernardino National Forest: Will conserve andenhance resources in the San Jacinto Mountains in part byimplementing fire and biofuels management that would preventemissions release, maintain sequestration in forests, and throughrestoration practices advance carbon migration. $1.5 million Sierra Nevada Inholdings, Tahoe and Eldorado National Forests: Willleverage a large land donation to purchase vital areas threatenedby incompatible development. This acquisition will preserve anancient petroglyph, as well as conserve meadows, wetlands andriparian areas at the headwaters of the American and Yoba rivers.$2 million California/Oregon/Washington: Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, multiple national forests: Thearea was one of first two congressionally designated nationalscenic trials. The acquisition will help protect critical portionsof the 2,650 mile trail system that stretches from Mexico intoCanada.
The land will help protect key wildlife corridors thatsupport the migration of the grey wolf, grizzly bear, elk, deer,coyote and moose as well as protecting the trail from encroachingdevelopment. $1 million Colorado: Little Echo Lake, Arapaho National Forest: The acquisition willforever preserve a spectacular mountain lake and surrounding landadjacent to the 17,000-acre James Peak Wilderness Area andconcurrently protect Denver's water supply. Adding the parcel tothe national forest also will enhance recreational opportunities byproviding legal access into the wilderness area and nearbyContinental Divide Trail. The area is home to the federallythreatened Canada lynx as well as the Boreal toad and wolverinewhich are designated by the Forest Service as sensitive species.$950,000 Ophir Valley, Uncompahgre National Forest: The acquisition willprotect breathtaking mountain vistas, including a portion of theHowards Fork drainage, a narrow steep valley roughly 2,500 feetbelow the top of Ophir Pass, and areas that link Telluride toSilverthorne. Led Growing Lights
Recreational access for hunting and four-wheeldrives, fishing rock climbing, sightseeing, camping, hiking andhorseback riding will be significantly enhanced. $1.5 million Georgia: Georgia Mountains and Rivers, Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest:Georgia's national forests are near population centers numbering inthe millions, creating tremendous pressures for clean water andrecreation on the nearby public lands. These acquisitions focus onproviding recreation opportunities and protecting watershed andwetlands in an area where the viability and availability of clean,abundant water is critical. $2 million Idaho: Salmon-Selway Initiative Area, Salmon-Challis and Sawtooth NationalForests: The Morgan Ranch is an old homestead that lies upstreamfrom the Middle Fork of the Salmon River within the Frank ChurchRiver of No Return Wilderness Area. The 18 miles of Sulphur Creek,a tributary of the Middle Fork, provides significant spawning andrearing habitat for three species of fish listed under theEndangered Species Act: Chinook salmon, steelhead trout and bulltrout. Led Aquarium Lighting
$3.5 million Upper Lochsa, Clearwater National Forest: The parcel includeshabitat for threatened steelhead and bull trout, denning andforaging habitat for Canada lynx, critical elk winter range andportions of the Nez Perce National Historic Trail. The Nez PerceTribe has contributed more than $7 million in non-federal moniestoward aquatic habitat restoration in the Upper Lochsa drainagearea and proposes to continue funding of roughly $1 million peryear. $1 million Indiana: Hoosier National Forest: This project is focused on the protectionof the Lost River, a subterranean river that is associated with thesecond largest cave system in the State. The river supports aunique ecosystem that has been found to contain at least 15globally-imperiled subterranean species. Aquarium Light Fixtures
Acquisition of this parcelwill protect several sinkhole entrances to the Lost River cavesystem. $466,000 Michigan: Great Lakes/Great Lands, Hiawatha and Ottawa National Forests: Thisacquisition will directly support the Great Lakes RestorationInitiative by protecting watershed health and integrity in theGreat Lakes region. The project will also help ensure theconservation of the Sturgeon Wild & Scenic River and associatedwetlands. These parcels provide travel connectivity for theendangered Eastern Gray Wolf and the threatened Canadian Lynx aswell as habitat for other sensitive and endangered species.$640,000 Missouri: Missouri Ozarks, Mark Twain National Forest: The land, whichinclude prime riparian river frontage on the Current River, willhelp connect existing national forest lands to the Ozark NationalScenic Riverways. Consolidating the lands will help protectwatershed quality and provide maximum benefit for both resident andmigratory wildlife species.
$990,000 Montana: Legacy Completion, Lolo and Flathead National Forests: The projectwill enhance resource management within and adjacent to the Crownof the Continent by protecting healthy watersheds, diverse habitatsfor threatened and endangered species, and open space on alandscape-scale and public access to high quality recreationopportunities. This parcel is a part of the Montana Legacy project,one of the most ambitious conservation projects in modern ForestService history and includes a 111,740 acre donation fromconservation partners. $2 million Tenderfoot Part I, Lewis and Clark National Forest: The Tenderfootwatershed in Central Montana is remarkably diverse spanning areasfrom 3,200 feet elevations sub-alpine mountains to grass meadowsand riparian areas. The acquisition parcels will provide highquality water and fisheries habitat for west slope cutthroat trout,and habitat for elk, moose, deer and many other wildlife species.The land offers incredible scenic views and extraordinaryrecreation opportunities, especially for anglers and hunters. $2million New Mexico: Miranda Canyon Phase I, Carson National Forest: The land offersbreathtaking views from its numerous ridges and peaks of the RioGrande Gorge to the west and Wheeler Peak to the north.
Historicalfeatures include the Camino Real Trail, unique geologic featuressuch as a small volcano and 1.7 billion-year-old rock outcrops thatrival the age of rocks found at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.Hunting, sightseeing, camping, hiking, interpretation and horsebackriding will be enhanced. $3,442,000 North Carolina: North Carolina Threatened Treasures, National Forests in NorthCarolina: Nationally, land managed by the National Forests in NorthCarolina rank second in recreation visits but are among the mostvulnerable to adjacent commercial and residential development.Forest fragmentation is a major issue and the acquisition will helpto ensure recreation access, ecological integrity and watershedvalues on adjacent federal lands and for downstream resources. $1million Oregon: Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman NationalForest: One of America's most treasured landscapes, Hell's Canyonis renowned for its natural, historical, archaeological andrecreational values. The properties will serve as public gatewaysto thousands of acres of public lands and are home to 14 key fishand wildlife species, including Oregon's largest Rocky Mountainbighorn sheep herd. The land also contains habitat for rare plantsand at-risk bird species including the yellow breasted chat,mountain quail, Lewis' woodpecker and willow flycatcher.
$1,417,500 Oregon/Washington: Pacific North West Streams, multiple national forests: Landsselected for acquisition include key habitat for at-risk fishstocks. Immediate public benefits will be secured public access,increased recreation opportunities and more efficient long-termmanagement and restoration of key stream, riparian areas, tidalmarsh and estuary needed for bird and wildlife recovery. $1.1million Tennessee: Rocky Fork, Cherokee National Forest: This acquisition will provideprotection for what was recently one of the largest contiguoustracts of private forest land in the East. The Forest Serviceidentified Rocky Fork as a "national priority" because of its highnatural resource values and recreational opportunities including aportion of the Appalachian Trail, blue-ribbon trout fishing, and avariety of recreational activities such as wildlife watching, rockclimbing and hunting. $5 million Utah: Bonneville Shoreline Trail, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest:This parcel is becoming one of the last undeveloped areas on theWasatch Front for traditional summer/winter range for deer and elk.Several parcels have historical nesting habitats for peregrinefalcon, a sensitive species.
Unique features, such as waterfallsand montane riparian areas add to the biological and recreationalvalue of the land. $600,000 Uinta-Wasatch-Cache, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest: The landhas historic significance because it once supported construction ofthe Trans-Continental Railroad as well as the early fur trappingand logging industries. The acquisition offers a rare opportunityto enhance public access and sustain recreational opportunities,protect wildlife and fish habitat and limit the spread ofdevelopment. $1.2 million Washington: Washington Cascade Ecosystem, Wenatchee National Forest: Theacquisition is part of a larger, landscape-scale effort to resolvethe fragmented land ownership pattern across Washington's CentralCascades. Threading through the area are several north-southwildlife corridors that need to be protected and restored topreserve healthy wildlife populations.
$1.5 million Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2012. All rights reserved.