Van Norden Meadow Restoration and Recreation Project

The Sierra Nevada Conservancy is providing funding to the South Yuba River Citizens League to implement the Van Norden Meadow Restoration and Recreation Project on Tahoe National Forest land, focusing on a 485-acre meadow in Nevada County, California. The project will construct a 5.5-mile multi-use loop trail with interpretive signage, boardwalks, viewing platforms, and two new trailheads, alongside a connector trail that links the loop to the existing adjacent trail network. These improvements aim to formalize recreational access, reduce habitat degradation, and enhance visitor experience while protecting sensitive ecological resources. All construction and development activities will adhere strictly to the requirements outlined in Nevada County’s certified Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration, which concluded the project would not result in significant adverse environmental impacts. Funding for the initiative is sourced through the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, and the project has been reviewed and independently verified by the Conservancy as compliant with environmental standards. The work will be carried out in full alignment with the conditions established in Nevada County’s environmental review, which was certified on May 11, 2022. Point of contact for the project includes Andy Fristensky from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy’s Field Operations & Grants Division and Alecia Weisman of the South Yuba River Citizens League, who serve as key liaisons for coordination and oversight. The project is forecasted with a posted date of June 8, 2026, and all efforts are focused on sustainable recreation management within the ecological context of the Van Norden Meadow.