Veater Ranch Conservation Easement Development Project (SNC1431-LC)

The Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) has amended grant agreement SNC1431 with the Sierra Foothill Conservancy to approve use of the remaining grant funds to conduct planning and due-diligence activities for a potential future conservation easement to be placed on approximately 1,063-acres just north of Fine Gold, Madera County. The SNC grant funds will be used to support grantee staff time for due-diligence activities, potentially including such items as a mineral remoteness opinion, a phase one environment site assessment (ESA) or transaction screen, an appraisal, review of the title report and resolution of issues, developing an agreement reflecting the final financial structure of the acquisition, a long-term adaptive management plan, a baseline conditions report, and a draft of the conservation easement terms. The project’s location in the greater Coarsegold area is within a network of other privately and publicly protected lands, including two other conservation easements on private ranches, Bureau of Land Management lands, and Sierra National Forest lands. This acquisition will fit into an existing greenbelt adjacent to route CA-41 where development is becoming more common.