Bar One Ranch

Plumas & Sierra Counties

Protecting rangeland from growth pressures

The 13,120-acre Bar One Ranch in the Sierra Valley encompasses over 10% of this pristine watershed and represents the largest ranch in two counties. The easement is a major step to ensure that the 130,000-acre alpine valley, the largest of its kind in the Sierra Nevada, remains in ranching for generations to come.  Located 25 miles north of Truckee and only thirty minutes drive from Reno, Sierra Valley is a choice target for future development.  The region's ranching and ecological assets are both threatened by growth pressures, which are the norm for much of California but relatively new to the valley.  While the valley's total population is only about 15,000, demand for affordable housing and second homes is emanating from rapidly growing nearby areas, including Truckee and Reno. The ranch's owners chose California Rangeland Trust to hold the easement to achieve the protection of a productive cattle ranch while also preserving valuable habitat and maintaining the stunning scenicviews of this historic and pastoral working landscape. Partners contributing to the Bar One conservation easement transaction include the Bar One Cattle Co., Sierra Business Council, The Nature Conservancy, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and California Rangeland Trust.Funding for the Bar One easement came from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the Resources Law Group and the Wildlife Conservation Board.