Trust for Public Land Transfers Sardine Meadow to Tahoe National Forest, Ensuring Long-Term Conservation and Restoration of the Pristine Meadow in the Sierra Nevada 

Truckee, CA — The Trust for Public Land (TPL), in partnership with the Truckee River Watershed Council (TRWC), is proud to announce the transfer of Sardine Meadow to the Tahoe National Forest (TNF), marking a significant advancement in preserving the ecological health and natural beauty of this critical meadow and riparian habitat. 

Decades of logging, overgrazing, and railroad construction left Sardine Meadow compromised, contributing to the spread of invasive species, erosion, and flooding. Since 2014, TPL has stewarded this nearly 600-acre property—part of the larger 1,500-acre Sardine Valley—working to preserve its natural resources and support comprehensive habitat restoration in partnership with TNF and TRWC. Now part of the Tahoe National Forest, Sardine Meadow fills a critical gap in the Sierra Nevada’s public lands, where private and public ownership alternates in a checkerboard pattern. 

“This transfer is a milestone for protecting California’s remarkable mountain landscapes and securing some of its most vital watersheds,” said Guillermo Rodriguez, TPL’s California Director. “Sardine Meadow is now safeguarded for generations to come, enhancing water quality, wildlife habitat, and recreational access for all who enjoy this treasured land.”   

In 2021, TPL and the TRWC completed extensive restoration of the meadow, revitalizing 350 acres and restoring five miles of historic stream channels. This work reestablished natural groundwater hydrology, helping to mitigate erosion, reduce habitat loss, and address severe degradation in the watershed. 

“Thanks to the work of our dedicated partners, Sardine Meadow is protected and restored,” said Rachel Hutchinson, acting Tahoe National Forest Supervisor. “This benefits not only the greater watershed but also the public, by providing recreation opportunities, drinking water, and natural defenses against drought, fire, and flood.”   

 “We have a goal of 50 priority stream restoration projects over the next decade. Our projects will restore hundreds of acres of meadow and forests streams in our watershed. Together, with our partners, we will restore our watershed to protect clean water, improve wildlife habitat, and reduce extreme risks of flooding, wildfires and drought in our community,” said Sue Drake, Development Director for the Truckee River Watershed Council. 

As the largest meadow in the Davies Creek watershed, Sardine Meadow lies at its heart in Sierra County, California. With its scenic landscapes and recreational appeal, Sardine Meadow is part of the nationally recognized Truckee-Little Truckee Watershed, one of the country’s “Treasured Landscapes” as designated by the National Forest Foundation. The area’s vibrant ecosystem includes habitat for species such as the willow flycatcher and Lahontan cutthroat trout. 

The protection of Sardine Meadow, in combination with the surrounding lands of the Tahoe National Forest, preserves this unique natural environment. Sardine Meadow’s proximity to Truckee, CA, and nearby destinations like Stampede and Boca Reservoirs makes it an accessible area for hiking, biking, and wildlife observation. 

“Our transfer of Sardine Meadow to the Tahoe National Forest not only secures a future for this remarkable mountain meadow but ensures its water resources, ecosystems, and recreational opportunities are protected for surrounding communities and future generations,” said Heidi Krolick, TPL’s Sierra Nevada Director. “The conservation of Sardine Meadow safeguards the watershed but also supports TPL’s Sierra Checkerboard Initiative, which seeks to consolidate and protect the natural beauty and cohesiveness of landscapes in the Sierra.”   

When construction of the Transcontinental Railroad began in 1863, the federal government granted railroad companies ownership of every other square mile of land, keeping the intervening sections. While this allowed railroads to fund construction by selling their sections, many public sections became part of national forests. Timber companies eventually acquired close to 75% of the private land, creating a checkerboard pattern of alternating private and public ownership across the central Sierra region. The Sierra Checkerboard Initiative is a multi-year effort to consolidate and protect these fragmented lands, including Sardine Meadow.   

The conservation of Sardine Meadow adds nearly 600 acres to the Sierra Checkerboard, an area of focused conservation investment by TPL, the Northern Sierra Partnership and other partners, which has led to the protection of over 120,000 acres since the program’s inception.

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About Trust for Public Land   

Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,364 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, and raised $110 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 9.4 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org 

About Tahoe National Forest 

Tahoe National Forest includes more than 850,000 acres of public land intermixed with 350,000 acres of private land in a checkerboard pattern. The Tahoe National Forest is responsible for managing the land for current and future generations and for a variety of uses. The forest is also one of the most popular forests for year-round recreation in the United States. 

About Truckee River Watershed Council 

Formed in 1996, the mission of the Truckee River Watershed Council (TRWC) is to bring the community “Together for the Truckee” to protect, enhance and restore the Truckee River watershed. TRWC believes a more sustainable tomorrow starts with the watershed. Their goal is to restore the entire 285,000-acre watershed (435 square miles)– so nature and humanity can thrive together for generations. To learn more, watch this episode from NBC Bay Area featuring the Truckee River Watershed’s work in Lower Perazzo meadow and Sardine meadow, highlighting the beauty and importance to nature and us of lush meadows in the Sierra Nevada.