This year marks the Truckee Donner Land Trust’s 35th anniversary – a significant milestone, but a milestone not often celebrated. The Land Trust’s 35th has me thinking about anniversaries of a different sort – the land conservation acquisitions that prominently mark our history over the last three-and-a-half decades.

*Rainbows over Schallenberger Ridge, photo by Michaela Webb.*

2025 celebrates the 30th anniversary of the first parcel protected on Schallenberger Ridge, a cornerstone of the Land Trust and the scenic backdrop to Donner Lake. This first acquisition, followed by many more on Trestle Peak, and in Lakeview and Donner Summit canyons, tripled the size of Donner Memorial State Park. Together they offer wildlife habitat and wonderful year-round recreation.

Whether you supported the Schallenberger Ridge project three decades ago, or have made a gift since, you are an important part of this conservation legacy.

Together, we can conserve the next Schallenberger Ridge, preserving important habitat and viewshed, and creating new access and enjoyment for all in the outdoors. Please make a gift to save more open space today.

Webber Lake celebrates its lucky 13th anniversary as a cherished destination for campers and day trippers who make strong connections with the natural beauty, history, and serenity of Webber’s waters, forests, and meadows.

Since 2012, the Land Trust has refurbished the campground and opened it to the public, restored the historic Webber Lake Hotel, and helped revitalize Lacey Meadows to improve habitat for the flora and fauna that call it home (including recently, elk).

We’ve added Frog Lake and its backcountry huts to our conserved open spaces since then, offering another fantastic way to experience Land Trust properties overnight.

Your gift today will ensure that future generations can enjoy the pristine beauty of Webber Lake and Frog Lake and come to love them as so many have already.

Eighteen years ago, the community came together to save the 1,400-acre Waddle Ranch, which in turn forged a partnership that protected thousands of acres in Martis Valley – with a plan to conserve thousands more! Following the acquisition, the Land Trust and its partners constructed several trail networks for people to enjoy, including connections with Truckee Springs and the Truckee River Legacy Trail.

And it’s hard to believe that Truckee Springs is already five years old!

Truckee Springs holds a special place in the Land Trust team’s hearts, as the community came together to support this project on the Wild Side of Downtown during the pandemic.

With the completion of the Legacy Trail and the new Eschenbach pedestrian bridge last summer, all the people walking, riding, and enjoying this oasis of nature in the heart of Truckee only adds to our gratitude for this wonderful community.

Your generosity today means the Truckee Donner Land Trust will be ready to protect the next important open space in the region – big or small – for nature, for people, forever.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this quick hike down memory lane, and you’re as excited for the next 35 years as I am.

With your support, we can conserve tens of thousands of acres more still in need of protection. And with each new conservation acquisition our work together grows.

Forest health projects, watershed restoration, trails, and so much more are critical to ensuring the lands we’ve worked so hard to save are cared for into the future, and for all to enjoy – the acquisition is just the beginning!

Thank you for joining me in celebrating the Truckee Donner Land Trust’s 35th anniversary with a gift today.

See you on the trail,

John Svahn
Executive Director

P.S. Your gift in celebration of the Land Trust’s 35th anniversary will ensure we can protect more open space and continue to care for what we’ve conserved for the next 35 years and beyond.

35th Anniversary - Why Conservation is More Important Now than Ever