Quincy – After a six-year process, Bucks Lake is now protected through the Feather River Land Trust’s conservation facilitation.
The lake is a PG&E-run reservoir in Plumas County that has historically been used for recreational purposes. A conservation easement provides protection of the site from land development, while allowing the public to access the body of water.
A press release issued Friday by the land trust said the final papers were turned over to the Plumas County Recorder’s Office on November 23, at which time the conservation facility was official.
Bucks Lake and its surrounding forest have more than 30 species that have special status such as willow flycatcher, Sierra marten, quincy lupine and mountain yellow-footed frog, the release said.
“Success prohibits lakeshore subdivision and large building development that may affect native plants, animals and historical/cultural sites,” the release said. “The conservation easement at Bucks Lake connects to a larger landscape of protected land, with the adjacent Plumas National Forest and Bucks Lake Wilderness creating connectivity for wildlife and plant communities.”
After its bankruptcy in 2003, PG&E was required to preserve at least 140,000 acres of undeveloped forest in order to protect local forests, lakes and other natural lands.
“About 44,000 acres of these watershed lands are within the Upper North Fork Feather River watershed,” the release said. “(The Feather River Land Trust) is working to permanently preserve these Feather River watershed lands, which include Bucks Lake, Mountain Meadows Reservoir, Tasmam Coyom (Humbag Valley), Butte Valley, Lake Almanor and others , in which protection is easy.”
The protected area includes 2,154 acres of land and water as well as 300 acres of grasslands, forests and wetlands.
PG&E will retain ownership of the land and continue to operate the reservoir.
