Placer County to spend $2.1 million from oak preservation fund for 279‑acre Vista Ranch conservation easement

The Placer County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 4 approved a $2.1 million contribution from the county’s Oak Preservation Fund to support Placer Land Trust’s purchase of a 279‑acre property known as Vista Ranch along the Bear River and adjacent to Camp Far West Reservoir.

County real-estate manager Jeremy Sutter described the property as oak woodland with minimal improvements and some existing cattle grazing. Placer Land Trust is under contract to acquire the land and asked the county to provide funds from the Oak Preservation Fund to complete the acquisition. Sutter said the property’s appraised value is $2,948,000 and the landowner is already contributing a discount; Placer Land Trust will provide $153,000 toward the acquisition and will own and maintain the property.

Under the structure approved by the board, Placer Land Trust would take fee title; Placer Conservation Authority (PCA) would hold an oak‑tree conservation easement and perform required surveying, monitoring and annual reporting. PCA staff said the easement also would allow the property to be included in the county’s Conservancy/Conservation Reserve (PCCP) reserve system and its endowment could help fund long‑term management. County staff and conservation partners said grazing would continue as part of a management plan; Placer Land Trust and PCA will monitor grazing to ensure it meets habitat management goals.

Supporters from Placer Land Trust and the Placer County Grand Jury Association praised the partnership; some members of the public asked for additional public information about the buyer and the details of grazing leases. County staff clarified that the funds are county tree‑mitigation (Oak Preservation Fund) dollars and not state grant funds. The board approved the funding and related transaction by roll-call vote.