SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Bureau of Land Management has acquired the Lost Coast Redwoods property from Save the Redwoods League ensuring lasting protections of approximately 4,500 acres along eight miles of California coastline. Conservation of the Lost Coast Redwoods benefits coastal wildlife and future public access. Funded by the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund, Save the Redwoods League, and the State of California’s Wildlife Conservation Board and Coastal Conservancy, the acquisition includes a diverse ecosystem of old- and second-growth redwoods in northern Mendocino County and builds on decades of work that has now protected over 53 miles of the coastline. 

“Putting eight miles of gorgeous coastline and redwood forests into public ownership is a remarkable gift to the public and future generations,” said BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning. ”Thanks to our partnership with Save the Redwoods League and the State of California, the Lost Coast Redwoods will now be managed in cooperation with Tribes and protected. We’re grateful to everyone who worked so hard on making this acquisition possible.”   

The future management of the Lost Coast Redwoods is supported by the Lost Coast Redwoods Sustainable Stewardship Endowment established through a $2 million donation from Save the Redwoods League, made possible through the Foundation for America’s Public Lands, the official charitable partner of the BLM. The endowment establishes a sustained source of funding available to the BLM for stewardship, public access, tribal engagement and in support of long-term conservation for Lost Coast Redwoods. 

Much of the region was in active timber production since the 1880s. Save the Redwoods League started to purchase portions of the property in 2008 and completed the entire acquisition in December 2021. The League has been actively working on restoration and public access projects on the property for over a decade.  The Bureau looks forward to continuing stewardship of the property with Tribal partners. 

The Land and Water Conservation Fund was permanently authorized in 2019. In 2020, Congress passed the Great American Outdoors Act, providing $900 million in Land and Water Conservation Fund funding annually. Congress allocates this funding to the BLM, the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and state and local governments. 

The Foundation for America’s Public Lands was chartered by Congress in 2017 and officially formed in 2022. The Foundation operates and raises private funds to help raise awareness, increase access, and inspire stewardship of more than 245 million acres of U.S. public lands and waters. 

REDDING, Calif. – In order to provide benefits to wildlife, open new recreational opportunities, and protect a historical area from potential development, the Bureau of Land Management has purchased approximately 3,200 total acres of new public land in areas from the Great Basin in northwest Nevada to the Pacific Coast in northern California.

“These successful land purchases underscore the BLM’s commitment to conserving vital habitats, enhancing recreational opportunities, and preserving the natural beauty of public landscapes for future generations, in alignment with the President’s America the Beautiful conservation initiative,” said Dereck Wilson, manager of the BLM Northern California District. “We extend our gratitude to the dedicated landowners and partners who made these achievements possible.”

The acquisitions include:

•    Greater Sage Grouse Habitat:  The BLM purchased eight parcels covering nearly 1,300 acres within areas designated as priority sage grouse habitat in Washoe County, Nevada. Containing springs, riparian areas, and meadows, these parcels provide ideal conditions for greater sage grouse, mule deer, and pronghorn. Acquiring these properties for public ownership enhances access to surrounding public lands and opens opportunities for hunting upland game birds and big game. The lands will be managed by the Applegate Field Office.

•    Mule Deer Winter Range:  Purchase of this 280-acre parcel along U.S. Highway 395 south of Susanville, California, will allow conservation of crucial mule deer wintering habitat along an important migration corridor. The newly acquired land, managed by the Eagle Lake Field Office, will also greatly improve public recreation access to the northern slope of the Diamond Mountains, a northern extension of the Sierra Nevada range.

•    Bald Mountain Special Recreation Area: This 760-acre property managed by the Eagle Lake Field Office will improve access to a popular recreation area offering 20 miles of equestrian, hiking, and mountain biking trails. The area lies between the Lassen County communities of Janesville and Standish. The acquisition opens access to the trails from the east side of Bald Mountain, complementing existing west side access. Bald Mountain provides users with expansive views of the Honey Lake Valley and a great spot to enjoy the sunrise over the Lassen County high desert.

•    California National Historic Trail: The Rush Creek parcel, 800 acres of high desert east of U.S. Highway 395 near Susanville, preserves portions of the Nobles Emigrant Trail, a segment of the California National Historic Trail. Managed by the Eagle Lake Field Office, the property contains lush stream corridors and supports greater sage grouse, pronghorn, migratory birds, raptors, and fish. It also offers excellent public access for hunting, fishing, hiking, and photography. This acquisition provides protection from potential development and includes water rights, bolstering resource resilience for the future. 

•    Guthrie Creek Expansion: The BLM has acquired the Guthrie Creek parcel adjacent to Lost Coast Headlands, an onshore unit of the California Coastal National Monument. The 143-acre parcel located west of Ferndale is managed by the Arcata Field Office and features a half mile of coastline, beach access, grasslands, coastal bluffs, and an untouched section of Guthrie Creek. Its forest teems with wildlife such as blacktail deer and black bears. Additionally, the parcel offers potential for expanding the Guthrie Creek Trail, creating new opportunities for coastal trail recreation access.

Since 2021, the BLM Northern California District has completed a total of 15 acquisition projects, securing more than 4,100 acres of new public land, comprising about $5 million in total funding. These acquisitions contribute to the nearly $44 million in planned expenditures to acquire approximately 14,000 acres for public ownership within the BLM Northern California District by the end of 2024.

These efforts, supported by the Land and Water Conservation Fund and the State of California Off-Highway Vehicle Fund, aim to preserve critical habitats, enhance recreational access, and protect vital ecosystems across Northern California and northwestern Nevada. The LWCF also provides grants to state and local governments for acquiring and developing new outdoor recreation opportunities. These accomplishments also contribute to the 30 by 30 initiative, a national goal to conserve 30 percent of America’s lands and waters by 2030.