Project at a Glance

• Year conserved: 2016 and 2017

• Acres: 1,320

• Project partners: Truckee Donner Land Trust, The Nature Conservancy

• Owned by: Truckee Donner Land Trust

• Things to do: Hiking, walking, wildlife and wildflower viewing

Conservation History & Values

The Washoe were almost certainly the first people to inhabit this valley as part of their seasonal movement throughout the northern Sierra. In 1846-7, the ill-fated Donner Party spent much of the winter camped nearby and later the valley was settled by dairyman William Carpenter and his wife, Julia, who migrated up from the Central Valley every summer to graze stock in its lush meadows. In the mid-20th century, a group of fishing aficionados bought the property and enjoyed it as a private retreat before deciding to work with conservationists to ensure its permanent protection.

In 2016, The Nature Conservancy and the Truckee Donner Land Trust, working together as part of the Northern Sierra Partnership, teamed up to conserve this outstanding property for future generations. The Nature Conservancy had first identified Carpenter Valley as a hot spot of natural diversity in its Sierra Nevada Ecoregional Assessment (1999).  The valley’s extensive mosaic of willows and wet meadows provides excellent nesting habitat for the threatened willow flycatcher. The landscape also supports a wealth of other bird and animal species, from northern goshawk to bald eagle, mule deer, mountain lion and black bear.

The North Fork of Prosser Creek is an important tributary of the Truckee River, the primary source of drinking water for the rapidly growing population of northern Nevada. The deep, spongy soils of Lower Carpenter Valley capture and hold spring runoff and release clean, cold water back into the river system throughout the summer. The creek is a potential recovery site for Lahontan cutthroat trout, a federally threatened fish that was documented in the creek as recently as the late eighties.

Recreation & Restoration

The Nature Conservancy and the Truckee Donner Land Trust, in consultation with the U.S. Forest Service, Tahoe Donner Association and the Truckee River Watershed Council, have designed a restoration plan for Lower Carpenter Valley to reduce erosion along Prosser Creek and otherwise improve the ecological health and resilience of the property.

In addition to protecting and restoring the outstanding ecological values of Lower Carpenter Valley, the partners are investing in facilities to help visitors explore and enjoy the property in all seasons. Trail crews have completed a wonderful new trail and boardwalks and are now finishing work on a new parking area with vault toilets.