The Royal Gorge Acquisition Frequently Asked Questions

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1 The Acquisition The Royal Gorge Acquisition Frequently Asked Questions (If you do not find your questions answered, please call the Truckee Donner Land Trust office at ) Q. What properties are included in the Royal Gorge acquisition? A. The acquisition includes the 2,829-acre Royal Gorge property on Donner Summit extending from Sugar Bowl, around Lake Van Norden and Serene Lakes, spanning the crest of the Sierra, and dropping down into the upper reaches of the North Fork American River Canyon (See available map). The purchase includes the Royal Gorge Nordic Center, Van Norden Meadow, and 355 acres in Negro Canyon above Donner Lake. Also included in the purchase, although not noted on the map, is the bottom of Serene Lakes and part of the shoreline. We intend to convey this parcel to the Sierra Lakes Water District that provides water to local residents from the lake. Ice Lakes Lodge, Rainbow Lodge and Long Lake are not included in the deal. Q. What are the terms of the Purchase Agreement? A. The Truckee Donner Land Trust and the Trust for Public Land, with the assistance of the Northern Sierra Partnership, have agreed to acquire the property for $11.25 million, with an additional $2.25 million needed for the property s longterm conservation, stewardship, and associated costs to the campaign. The contractual deadline to raise these funds is December 20, Q. Who is signed on to the agreement?

2 A. The Trust for Public Land and the Truckee Donner Land Trust, as buyers, and receiver Douglas Wilson Companies, as seller, are party to the agreement. Q. Is the agreement for a fee purchase, or the placement of a conservation easement? A. It is a fee purchase. A conservation easement is likely to be recorded sometime after closing on the majority of property for additional protection. Property not encumbered is likely to go to a public entity such as the United States Forest Service, the Department of Fish and Game. Q. What would happen to the property if the necessary funds are not raised by December 2012? A. The property would revert back to control by creditor Armed Forces Bank. Q. Who will own the property? A. The Truckee Donner Land Trust will hold title to the property. Uses will be limited to conservation and recreation purposes; the Land Trust will embark on a community process to establish a more detailed land management plan. Q. Will you sell carbon credits to PG&E or another industry in need of carbon credits in order to raise money? A. The Truckee Donner Land Trust looked at carbon credits but the management requirements for the conservation easement are onerous and do not fit with grant agreements from public agencies. (TDLT also pursued carbon credits for the Waddle Ranch acquisition, and, after substantial expenditure, realized it wasn't a good fit. We think the market needs to "mature"). Q. Can the Nature Conservancy assist with the acquisition? A. The Nature Conservancy is involved providing expertise regarding Van Norden Meadow and future management and restoration. The Nature Conservancy is an active partner in the Northern Sierra Partnership, and through this partnership has been working to help raise funds to support the acquisition of Royal Gorge.

3 Donner Summit Q. Why do historians consider Donner Summit "The most important square mile in California?" A. Donner Summit is the cultural crossroads of the American West. It s home to a stunning history from the spear points and rock art of the Martis Indians and wheel ruts of the first wagon trains, to the snow sheds of the transcontinental railway and the paved contours of Interstate 80. Q. Does Donner Summit have important natural resource values? A. According to Michael White of Conservation Biology Institute, "The Sierra Nevada is recognized as one of the most biologically diverse regions of the world, and Donner Summit supports important, and increasingly threatened, elements of this diversity." Q. Does Donner Summit provide important habitat for Sierra wildlife? A. No complete field study exists, but initial assessments reveal a wealth of Sierra wildlife, from the Mountain Yellow-legged frog to the Pine Marten. Donner Summit is home to sixteen species of amphibians, twenty species of mammals, and at least 100 species of birds, including Northern Goshawks, Bald Eagles, Golden Eagles, and Spotted Owls. Notably, the native willows and meadows of Summit Valley and along McKay Creek provide habitat for the state-listed endangered willow flycatcher. Other special-status animals that are known to occur in the Donner Summit region include: Harlequin Duck, Black Swift, Yellow Warbler, and probably Wolverine, Pacific Fisher, and Sierra Nevada Red Fox. Donner Summit can seem like a hostile environment to winter travelers. But the region and that diverse flowering plant population provides habitat for 115 different species of butterflies. According to Dr. Art Shapiro, of UC Davis, "Donner, for area, has one of the richest butterfly faunas documented in North America." Donner Summit also plays in important role in the surrounding Sierra environment as a bridge between existing and proposed wilderness areas Granite Chief and Castle Peak.

4 And Donner Summit is the source-point of drinking water for three important watersheds: the Yuba, American, and Truckee Rivers. Q. What kind of forest resources are found on Donner Summit? A. Outside our National Parks, one of the only remaining large stands of virgin, old growth forests in California is found in the Donner Summit region. Q. What kind of plants survive on Donner Summit? A. More than 500 species of vascular plants, representing more than one third of all plant families in California, are known to occur in the Donner Summit region. At least sixteen special-status plants species thrive on Donner Summit, including the starved daisy, long-petaled lewisia, and the Donner Pass buckwheat. Q. For what recreational opportunities is Donner Summit famous? A. Donner Summit is a hiker's paradise, including a stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail. It's the birthplace of California ski resorts. And Royal Gorge Nordic Center provides some of the best cross-country skiing opportunities in the United States. Q. How will the acquisition affect the economy on the summit? A. The agreement will ensure that Royal Gorge Nordic Center, which generates over $1 million dollars in gross revenue and employs up to 75 people, will stay in business. And furthering Donner Summit's role as a summer destination for recreation will benefit outdoor and tourist based businesses. The Royal Gorge Property Q. Where is the property located? A. The Royal Gorge property is located on Donner Summit just south of Interstate 80 and near the town of Soda Springs. It borders Sugar Bowl, extends around Lake Van Norden and Serene Lakes, spans the crest of the Sierra, and dips down into the upper reaches of the North Fork American River Canyon. (See map.) Q. Why is it important to maintain cross-country ski operations at the Royal Gorge Nordic Center?

5 A. Royal Gorge Cross Country Ski Resort provides an epic trail experience and iconic mountain scenery. Snow Country Magazine declared it the number one cross country ski resort in all of North America." Q. What will happen to the Royal Gorge Nordic Center? A. Sugar Bowl Corporation will operate the ski area and are committed to improving the quality of the nordic ski experience to match its legendary brand. The acquisition of the property will open the way to expanded all-season recreation at Royal Gorge and create a more vibrant economy in the Truckee Donner region. The agreement ensures that the Nordic Center will be open for the season. Sugar Bowl is offering two ski passes for 10 years to any donor who gives $250, or more. Q. Is Sugar Bowl contributing to the purchase? A. Sugar Bowl Corporation is not contributing monies but is instrumental in helping to raise $3 million from its homeowners, which is essential to the deal. Q. Is there any chance of commercial development on the lands? A. With Sugar Bowl managing the ski area, there may be some re-development of the five-acre Summit Station area. Sugar Bowl is planning extensive upgrades to Summit Station. Q. What will happen to the lands? A. After a public outreach process, the Truckee Donner Land Trust plans to create a network of trails to help visitors explore the remarkable scenic and natural diversity of Royal Gorge, as well the extraordinary historic and recreational assets of the Northern Sierra Crest: the Pacific Crest Trail, Donner Lake Rim Trail, Western States Trail, and Emigrant Trail, among others. Q. What will happen to the dam at Lake Van Norden? A. The future status of the dam is undetermined; the agreement provides great opportunities for wetlands restoration at Van Norden Meadows.

6 Q. Will I be able to give my input regarding the future plans for Royal Gorge? A. Yes, starting in the spring of 2013, the Land Trust will begin an extensive outreach program to all concerned stakeholders to assist with developing a land management and recreation plan. You can be sure to be contacted for your input by signing up for the Truckee Donner Land Trust s e-newsletter from the home page of their website: Development Threat Q. Does the Royal Gorge property really need protection from development? A. In the short-term, community opposition and infrastructure constraints make large-scale development unlikely. But, in the long run, the property could be carved up by a series of subdivisions. Current county zoning calls for as many as 3,238 new houses for the Royal Gorge property -- potentially fueling speculation. Q. What was the most recent development threat to the property? A. In 2005, would-be developers bought Royal Gorge and floated a proposal that would have spread development to every corner of the far-flung property, remaking Donner Summit with new roads through the forests, new dams in Sierra headwaters, and 200 acres of sewage spray fields. Q. Why did that development proposal fail? A. There are three basic reasons why that development project failed: (1) the downturn of the resort real estate market; (2) the lack of infrastructure -- most notably roads, sewer service, and water supplies; and (3) an effective and strategic campaign coordinated by Sierra Watch, local residents, second homeowners, and their conservation allies. What Happens Next Q. What needs to happen for the deal to go through?

7 A. The Northern Sierra Partnership is managing a coordinated effort with TDLT, TPL, and their conservation allies to raise $13.5 million to pay for the property before the December 20, 2012 closing date. Q. Where can I learn more? A. To learn more about the Royal Gorge and Donner Summit or to contribute to the campaign, please visit