State announces acquisition of Kingsbury land

The acquisition of 10.6 acres of land in the upper Kingsbury area will help ensure the long-term management and protection of natural habitat for native plant and wildlife species in Lake Tahoe, and to help reduce wildfire risks, Nevada Division of State Lands announced on Monday.

“The Nevada Tahoe Resource Team is excited to advance efforts to protect and preserve this beautiful area in the Tahoe Basin, which provides vital habitat for a diverse array of native plant and wildlife species,” said Team Program Manager Meredith Gosejohan. “I thank the TRPA and the previous property owner, Mr. Kent Grusendorf, for collaborating with us on this critical undertaking to elevate the health and vibrancy of Lake Tahoe’s natural ecosystems.”

The new conservation area was funded by Tahoe Regional Planning Agency mitigation funds.

The new conservation area connects to backcountry forests managed by the U.S. Forest Service, creating a contiguous undeveloped corridor for wildlife to migrate and forage in. In the coming years, the Nevada Department of Wildlife will conduct surveys on the property to learn more about its biodiversity and determine short and long-term restoration needs and strategies.

“This high-quality habitat supports wildlife species including bears, mule deer, Peregrine falcons that nest on the nearby cliffs, and more,” said State Wildlife Biologist Mark Enders. “It is a critical area for a wide range of species, so it’s very exciting to know that it will be protected by the state for generations to come.”

Over the next three years, the resource team will be carrying out a variety of forest health projects throughout the new conservation area to restore the natural ecosystem and reduce wildfire risks. Last summer during the Caldor Fire, areas that were treated using similar forest management strategies significantly reduced the fire intensity and helped firefighters prevent the fire from spreading to the Nevada side of the Tahoe Basin.