CONTACT: CAL FIRE Duty PIO, (916) 651-3473, Calfire.dutypio@fire.ca.gov

RELEASE DATE: April 22, 2026

CAL FIRE, the Placer Land Trust, and the Colfax-Todds Valley Consolidated Tribe Celebrate the Owl Creek Project and Tribal Land Back Initiative

Foresthill, CA — Today, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), Colfax-Todds Valley Consolidated Tribe, and Placer Land Trust (PLT) gathered near Foresthill to celebrate the Owl Creek Project, a 308-acre forest conservation and Tribal land back initiative in rural Placer County. The project was primarily supported by $1.36 million in grant funding through CAL FIRE’s Forest Legacy Program. It is the first Tribal land back project initiative that CAL FIRE has been directly involved with.

This project will return forested land along Foresthill Road, near the community of Foresthill, to the Colfax-Todds Valley Consolidated Tribe—putting it back into the hands of the people with deep ancestral ties to it. Tribal members have long-standing family and cultural connections to this land, making its return especially meaningful.

As part of the project, a conservation easement—a permanent agreement that protects the land from development—will be put in place and held by the PLT. This ensures the forest will be cared for and preserved for future generations while remaining under Tribal stewardship.

 “For generations our Tribal members have lived on, traveled, and stewarded these lands along Owl Creek,” said Clyde Prout III, Chair of the Colfax-Todds Valley Consolidated Tribe. “This land has so much rich history and so many memories. It’s a monumental moment to have this land back in the Tribe’s hands. Taking Owl Creek back creates a place where past and present meet, and a place to preserve our history and educate the next generation.”

“We are honored to continue our partnership with the Colfax-Todds Valley Consolidated Tribe, who for countless generations has had a deep relationship to this land and its care,” said Placer Land Trust Executive Director Jeff Darlington. “While we can’t undo the injustices done to Native American Tribes in the past, we hope our partnership with the Tribe today can help redress these injustices in a meaningful way by facilitating the rematriation of ancestral land to the Tribe and working together to ensure it is protected forever.”

Without conservation, the property was at risk of being subdivided for rural residential development. The successful acquisition reflects strong collaboration and strategic timing between partners committed to protecting the land’s ecological and cultural values.

The Tribe has identified six acres as a “designated improvement area” for a future Tribal headquarters and forest stewardship operations center, noting that land ownership is key to pursuing future federal recognition. Plans include the restoration and maintenance of fuels and forest health on the property and eventually managed public access for recreation and education.

“This project represents a meaningful investment in both forest conservation and Tribal partnerships,” said CAL FIRE Director/Fire Chief Joe Tyler. “By protecting this landscape from development and supporting Tribal stewardship, we are advancing California’s commitment to climate resilience, cultural preservation, and healthy forests.”

The Owl Creek Project was made possible through a combination of funding sources, including the CAL FIRE Forest Legacy Program grant, matching and in-kind contributions from both the Tribe and Placer Land Trust, $20,000 from the California Council of Land Trusts, and a discounted sale from the landowner exceeding $200,000 in value. This effort marks the second—and largest—land back project completed in partnership between PLT and the Colfax-Todds Valley Consolidated Tribe.

The Owl Creek Project reflects CAL FIRE’s commitment to protecting working forests and supporting Tribal stewardship. Through the Forest Legacy Program, CAL FIRE conserves at-risk forest lands using conservation easements and land acquisition to ensure long-term environmental, economic, and climate benefits. Learn more about the Forest Legacy Program on the Program’s webpage.

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Placer Land Trust is a California nonprofit public benefit organization that works with willing landowners and conservation partners to permanently protect and care for natural and agricultural lands in Placer County for current and future generations. Protecting these landscapes is essential to successfully build and sustain connections among people, their community, and the natural environment. See placerlandtrust.org.

Colfax-Todds Valley Consolidated Tribe of the Colfax Rancheria is a California Tribe located in Placer County, comprised of (Nisenan) Maidu and Miwok people of the area. See colfaxrancheria.com.

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