Pacific Crest trail Jointly Acquires New Land

Posted by skywalker on February 17, 2012 in 2012 PCT Hiking Season, Pacific Crest Trail, Pacific Crest Trail News | 0 comments

Pacific Crest Trail Association and
Anza-Borrego Foundation preserve open space

The Pacific Crest Trail Association and the Anza-Borrego Foundation are pleased to announce the joint purchase of 40 acres within the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

The once privately held parcel located next to the Pacific Crest Trail will be preserved as open space and set aside for public use. This purchase ensures that this property will remain in its largely natural and untouched state and that the trail experience will continue unharmed.

The parcel is located in Pacific Crest Trail: Southern California’s Section B at the top of Nance Canyon near Anza, Calif. One hundred forty miles north of Mexico, the purchase includes a riparian corridor, open grassland, chaparral and juniper woodland. Near the seasonal creek is a much-loved, sandy and beach-like campsite.

“Through the generosity of our donors, we were able to partner on this purchase and help save this property from development,” said Liz Bergeron, PCTA executive director. “It’s highly likely that this parcel would have been sold for a house or some other project. Now it will be preserved for future generations.”

The 1774 and 1775-76 Anza Expeditions to California traveled up Nance Canyon from lower Coyote Canyon to the San Carlos Pass, exiting the desert to a greener more pastoral California. A Cahuilla Indian village was also located in this area.

“It’s a great property because it provides wildlife habitat, it has cultural and historic value,” said Diana Lindsay, Anza-Borrego Foundation vice president of environmental affairs. “And it’s a fabulous property for hikers on the PCT because it has water and can be used for camping.”

The Pacific Crest Trail runs along the southeast corner of this parcel. The PCTA identified the parcel as a priority for purchase in 2004 because of its proximity to the trail. Donations to the association’s Land Protection Fund were used to pay for the conservation project. More than 200 miles of the trail remain on private land.