Nevada City, Calif. – PG&E has agreed to forever protect portions of wildflower meadows known as Hell’s Half Acre as part of a settlement reached with Nevada County. The meadows have been beloved by locals and native plant enthusiasts for generations.
Two years ago, PG&E clearcut the 14-acre site, located near Ridge Road and Rough & Ready Highway and across from Yuba River Charter School, while installing a liquefied natural gas (LNG) injection station. After the community spoke up, the County filed a complaint with the California Public Utilities Commission asking to protect and reestablish native vegetation.
As part of a settlement with the County, PG&E agreed to preserve a portion of the land that isn’t used for the LNG injection station by donating a conservation easement and donating a $200,000 endowment to Bear Yuba Land Trust (BYLT) for perpetual monitoring and enforcement of the easement. In addition, PG&E will make a $250,000 donation to a land management fund for BYLT’s 128-acre Wildflower Ridge Preserve across the street, which contains the same wildflower habitats as the PG&E-owned parcel.
“This is a huge win for our community and our environment,” said Nevada County Board of Supervisors Chair Heidi Hall. “Thanks to this settlement, we are ensuring that future generations will still be able to enjoy wildflowers in this area.”
Erin Tarr, executive director of BYLT, said she is grateful the community spoke up and the County took action to prevent further destruction of the wildflower meadow.
“This successful settlement wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of partners such as the California Native Plant Society Redbud Chapter, Gold Country Avian Studies, Nevada County staff, and supervisors,” Tarr said. “Their persistence throughout the negotiations helped ensure greater care will be taken with projects like this moving forward. We’re also grateful that
PG&E recognized their oversight of the true ecological and community value of Hells Half Acre.”