Deal preserves 850 acres in Carson Range

Conservationists celebrated a conservation easement that preserves about 850 acres in the Carson Range just southwest of Carson City.

Clear Creek Tahoe, a residential development along U.S. 50 in northern Douglas County, donated the easement to the Nature Conservancy for the land along Clear Creek.

The easement protects critical reparian and meadow habitat for birds and other wildlife.

Adjoining U.S. Forest Service and Washoe tribal land, the protected swath provides a large continuous chunk of wildlife habitat.

The easement is part of a larger effort by local and federal officials to protect the Clear Creek watershed. Clear Creek is the only tributary of the Carson River’s main fork that flows year round.