From the rolling oak woodlands to the west, to the many riparian corridors and Bear and Yuba River canyons, to the farm and rangelands, up to the forested lands in the high country, Nevada County Land Trust has been helping people protect their property since 1991.

Are you a landowner whose property has significant conservation, agricultural or timber value, could provide an important wildlife corridor, or connects to already protected land? Or do you own highly appreciated property, or have substantial real estate holdings which may result in high capital gains or estate tax burdens?

A donation of land to may be an attractive alternative. Even if your land does not meet the above criteria there may be opportunities to further your charitable and conservation objectives through a land donation to NCLT.

If so, Nevada County Land Trust can help you protect your land through a land agreement known as a conservation easement or an outright donation of land. Land donated to NCLT is truly one of the finest legacies a person can leave for future generations.

Goals for Your Property
Our land conservation staff is available to help you make long-term plans for your property. There are several techniques available, all of which can be tailored to fit your unique circumstances. Your choice of which technique to pursue depends upon your goals for the property, the natural characteristics of the land, and your financial objectives, including income and estate tax planning. Because federal regulations may limit a taxpayer's ability to fully utilize a deduction, a landowner should seek professional legal and tax advice when considering conservation options.

Conservation Easements
One of the most powerful, effective tools available for the permanent protection of private lands is a conservation easement. A conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement between a landowner and Nevada County Land Trust which restricts the use of a particular property in order to protect its conservation values.

Conservation easements are used to achieve a variety of conservation purposes, including open space preservation, agricultural preservation, and natural resource protection. The conservation easement is recorded in the form of a Grant Deed and is binding on successive owners of the property in perpetuity. In other words, it is forever.

A conservation easement is a flexible tool, and is tailored for each specific property based on the common preservation goals of the landowner and the holder of the easement. For example, conservation easements may prohibit development over scenic landscapes, yet allow a home within a designated “building envelope”; prohibit non-agricultural uses over agricultural land; restrict timber harvests to sustainable levels over forest land; or require that land be kept “forever wild” over natural areas.

Landowners retain title to the land and continue to occupy and use the lands under the terms of the agreement and subsequent owners would also be obligated to use the lands under the terms of the conservation easement. A conservation easement is an excellent tool for families who wish to keep their land intact to pass on to the next generation.

Fee Simple
An owner may donate the entire fee simple interest in the property to Nevada County Land Trust.

Estate Planning
An owner may donate their property subject to a reserved life estate, meaning that the landowner and other identified persons can continue to live on the donated property during their lifetimes. Similarly, a donation of fee title or a conservation easement via your Last Will and Testament lets you enjoy full lifetime use of the property while assuring that its conservation values will be protected for future generations. Careful estate planning can also reduce or eliminate the potentially devastating estate tax burdens faced by heirs.

Tradelands
Nevada County Land Trust may accept properties which are not considered of high conservation value, yet would provide significant financial support to our work. The purpose of accepting these lands would be with the intent to resell them. The proceeds from these sales benefit additional land protection projects and other NCLT programs.

For more information on the various options please contact Dan Macon at (530) 272-5994 or dan@nevadacountylandtrust.org