County may purchase land for Susanville Ranch Park expansion

The county is hoping to acquire additional land for Susanville Ranch Park.

According to the Deputy Director for Public Works Pete Heimbigner, W.M. Beaty and Associates for Red River Forests has expressed some interest in selling certain parcels, about 865 acres of managed land, adjacent to Susanville Ranch Park.

In order to conduct an appraisal of the property, and make other inquires concerning constraints to acquisition, the county is looking to obtain funding through the Sierra Nevada Watershed Improvement Program Strategic Land Conservation Grant Program.

Heimbigner presented the Lassen County Board of Supervisors with a resolution approving an application to the Sierra Nevada Conservancy for potential funding. The board unanimously approved the resolution during its July 23 meeting.

The department already submitted a pre-application to the Sierra Nevada Watershed Improvement Program grant to determine the feasibility of acquiring the adjacent property.

The department was invited to submit a full application for the competition grant review.

The land in question, about 865 acres on Beaty managed land, is adjacent to the north and east boundaries of the Susanville Ranch Park.

Heimbigner noted if the county were able to acquire the land, they could potentially have some fire safe projects on the parcel.

The county had to submit its application to the Sierra Nevada Watershed Improvement Program Strategic Land Conservation Grant Program by July 29.

The board unanimously approved the resolution authorizing the department to submit its application.