Building the Sierra Valley Preserve Nature Center

Fast Facts

• What: A new hub for nature-based learning, recreation, and stewardship  
• Why: To share Sierra Valley’s beauty, biodiversity, and cultural significance 
• Where: At the Preserve’s northwest corner on County Road A-23, near existing infrastructure
• When: The Preserve is open year-round; Nature Center opening December 2024
• Who: FRLT, Northern Sierra Partnership, The Nature Conservancy 

Fall 2024

Getting close to crossing the finish line!

Everyone has been hard at work completing the final touches on all things Nature Center. The plaza has been landscaped, pavement set, exhibits installed, and now we are ready to welcome the public to the new facilities.

We welcomed the public to join FRLT, The Nature Conservancy, and the Northern Sierra Partnership on December 7 to celebrate the Grand Opening of the Sierra Valley Preserve Nature Center.

Now, you can visit the new facilities any time!

July and August 2024

West Entrance reopens

As the Nature Center and the North Entrance facilities continue to take shape, crews have been working on the East and West Entrances to improve public access. The West Entrance is now reopened, with improved parking areas, accessible walkways, and pit toilets going in soon! The historic Bulson House also got upgrades, including structural supports.

The East Entrance improvements are still in progress – the legs of the wildlife overlook have been installed and the rest of the structure will be added soon. We hope to reopen this entrance later this summer, stay tuned!

May 2024

West and East Entrance work begins

Progress continues at the Nature Center with the addition of willow shades being installed in the plaza and interior finishes being installed before the exhibits can be added.

Updates are also coming to the existing West and East Entrances. The West Entrance will be closed starting May 28th as construction work begins on improved parking areas, more interpretive signage, and restroom facilities. This also includes restoration work at the Bulson House and a mountain overlook with 360-degree views pointing out the different peaks around the valley.

The East Entrance will be closed starting June 5th. At the East Entrance, an ADA-compliant wildlife viewing blind is being constructed, so visitors can approach the wetlands and view wildlife with minimal impacts to the habitat. We hope to reopen these entrances later this summer—to stay up to date, make sure you are signed up for our enews and following our social media.

March 2024

Springtime makes for busy hands

As the snow thaws, we are steadily progressing on projects that will bring the Nature Center to life. Volunteers completed the last batch of woven willow shade structures, led by local artist Nick LaHaise. Thank you to the many hands that crafted these incredible pieces, we can’t wait to see them in action!

Along with the shade structures that will adorn the outdoor areas of the Nature Center facilities, there will be outdoor signage that educates visitors and enhances their experience. The outdoor signs are off to production, and the exhibits team is hard at work finalizing the indoor exhibits (read the February 2024 update for more about the exhibits team!).

The indoor exhibits will also include a spectacular mural wall painted by Laura Cunningham, depicting the native flora and fauna of Sierra Valley. Laura’s work features beautiful scenic landscapes and wildlife, and her contribution to the Nature Center will be a highlight for locals and visitors for years to come. See more of her art on her website.

February 2024

Developing beautiful and engaging exhibits

December 2023

Creating natural material shade structures

Led by local artist Nick LaHaise, volunteers gathered and wove willow panels to shade the guests of the Nature Center. The willow adventure began at Lemon Canyon Ranch in Sierraville, where volunteers harvested willow for the panels, bound them into bundles and then loaded the bundles into trailers. Then, at the Sierra Valley Preserve, volunteers wove the willow onto custom-made steel panels. Thank you to all the volunteers who helped create these shade structure panels!

October and November 2023

Sealing in the straw bales

With the expert guidance and teachings of natural builders Myles Danforth, Amanda Fischer, and Darles Eaton, volunteers worked for two days to cover the straw bale insulation with the first coat of plaster. The top coats of the plaster were installed in mid-November with more help from hard-working volunteers. Thank you to all the participants for helping bring the Sierra Valley Preserve Nature Center to life!

September 2023

Many hands make light work

This was a special day for everyone involved! Participants split bales, arranged straw, and secured bales within the framed walls of the new Nature Center. The facilities feature straw bale insulated walls using a hybrid Straw-Cel method, where straw bales sourced from The Nature Conservancy’s Staten Island Farm in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta are stacked inboard of the wall. This will help keep the Nature Center warm during the harsh winters of Sierra Valley.

Read more about the day here.

August 2023

Bringing the vision to life

Over the summer, we’ve been making exciting progress, with visible improvements taking shape. A new asphalt driveway to the Nature Center was poured, making way for the future parking area. The walls and roof of the Nature Center building are up, and the facilities are really starting to come together. From the inside of the structure, you can get a sense of what the views across Sierra Valley will be from inside the Nature Center. [Note: the North Entrance is not open to the public during construction].

Work is also set to begin to expand and improve trails, including installing wildlife blinds at the East Entrance (on County Road A-24) and on a new trail near the new Nature Center. These wildlife viewing blinds will allow visitors to get closer to the fauna of Sierra Valley without disturbing them.

July 2023

Growing the team!

In July, FRLT added Jenna Holland to the team as the new Public Programs Manager. Jenna will manage all of FRLT’s public programming, based at the Sierra Valley Preserve, including a new volunteer and docent program, school visits, nature-based events (coming soon). She will also help facilitate community events with FRLT throughout the region. Jenna has decades of experience in non-profit fundraising, communications, events, strategic planning, and public outreach. She has lived in the Sierra Valley for over ten years and has grown deep roots in her local community. Welcome to the team, Jenna!

May 2023

Nature Center framing begins!

After the long winter—and many years of planning—we’re excited that visible progress on the Nature Center is at last being completed onsite. The concrete slab has been poured and set. Now the walls are going up and framing is progressing. Behind the scenes, we’re working with our exhibits team to develop the interpretive panels and exhibits that will fill the Nature Center, plaza, and trails. These will highlight the ecological and cultural uniqueness and importance of Sierra Valley, as well information about the green building design. As part of the exhibits, photographer and videographer Alex Rubenstein has been visiting the Preserve seasonally to capture imagery and footage to be used in the future Nature Center. 

Winter 2023

Retrofitting the stewardship workshop

When winter came early last fall—and lasted a long time with heavy snow and rain—our construction team shifted from laying the slab and framing in the Nature Center, to retrofitting the stewardship workshop, including an onsite staff apartment and adding public restrooms to the exterior of the building. Retrofitting the building was a pivot from the original plan, due to dramatic increases in the cost of materials. Instead of demolishing the existing warehouse building and constructing a new one, we worked with our architects and construction team to retrofit the existing structure with energy efficient design and in keeping with the style of the Nature Center and other facilities.