The Waíiw Land Trust has completed the purchase of a 10,274-acre property in the Washoe tribal homelands northeast of Lake Tahoe and roughly 20 miles north of Reno, marking the largest tribal land return ever completed in the Sierra Nevada and the third largest in California.
Formerly known as the Loyalton Ranch, the newly named Wélmelti Preserve encompasses a vast and ecologically significant landscape recognized for its exceptional wildlife habitat. The $6 million acquisition was made possible through a $5.5 million grant from the California Wildlife Conservation Board and additional private donations. The land was purchased specifically for long-term conservation and tribal stewardship.
“Wá∙iw people were first forcefully removed from these lands,” said Washoe Tribe Chairman Serrell Smokey. “Secondly, individual allotments were stolen. Then we were told we could no longer use the land for resources, or ceremony. Since that time the land has been calling us back, and we are answering that call. This land purchase is good medicine for our people. This is a small start to healing from generations of historical trauma, and the benefits will go on for many generations to come.”
A Landscape of Ecological and Cultural Significance
The Wélmelti Preserve is bordered primarily by public lands managed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the U.S. Forest Service, and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. The property spans the mountain range from Long Valley in the east to Sierra Valley in the west, featuring a diverse mosaic of habitats…