Ackerson Meadow at Yosemite National Park

In 2013, as the Rim Fire blazed through the Sierra foothills, wildlife of all shapes and sizes found refuge in lush Ackerson Meadow, just 12 miles from iconic Yosemite Valley. The fire burned all the way around the area, but wet soils in the meadow helped hold the flames at bay. Today, burn scars mark tree trunks at the meadow’s edge, but a ring of living trees remains—an important source of seeds to grow young saplings that will eventually replace the burned trees.

Privately owned until 2016, Ackerson Meadow’s 400 acres of critical wetland and meadow habitat now fall under the protection of Yosemite National Park, offering public trail access and scenic views of the Sierra Nevada. The meadow’s unrivalled location (on Yosemite’s western border) and scenic beauty had attracted the attention of developers. Understanding the reality of that threat, Trust for Public Land purchased and donated the meadow to the National Park Service. It was an auspicious gift, as 2016 was the 100th anniversary of the Park Service.

Organizations including Yosemite Conservancy, National Park Service, National Park Trust, and American Rivers collaborated with TPL to help protect the meadow.

Like Yosemite’s other meadows, Ackerson filters and helps store San Francisco’s water. “Ackerson Meadow holds on to a lot of water,” says Yosemite wildlife biologist Sarah Stock, noting it not only helped assuage effects of the 2013 wildfire, but it also supports the ecological diversity of the area. “Insects love wet areas, so they do really well here,” says Stock. “Those insects feed spiders, birds, bats, and small mammals, which in turn feed hawks, owls, and coyotes.”

In fact, this natural land is unique to higher elevations in the Sierra Nevada, harbouring abundant wildlife species. Stock says it’s rare to see so many species in such a small area in the Sierra. In 2016, her crew even spotted a pair of willow flycatchers, endangered songbirds.

The meadow is also home to the great gray owl, which is on California’s endangered species list. Timber harvesting is one of the bird’s greatest threats. More great gray owl breeding occurs in Ackerson’s 400 acres than anywhere else in the Sierra Nevada.

“The original Yosemite boundary plans of 1890 included Ackerson Meadow, so it is exciting to finally have this important place protected,” said Yosemite Conservancy President Frank Dean. “The purchase supports the long-term health of the meadow and its wild inhabitants and creates opportunities for visitors to experience a beautiful Sierra meadow.”