Next time you’re winding through the forest along I-80 on the way to North Tahoe, keep an eye out for a pretty blue lake to the right near Emigrant Gap. Nestled in the Sierra Nevada foothills, that lake — Lake Putt — is part of a 650-acre undeveloped property now being transformed into the Gateway Park at Tahoe National Forest, set to offer camping, trails, fishing and nature learning opportunities when it opens in 2028.
The initiative is the first restoration project by California’s first Black-led land trust, the 40 Acre Conservation League. Leading the agency is board president and executive director Jade Stevens, an LA-based public affairs professional and competitive cyclist. We recently chatted with her to hear more about the land trust, its mission and its plans for the new Northern California park.
Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
Q: Tell me more about the 40 Acre Conservation League. How did it start?
A: We were founded in 2021. My board members, a few business partners and I all love the outdoors. We’ve always thought it was odd that we didn’t see much diversity in the outdoors. We’ve had all these hypotheses. But — and studies have shown this — more times than not, most communities of color are not comfortable doing outdoor activities, because they don’t see themselves doing these activities, and they have concerns around safety and accommodations. But people of color are doing outdoor activities in other countries. They’re ziplining. They are going whitewater rafting. They’re doing glamping excursions out in the middle of nowhere. I was like, “Well, why aren’t they doing it for free here at our state and national parks?”
My background is in public affairs and marketing, and I have experience working for the California Legislature and knowing how its budget operates. There was a moment when there was a surplus as a result of the pandemic. And with that surplus, Gov. Gavin Newsom put $1.1 billion toward the 30 x 30 Initiative to protect 30% of California’s water and land resources by 2030. But he wanted to do it in a way that was inclusive and diverse.
One of the barriers that is keeping people from exploring the outdoors is land ownership. We thought that if we were able to acquire land and do conservation to achieve the state’s goals, we might be able to bring experiences, education and programming that will make more people feel comfortable. That was the genesis of the idea. We got strong support around that time — Assemblymember Mike Gipson was one of our champions in the Legislature — and we were allocated, or earmarked, $3 million in the budget that allowed us to get our first acquisition in September 2022: 650 acres in Emigrant Gap, which you can see from the I-80 freeway. Many people who grew up in the area know Lake Putt, which is a part of the property, and we have been managing it for the last year and a half.
Q: Tell me more about this property and what you’ve done so far.
A: We’ve been able to do so much with it. When we first inherited it, it was completely raw, overlogged, undeveloped land. The first year, 2024, was all about forest restoration, getting an assessment of the health of the trees, the habitat and the plant and wildlife species out there. We then used that as our guide to think about public access.
Our property in Emigrant Gap is called Gateway Park at Tahoe National Forest. One of our biggest neighbors is the Tahoe National Forest. Those who are very familiar with Tahoe can go there and have an amazing time with different activities. But for those who might feel intimidated or not go because areas might be sold out or too crowded, Gateway Park is really the gateway to the outdoors. The type of programming that we’re putting together is created to help those who want to experience the outdoors but want a group that can meet them where they are.
We’ve been hosting community tours. Our biggest tour to date was a couple of weeks ago, when a little under 60 people came out. We talked about some of those barriers to the outdoors, made people feel comfortable coming outside and hiking with us, and shared the space and our vision with them, because we have so much underway between now and the coming years.
Q: What do you have planned for the park?
A: We have a plan to bring a nature center to the site with cabins and tree houses in a variety of different models, and people will be able to hike along the trails and fish in the lake. All of that is set to open in 2028.
Q: How does the funding work?
A: When we’re earmarked funding from the state, it’s not issued directly from the Governor’s Office, but through other state agencies. For example, that first acquisition was funded through two state agencies: the Wildlife Conservation Board and the Sierra Nevada Conservancy. We’ve also received funding from various private foundations that have a common interest in conserving the Sierras and Emigrant Gap area.
Q: You partner with some Bay Area nonprofits, right?
A: We understand that there are a lot of stepping stones that are needed to get people comfortable with going out into the forest, which some would say is the middle of nowhere, but is more or less California’s Sierra Nevada foothills. We’ve been doing outreach in the Oakland area to set up tours to bring people out to visit, and one of our favorite partners is Negus in Nature. They are an organization that focuses on getting BIPOC individuals familiar with going outside comfortably. From there, they set up tours with us. During the tour that we just did, they brought about 20 people from Oakland. We explained what forest restoration is and about opportunities in land management. A lot of people only see the forest as a recreational consumer, but what about being the leader or the steward of the land, or going and acquiring your own property?
We’ve also worked with Green Tech Education, which recruits students from the Bay Area and Sacramento. High school and young adult students are exposed to entrepreneurial opportunities within the green economy, like agriculture, electric vehicles, forestry and fishing, and we’ve done small pilot projects with them. They learned how to build a plant bed, how to be aware of the ecosystem they’re in, and how to plant the right type of plants to withstand the conditions up there at about 5,000 feet in elevation.
Q: Tell me more about the name of this organization, the history it refers to, and how that fits into your broader mission.
A: Yes, it is in reference to the promise of 40 acres and a mule given to freed individuals upon the ending of slavery. And though we know that promise was never fulfilled, many of us hold on to that idea as the opportunity to achieve generational wealth. It historically has been linked to homeownership and business, which we agree with, but we also see it as an opportunity in conservation.
Q: So what does the 40 Acre League do differently as a Black-led conservation entity compared to other conservation nonprofits?
A: We pride ourselves on bringing our vision of the outdoors for all to life. We’re meeting people where they are, and showing them what they need to be safe and comfortable outside.
We see the site we’re managing as a stepping stone: Once you’re comfortable here, you’re ready to go to Tahoe National Forest. In a perfect world — and we’re working to make this happen — the trails being planned on our site will connect to the forest. So you’ll be able to start at Gateway Park, get the support that you need, and when you’re comfortable, continue into these larger spaces and have a better understanding of what you’re doing, where you’re going, and where you fit into the outdoor landscape.
Q: So you’re transforming the Emigrant Gap property right now. What’s next?
A: Today, we’ve restored approximately 500 acres of the 650 acres. Our vision is to operate like a land conservancy and protect our natural resources, focusing on acquiring and protecting areas that are within roughly 50 to 80 miles of major urban cities like Oakland or Sacramento throughout California. We are actively looking for new opportunities to bridge that gap in other areas. We are also continuing to acquire parcels that connect our current property. Currently, it’s not continuous, but we’re trying to make it into one big block. We’re trying to help the state achieve its goals, do programming and education, and create entrepreneurial opportunities to bring more people of color into this space.
Q: What would it look like if your more inclusive vision of conservation took hold across California?
A: We have this hypothesis that the reason people of color are not enjoying or taking advantage of these outdoor activities is primarily centered around three things: safety, accommodation and having culturally relevant experiences. There’s a missed opportunity here with the state. They’re asking: How can we protect 30% of our land and waterways? But if you’re only talking to a small group of people who love the environment, you’re missing the point. Everybody has to buy into that idea. We have a group that says, “I don’t feel safe, it doesn’t feel like it’s for me.”
To get people to take more environmentally friendly measures, they need some connection to why it matters, right? We’re helping to connect the dots for more people to care about these ambitious goals that the state has.
Bio Details:
Organization: 40 Acre Conservation League
Age: 35
Birthplace: Los Angeles, CA
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Education: USC
Five fun facts:
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Born and raised in California, I’ll never say no to a coastal drive, a good hike or tacos after a long day outdoors.
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I’m a four-time California State Cycling Champion — I love the rush of criterium racing and the calm of solo rides. One of my longest rides was from Los Angeles to San Diego!
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I love fall — the crisp air, cozy layers, warm drinks and slower pace make it the perfect reset before the holidays.
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Karaoke is my favorite pastime.
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Nature has taught me mindfulness through patience. In the forest, nothing rushes. Even renewal happens through rest.