The Austin &
Mary Ewell Memorial
Preserve on Fine Gold Creek
The Austin and Mary Ewell Preserve is Sierra Foothill Conservancy's newest
preserve. It protects 718 acres of land and one and one half miles of lower
Fine Gold Creek starting where it flows into Millerton Lake. Like most
foothill streams Fine Gold does not flow in the summer, but it does maintain
several large pools of water even in the hottest months. The Preserve was
established with funding from Mr. Ben Ewell and his family, the Pacific Gas
and Electric Company, the Bureau of Reclamation and the Wildlife
Conservation Board which is part of the California Department of Fish and
Game. In addition to the riparian vegetation along the creek the Fine Gold
Preserve protects Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetles and Western Pond
Turtles and one of the few southern Sierra populations of the Dutchman's
Pipe Vine Swallowtail butterfly. |
