Community Impact

Since 2006, The Martis Fund has provided $6,322,948 to 11 non-profit organizations in the Martis Valley region through funding Open Space Conservation, Habitat & Forest Management & Restoration, and Workforce Housing grants.

Open Space Conservation Fund Grants

Truckee River Watershed Council – $172,000

These funds supported the Dry Lake/East Martis Restoration Project.

Truckee Donner Land Trust – $3,589,205

In 2007, $3.53 million supported the purchase of the 1,481 acre undeveloped Waddle Ranch east of Highway 267. Now open to the public, Waddle Ranch provides miles of cross-country skiing, hiking, and biking trails and contributes to the creation of a ten-mile open space corridor for wildlife movement and recreation. Additionally, a project to study deer migration was supported through the Martis Fund.

Habitat and Forest Management and Restoration Fund Grants

Mountain Area Preservation Foundation – $69,000

These funds supported a matching grant for the Trout Creek Restoration Project, Pocket Park and a Bark Beetle study.

South Yuba River Citizens League – $100,000

These funds supported the Van Norden Meadow Restoration Project.

Sugar Pine Foundation – $30,000

These funds supported Sugar Pine Restoration in Eastern Placer County.

Tahoe Fund – $20,000

These funds supported matching grants for the North Shore Sugar Pine Reforestation & survey, and Stewardship Messaging.

Truckee Trails Foundation – $77,740

These funds supported the Elizabethtown Trail and Restoration Project & Sawtooth Ridge Environmental Constraints Analysis.

Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation – $490,193

These funds supported Nature Fund grants for conservation and habitat restoration in the Martis Valley region.

Truckee River Watershed Council – $1,918,210

The Martis Fund has invested nearly $2 million into watershed and habitat restoration projects with the Truckee River Watershed Council. Projects include:

  • Adopt-A-Stream Water Quality Monitoring
  • Main stem Martis Creek restoration
  • Capacity building to fulfill Habitat and Forest programs
  • Middle Martis Creek Wetland Restoration & Martis Estates Restoration
  • Matching grants for TRWC’s Together for the Truckee Society
  • Support for the Tahoe Truckee Conservation & Stewardship Fund
  • Truckee River Weed Warriors Program & continuation funding
  • Matching grant to support the Martis Valley Watershed Assessment
  • Trail Realignment and Meadow Restoration along Martis Creek
  • Martis Valley restoration projects
  • Martis Dam Assessment
  • Watershed Assessment Grant
  • State Water Plan Tracking

Additionally, $350,000/year through 2019 has been earmarked for Long-Term Restoration Project Support.

Truckee Donner Land Trust – $59,205

These funds supported a study of the Martis Valley deer herd.

Workforce Housing Grants

Workforce housing is a major priority for the Martis Fund. The Fund has provided $700,000 in down payment assistance loans and has committed an additional $500,000 for that purpose.  Additionally, $1.4 million has been earmarked for the Regional Housing Solutions Fund – Truckee Railyard/Artist Lofts project..  The Martis Fund has provided over $450,000 in additional grants supporting workforce housing efforts in our community such as: Community House, a project of the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation; A Down Payment Assistance Program through Placer County and Sierra Business Council; Emergency Assistance Funding, Housing Advocacy and Case Management Programs through the Family Resource Center of Truckee; and supported the Emergency Warming Center.

For more information about the Down Payment Assistance Program (DPAP) please contact Gina Jones, Program Administrator at gkjones@sierrabusiness.org. To learn more about the program please visit: http://sierrabusiness.org/what-we-do/projects/972-martis-fund-homebuyer-assistance-program