Norden Cross

08/23/2022

Did you know that the Yuba river headwaters run through Donner Summit and Norden Cross, flowing across Van Norden Meadow and feeding the upper tributaries of the South Yuba.

The Van Norden Meadow Restoration project broke ground recently, removing invasive species and working to restore the natural groundwaters amoung other key improvements to repair the ecology of the meadow.

Read more from the SYRCL.

Ten years after the Truckee Donner Land Trust and partners purchased Van Norden Meadow (Yayalu Itdeh in Washoe) to save it from development, the South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL) and the Tahoe National Forest (TNF) have broken ground on actions to restore the meadow.

The 485-acre meadow, which was transferred into Tahoe National Forest ownership in 2017, is located at the headwaters of the South Yuba River. It is one of the largest meadows on the west side of the Northern Sierra and is critical for water storage, water quality, wildlife habitat, and forest resiliency. Healthy functioning meadows can also store as much carbon acre-for-acre as a rainforest.

Due to years of intensive utilization, fire suppression, and hydrologic modifications such as dams and roads, Van Norden Meadow is in a degraded state and is unable to perform its hydrologic and climate functions as well as it should. As the effects of climate change become more pronounced, these functions are more important than ever.

The proposed actions for the Van Norden Meadow Restoration Project include filling sections of the South Yuba River and Lytton Creek and building Beaver Dam Analogs -- man-made structures designed to mimic the form and function of a natural beaver dam -- in Castle Creek to reconnect disconnected stream channels with the meadow floodplain. These actions will increase the groundwater levels within the meadow. Willow and sedge planting will occur in areas where native plant restoration is needed. In addition, invasive species, specifically reed canary grass, will be removed from along the stream channel, and encroaching conifers will be removed from within the meadow and around the meadow edges. A new trail alignment, complete with viewing platforms, will be constructed in the years to come, led by the Tahoe National Forest.
Once completed, this project will result in improved meadow habitat, enhanced ecological and hydrologic function, improved water quality and increased summer base flows, increased carbon storage, managed recreation opportunities, and the improvement of the overall resiliency of the headwaters of the South Yuba River to changing climatic conditions. The project will also lead to a greater scientific understanding of meadow processes which can then be applied to meadows and headwater streams across the Sierra region.
Truckee Donner Land Trust U.S. Forest Service- Tahoe National Forest Wildlife Conservation Board National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
California Climate Investments

For more information on this project, visit https://yubariver.org/our-work/meadow-restoration/active-meadow-restoration-projects/vannorden/

08/01/2022

Summer is such a beautiful time of year to be on Donner Summit and enjoy the gorgeous California weather and all the wildflowers. The Lupin, Mules Ear and Indian Paintbrush are in full bloom and mix together in the sunny meadows. What a great time to sit beneath the aromatic pine trees, rustling gently in the wind and take in the serenity of the area. We’ve been continuing to work with our team to bring the next phase of Norden Cross to life. Stay tuned for more updates and brand new website coming soon!

01/07/2019

Happy New Year!

Want a taste of the kind of design and style you'll likely see at Norden Cross? Check out the Klimahuset by our design partners at Lund Hagem. Together with Atelier Oslo and EXPOLOGY, they created a stunning new Natural History Museum for the University of Oslo where families can learn about nature and man-made climate change. It won Best New Opening for Travellers in 2019 for Lonely Planet and demonstrates why we choose to work with them on Norden Cross. Their sensitivity and thoughtfulness toward nature combined with their rigorous design and architectural style brings the perfect balance of experience and aesthetics to our community.

We look forward to revealing more of their work on Norden Cross' cabins and common areas as we finalize our plan and vision. Stay tuned for developments!

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/travel-tips-and-articles/best-new-openings-for-travellers-in-2019/40625c8c-8a11-5710-a052-1479d2754648

08/27/2018

Do you love the Sierra as much as we do? Find the causes that matter the most to you and get involved to make a difference. Patagonia created this great project called Actionworks.

https://www.patagonia.com/actionworks/ #!/explore/home

Patagonia Action Works connects you to environmental action groups in your community. Find events, petitions, volunteer and donation opportunities near you.

08/01/2018

Summer is in full bloom at Norden Cross while we work through the design of our first cabins.

07/19/2018

Two of our architects are nominated for Architizer's A+Award for XS cabin. Mork Ulnes Architects' Mylla and Lund Hagem's Kvitfjell. Which one do you like? Go vote and let's find out.

I just voted for this Finalist to win an Architizer A+Awards Popular Choice Award. You should too.

04/23/2018

Millenials aren't the only ones that value their connection to the land. Many of us are looking to get closer to nature and be directly involved with where our food comes from. It's human nature to cultivate the place we live.

Did you know that our managing partner Nathan Wieler was developing agrihoods over ten years ago and co-authored the term "Development Supported Agriculture"?

The green space and sustainable living appeal to US millennials.

03/08/2018

Our design partners at Lund Hagem have done it again. You can see one of the beautiful coastal cabins they have designed featured in the third episode of Netflix's newest show—The World's Most Extraordinary Homes. Built for a Norwegian entrepreneur off the coast of Kristiansand, this getaway home is anything but ordinary—accessible only by boat, it's a stunning example of what you can do with a small home, a challenging site and great design, and it's just one of the reason we are working with them on Norden Cross

https://www.netflix.com/title/80213025

02/20/2018

A nice feature of our design team members at Claesson Koivisto Rune and their recently completed pool and spa complex. Great use of pattern and materials. Have a look and tell us what you think.

https://www.wallpaper.com/architecture/pool-and-spa-complex-sweden-claesson-koivisto-rune

Simplicity, geometry and water come together with rigorous precision in Claesson Koivisto Rune’s Pool and Spa, a new addition to a late-19th century Swedish neoclassical mansion house. Set apart from the main house, the structure is pared back in form ...

01/16/2018

An incredible new project proposal in Lofoten by our design team members at Lund Hagem. This kind of imagination and unique approach to housing is just part of the reason we sought them out for Norden Cross.

01/11/2018

The restorative power of nature. A belief at the heart of what we do.

Why Getting Outside is Essential to our Well-Being

10/25/2017

Our design team members over at Lund Hagem, have caught the attention of Dwell magazine. Check out this summer cabin on the Norwegian coast the designed.

https://www.dwell.com/article/a-norwegian-summer-cabin-embraces-the-rocky-terrain-05db33f0

Balancing on irregular, rough-hewn rocks along the Norwegian coast, this renovated summer cabin near a town called Larvik in Vestfold County intelligently navigates a challenging terrain to take full advantage of dramatic views.