Placer Land Trust has joined two other conservation groups in an effort to raise $12.7 million by next August to buy a 2,300-acre ranch near Auburn.

The Nevada County Land Trust and internationally known Trust for Public Land are working with the Auburn land-preservation organization to buy the Bruin Ranch.

Located in Placer County, the working cattle ranch has over 3 miles of Bear River frontage.

It also has a willing seller in a bid to permanently protect the land.

“We’re very pleased to be working with Placer Land Trust and the Trust for Public Land to preserve Bruin Ranch,” said Lloyd Harvego, whose family owns the property. The family played host to an announcement reception last week at their new restaurant, Ten22, in Old Sacramento.

Partnership members are working with willing landowners to preserve lands in portions of Butte and Yuba counties.

The land reaches along the North Yuba River and extending south through Nevada County, past the Bear River and down to Coon Creek, in Northern Placer County.

The region has been identified as a conservation priority by state agencies and biologists.

If Bruin Ranch and other projects are concluded as planned, the partnership will have over 6,500 acres of contiguous open space preserved.

Portions of the land will be open to the public through wilderness trails, eventually linking Placer County’s Hidden Falls Regional Park with new trails along the wilderness of the Bear River.

Jeff Darlington, Placer Land Trust executive director, said the Bruin Ranch offer is a one-time opportunity.

“If you live, work or play in Placer County and you value our natural resources like water, wildlife and trails, I urge you to give us a call now to find out how you can support the protection of Bruin Ranch,” Darlington said, in a news release.

He said if it is not preserved, Bruin Ranch would almost certainly go back on the market as the economy recovers and could easily accommodate up to 900 new homes.