View of the changeset that has been deleted:
https://osmcha.mapbox.com/changesets/61179535/

Map from the Sierra checkerboard initiative:
https://www.tpl.org/sites/default/files/cloud.tpl.org/maps/local-ca-sierra-checkerboard-map-2013.pdf

It looks like this changeset caused a massive deletion of the Sierra Nevada checkerboard boundaries. To give some context, the checkerboard pattern was created in the 1860s with a mix of private and public ownership.

Many local maps (such as USGS, hiking trails, etc) do show the checkerboard pattern. Presumably the reasons are that it provides a historical perspective and useful information to people who are planning outdoors activities such as hiking, mountain biking, terrain skiing, etc.

Without the checkerboard boundaries, it is challenging to figure out which trails are open to the public, and which one are private.

In addition, this area is undergoing ownership changes, driven by acquisitions from the Tahoe Donner Land Trust which aims to protects tens of thousands of acres. See http://tdlandtrust.org/sierra-nevada-checkerboard for more details.

One counter-argument would be that in general OSM does not include private property boundaries, but in this particular case it is more akin to the boundaries of county/state/national parks which are included in OSM.

Thanks! I fixed a few more disconnected paths in that area.

I see the paths are not connected. osm.org/changeset/39653511#map=18/39.26155/-120.00404

Is this intentional?