Conserving the beauty, character, and diversity of significant lands in far Northern California.

support

Land

Over 20,000 Acres Conserved!

Shasta Land Trust works with willing landowners to conserve important properties in Northern California.  Since our first conservation easement (Fenwood Ranch in 2002, pictured at right), SLT has followed a volunteer-led conservation plan to successfully conserve over 20,000 acres of significant ranchland and wildlife habitat in Shasta County and the adjacent areas.  

Shasta Land Trust formed because people were inspired by the natural beauty surrounding us here in the Northstate, and they wanted to help conserve some of the landscapes they loved for future generations.  Our conservation successes support the local rural way of life, provide wildlife habitat, protect water quality, and provide the public with the benefits of protected open space.

p5130539

As a locally-led, locally-supported non-profit conseration organization, Shasta Land Trust remains flexible, carefully researching and selecting the best tool to accomplish our conservation objectives.  1st choice.jpgFollowing the first SLT Conservation Easement, protecting the 2,242 acre Fenwood Ranch in 2002, we completed our first project in the Fall River Valley in 2004 (River Ranch). In 2006, Shasta Land Trust received its first donated Conservation Easement on a ranch near Hat Creek.
 
In the spring of 2006, SLT completed a landmark conservation deal, protecting the 6,600 acre Hathaway Ranch with a voluntary conservation easement.  In 2007, Shasta Land Trust purchased two parcels in Tehama County, in fee title. These two properties will be donated to the US Forest Service and incorporated into the Ishi Wilderness Area in eastern Tehama County.
 
In March of 2009, Shasta Land Trust, in partnership with the Trust for Public Land, completed the purchase of a conservation easement on the 5,000 acre Cow Creek Ranch.  Shortly thereafter, the collaboration of SLT and TPL again succeeded in conserving working ranchland in Shasta County, this time protecting the Fall River Ranch.   In the fall of 2010, SLT purchased a conservation easement from the owners of the Rickert Brothers Ranch, again with assistance from The Trust for Public Land, which increased the total land protected by SLT conservation easements to over 20,000 acres!
 
While SLT continues to work toward lasting protection of important ranches in the Cow Creek Watershed, Fall River Valley, and the Battle Creek and Cotttonwood Creek Watersheds, recent opportunities have also led us to pursue projects with more public recreation benefits.  One example of this renewed focus is the Great Shasta Rail Trail project, but other coming SLT successes will reflect his organizational interest as well.  
 
Shasta Land Trust
Strategies for Conservation
hathaway_hill.jpgShasta Land Trust has developed two main focus areas for our Conservation projects, based on our understanding of the trends and pressures of the local economy and real estate market. The rivers, streams, and expansive oak woodlands of the foothills to the east of Redding form Shasta Land Trust’s primary focus area. Specifically, the Cow Creek and Bear Creek watersheds together make up this focus area, where Shasta Land Trust has successfully conserved over 18,000 acres since 2002. The Fall River Valley lies in the northeast corner of the county, forming our second focus area where we have successfully conserved almost 2,000 acres. This pristine Fall River Valley landscape is vital to the Northstate’s water quality, ranching economy, and impressive wildlife biodiversity.

Recognizing the incredible development pressure growing along the northern parts of California’s Great Valley, Shasta Land Trust has also identified the Cottonwood Creek watershed, west of Anderson, and Battle Creek watershed, to the east, as additional focus areas.

While we direct significant attention toward these four areas, additional conservation opportunities exist throughout our region, and Shasta Land Trust is always willing to consider working with local landowners on donated Conservation Easements.

SLT also continues to pursue opportunities such as the Great Shasta Rail Trail, which promise great benefits to the people of northern California and require the expertise SLT provides.  With the support of people like you who value our open landscapes, SLT will continue to thrive and provide the leadership and permanence that real locally-based conservation requires to be successful.  

 ccr2