Bear Creek Nature Preserve

In the summer of 2020, Shasta Land Trust completed a 156-acre conservation easement along Bear Creek. Once determined to be a large housing development east of Anderson, multiple vernal pools, large oaks, and grey pines, as well as acres of open wildflower-filled grassland will remain unchanged long into the future. The majority of the property sits on a plateau above the Bear Creek floodplain, with several locations near the shoulder of a plateau that provide views of the Creek from above. The open grasslands and oak woodlands that dominate the landscape offer expansive views to the north towards Mount Shasta, and east to Mount Lassen and the southern Cascades. Bear Creek, the main stem of which is undammed is excellent habitat, known to have had spawning runs of fall-run Chinook salmon and federally threatened Central Valley steelhead. Several vernal pools support diverse specially-adapted species such as federally threatened vernal pool fairy shrimp and California endangered Boggs Lake hedge-hyssop.
 
We wish to thank Christy Pichel and Joseph Butler for preserving this exceptional property in the Bear Creek Watershed.