Environmentally Significant 702-Acre Miller Ranch Protected

The Shasta Land Trust is pleased to have permanently protected the 702-acre Miller Ranch, located near Shingletown, ensuring the land will be preserved as a working ranch and forest for years to come. This family ranch will forever be conserved thanks to grant funds awarded through the California Strategic Growth Council’s Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program (SALC) in collaboration with the Department of Conservation.

“We’re excited to see the Shasta Land Trust use a grant from our Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program to permanently protect Miller Ranch from urban sprawl,” said Lynn von Koch-Liebert, Executive Director of the Strategic Growth Council. “The 702 acres will continue supporting the region’s rural economy and wildlife for generations to come.” 

Miller Ranch is an incredible story of passionate landowners working to protect local agriculture, while maintaining and restoring the health of the property’s diverse habitats. “The reason our family wanted to protect the property was to preserve our parent’s legacy,” said one of the property owners, Bruce Miller. “They bought it as a ranch in 1964, and we wanted to preserve it as a ranch forever.” 

Home to an active cattle operation, the property contains rich soil designated as Prime Farmland, with over 140 acres dedicated to grazing. An additional 500 acres of the property is reserved for habitat management, along with being the home to over 200 beehives. 

The Miller Family has active plans to enhance the property’s ecological health and ranching capacity. “We’re in the process of fuel mitigation for fire protection with the thinning of timber, removing blackberries, and making pasture improvements to increase additional AUM [Animal Unit Month],” referring to the amount of forage required to sustain a cow and calf for one month.

The fuels reduction and timber management of the ranch provides a vital wildfire buffer with immense community benefits and security against the growing fire threat and anticipated drought conditions in the region. In partnership with local fire agencies, a portion of meadow on the property is also designated as a Temporary Refuge Area to be used by Shingletown residents and schools in the event of a catastrophic wildfire evacuation.

 “We’re proud to support this project, and the multiple benefits it yields to the local community and environment,” said Department of Conservation Director David Shabazian.  “The SALC program both protects the area from carbon emissions that come from potential development and helps protect these biodiverse working lands, contributing to the resilience and sustainability of the region.”

Located in the Bear Creek watershed, the property also protects precious water resources, including four natural springs, a half mile of shoreline of Shingle Creek, and portions of the South Fork of Bear Creek and North Fork of Battle Creek. Over 35 acres of fresh emergent wetland and approximately 28 acres of wet meadows provide important habitat for a variety of aquatic waterfowl and wildlife. The property’s abundant conifer, oak woodland, and grassland habitats additionally support wildlife such as black-tailed deer, California quail, mountain lions, spotted owls, bald eagles, and peregrine falcons. 

Notably, the property protects approximately one mile of the historically significant Nobles Emigrant Trail. Dating back to 1851, the once popular trail crossed from the Nevada desert over the Cascade Mountains, into Shasta City, and was used by more than 200,000 emigrants in the mid-19th century in pursuit of gold and farmland. 

A beauty worth preserving for future generations, the property’s 670 acres of open space provides stunning 360-degree views of iconic regional mountain ranges including Mount Shasta, Burney Mountain, the Trinity Mountains, Crater Peak, Snow Mountain, and Latour Butte. These breathtaking views will forever be protected, many of which can be enjoyed by the public while traveling along Highway 44 and regional roads. 

“Our County’s rich history, incredible beauty, and precious natural resources are better protected with the conservation of this unique property.” said Paul Vienneau, Executive Director of Shasta Land Trust. “I’m thankful that the beloved rural character of the Shasta County that we know and love will continue to exist in the future. Thanks to the Strategic Growth Council, Department of Conservation, and long-term vision of the Miller Family, this land will be protected forever.” 

We are thankful for funding from the Strategic Growth Council and the Department of Conservation in support of this project. This property’s biodiverse habitats, agricultural values, and scenic beauty will now be protected forever.

About Shasta Land Trust

Since our founding in 1998, the Shasta Land Trust has protected over 42,000 acres of farmland, open-space, and wildlife habitat. As an accredited land trust, SLT has worked with willing landowners, partners, local communities, and donors to achieve meaningful and lasting conservation of local lands. The scenic beauty, rich natural resources, and open spaces of far northern California are essential to the health and vibrancy of our families and local communities. Protection of these lands ensures a future with clean air and water, sustainable food networks, abundant recreational opportunities, and healthy wildlife habitats and ecosystems.

About the California Strategic Growth Council

The California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) is a 10-member council comprised of seven state agencies and three public members with the mission to build healthy, thriving, and resilient communities for all. Funded through California’s Cap and Trade system and the California General Fund, SGC’s grant programs, strategic initiatives, and interagency coordination focus on multi-benefit and community-centric solutions at the nexus of climate and equity. Since 2008, SGC has invested over $3.5 billion in projects strengthening communities and addressing climate change. 

About the California Department of Conservation

​With a team of scientists and other dedicated professionals, the Department of Conservation (DOC) administers a variety of programs vital to California's public safety, environment, and economy. The services DOC provides are designed to balance today's needs with tomorrow's obligations by fostering the wise use and conservation of energy, land and mineral resources. 

DOC administers the SALC Program on behalf of SGC. The SALC Program is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment – particularly in disadvantaged communities.