Cow Creek - PG&E Retained

Through a partnership with the Pacific Forest and Watershed Lands Stewardship Council, a conservation easement was placed on this 48-acre property in 2018. This beautiful property is part of the larger Cow Creek watershed, adding additional protected land to the already protected 2,264-acre Cow Creek Ranch, conserved by the Shasta Land Trust since 2009. This property offers a critical winter range for deer and is considered to be a vital corridor for deer migrating to fawning and summering areas. Forest resources include mixed conifer consisting of ponderosa pine, grey pine, California black oak, incense-cedar, and blue oak with a diverse understory of willow species, Oregon grape, manzanita, and scattered California buckeye. Below the canopy are annual grasslands and open meadows that provide for year-round habitat.

In the rural community of Whitmore, 16 miles east of the City of Redding, this property is surrounded by agricultural lands and water features that include Mill Creek and South Cow Creek. Pacific Gas and Electric Co. utilizes the property for hydroelectric power production and operates the Cow Creek Powerhouse and related infrastructure. Through protection of this property, the land will continue to contribute to the working landscape characteristic of the area and provide for the important protection of our area’s natural resources and wildlife habitat.