Public Notice: Renewal of National Accreditation

The land trust accreditation program recognizes land conservation organizations that meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. Shasta Land Trust is pleased to announce it is applying for renewal of accreditation. A public comment period is now open.
 
The Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, conducts an extensive review of each applicant’s policies and programs. Shasta Land Trust was first awarded accreditation in 2011. The accreditation program has helped shape Shasta Land Trust into a strong, professional organization. The seal of accreditation ensures our landowners, partners, and supporters know that we uphold the highest standards in our efforts to conserve significant lands in far northern California.
 
The Commission invites public input and accepts signed, written comments on pending applications. Comments must relate to how Shasta Land Trust complies with national quality standards. These standards address the ethical and technical operation of a land trust. For the full list of standards, click here.
 
To learn more about the accreditation program and to submit a comment, visit www.landtrustaccreditation.org, or email your comment to the Commission. Comments may also be faxed or mailed to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, Attn: Public Comments: (fax) 518-587-3183; (mail) 112 Spring Street, Suite 204, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.
 
Comments on Shasta Land Trust’s application will be most useful by November 1, 2015. 

Great Sierra River Cleanup - September 19th

Calling all volunteers! We need YOUR help in the 2015 Great Sierra River Cleanup (GSRC) restoring the heart of Redding!

This year we will be cleaning up and enhancing the Sulphur Creek basin, including Sulphur Creek and Little Sulphur Creek. We will also be restoring the area around the Old 99 Trail, a trail that Shasta Land Trust has adopted through the City of Redding Adopt-A-Park/Adopt-A-Trail program.

The 2015 GSRC will take place Saturday, September 19th and is scheduled from 9am-noon. The Cleanup location is directly off of N Market Street at the entrance to the Old 99 Trail. We will have juice and breakfast pastries ready for everyone before the cleanup, so make sure you show up at 8:30am to get your fill before the fun and rewarding work begins!

Please bring the following on the day of the GSRC:

• closed-toe shoes
• work gloves
• sunscreen
•  a filled water bottle

Sulphur Creek has been a hot area for local stream restoration over the years, most notably by John McCullah and the Sacramento Watersheds Action Group (SWAG).

Sulphur Creek flows through the heart of Redding and is tributary to the Sacramento River. When water is present, Sulphur Creek historically has supports runs of trout and salmon. However, since it’s dredging from the old mining days, coupled with its recent channel redirection, fish passage and spawning has been in this areas has been a concern. This is where SWAG steps in!

“In collaboration with Turtle Bay, Shasta College, and the McConnell Foundation, from 1996 to 2007, SWAG designed and implemented almost 2 miles of stream restoration [through the Turtle Bay area], completed the Old Highway 99 Road to Trail conversion, and “daylighted” [Little Sulphur Creek], once buried by the Shasta Dam Conveyor Belt. …On a normally wet year it is now possible to observe dozens of salmon and hundreds of steelhead and rainbow trout spawning, rearing and escaping through this reach.”

— John McCullah

In that time, project phases 1, 2, and 3 have been completed. These phases helped to restore over 3 miles of stream from the Sacramento River up to the Union Pacific Railway. In addition to the stream restoration, over 10 acres of riparian habitat was restored by removing unbelievably dense areas of blackberries, poison oak, and star thistle.

With future plans by SWAG to restore fish passage from the railroad crossing and further up Sulphur Creek, it is imperative that we do our part to ensure this area is free of debris for the enjoyment and use of humans and wildlife alike as well as protecting the water quality of our area.

Click here to sign up for the 2015 Great Sierra River Cleanup today!

See you all on the 19th!

AmeriCorps Corner with Jake

Is It The End Already!?

Can any of you believe that it has been 10 months since I started this journey here in California and at Shasta Land Trust? I sure can’t! My time with SLT has gone way too fast, but has been filled with new and great experiences, exhilarating adventures, and amazing people and memories. Here’s a little perspective and review on my time here.

Jake, Anne, and Angela on a hike

After college, I was looking for new adventures and experiences away from what I was used to in Wisconsin, and the SNAP program fit that bill. I was excited to spend my year of AmeriCorps service living in a new area and learning a lot about the land trust world, especially the new and exciting happing’s at SLT. Within that first few months, I knew that this was going to be a great learning and professional experience and a fun and enjoyable time with the staff and all of SLT’s volunteers and supporters. They are truly great people!

One great experience was the enjoyable time I had working with all the volunteers at the Wildways Kickoff and seeing many of our incredible supporters in one place, enjoying themselves and having a great time. While a lot of time and preparation went into that event, it was great getting to know so many of those dedicating their time to making it a successful evening. I also had a huge blast coordinating the 2nd annual Whole Earth Hustle as well as spending the day with the Environmental Education committee at the Whole Earth and Watershed Festival, shooting the breeze and meeting some neat people!

Jake coordinating with Butte County RCD

One of my favorite tasks as the Conservation Associate was conservation easement monitoring. We have some amazing photos of the properties we’ve protected, but one almost has to see them first hand to really appreciate their beauty and importance. It was a lot of fun taking our volunteer monitors out to these properties, most of which were seeing them for the first time as well. Do be warned though, wasps do make nests in old gates. Nests you can’t even see until you’re already stung. I will never look at a gate the same way again.

Is it the end already?

Jake and his friends

I have had countless memorable adventures here in northern California with both family and friends. From hiking around the snows of Mount Shasta and Mount Lassen, kayaking the beautiful Butte Lake, exploring the Redwoods, hiking some great Whiskeytown trials at the recommendation of some long-time SLT supporters, to swimming the frigid waters of numerous waterfalls, it was all mind-blowingly awesome! There are so many opportunities to experience the outdoors here that one can’t even begin to scratch the surface in only a year. I will definitely be back in the future to explore some more! 

Jake's dogs

“What’s next?” some of you may say. Well, I don’t know! I will be going back home to Wisco with a primary focus on spending time with my family’s two dogs and getting my fill of home cooked food. Also, I will be eating copious amounts of cheese curds. There’s just something about eating a squeaky, warm chunk of cheese that you can’t get anywhere else… 

While I don’t know what’s in store for me next, I do know that I will miss working with the staff and supporters of the Shasta Land Trust as well as being in the company of some great friends I have made.

Thank you to everyone that has made my time at SLT an unforgettable experience filled with great memories!

A Step Back in Time at the McArthur Fair

Visit the InterMountain Fair in McArthur for a special taste of rural living in the high country of Shasta County.

Sunday, September 6th, Cattlemen’s Day, at the InterMountain Fair in McArthur

This is more than just a visit to one of the state’s most beautiful country fairs. Enjoy a day with friends for this well-coordinated trip that offers you a chance to bring out your inner cowboy and participate in and learn about the Cattlemen’s Day activities.

The Intermountain Fair is a true community fair and one of the oldest in the state. Located 70 miles east of Redding on the edge of the Modoc Plateau, the mountainous region is home to numerous farms and ranches that give the fair a truly rural flavor. The area is beautiful at this time of year with wide-open vistas and cool, crystal clear air. The fairgrounds are in the center of the community and the parade goes through the small town of McArthur. The hometown and friendly atmosphere make the Inter-Mountain Fair a perfect outing for families.

This Wildways event offers you many special features:

• Round-trip transportation in a luxurious motor coach, accompanied by your Shasta College Ag student ambassadors!
• A catered picnic lunch with Marlene and Craig McArthur at their beautiful turn of the century original McArthur Family home. Food will be provided by the local grocer and restaurant, Adin Supply (in business since 1906!). Learn about efforts local agriculture leaders are making to assure water is used responsibly.
• Opportunity to participate in the Cattlemen’s Day activities that include:

o   Watch a demonstration to learn how ultra sound is used to determine beef quality.
o   Watch the ranch branding contest where teams of three local cattlemen compete to apply a paint brand on two calves. You can also participate in the calcutta where you can “bid to purchase” the team you think will be the first to catch their two calves and apply the paint brand the quickest.
o   Enjoy the commercial cattle pen show where local cattlemen enter their best animals to be judged.
o   Talk with local cattlemen at their end of the day social over drinks and snacks.
o   Witness a sense of community as they present their local scholarship winners.

• You will receive entrance to the Fair and can tour the fair at your leisure—view the local art displays that include photography and paintings, as well as locally made quilts and, of course, trophy vegetables and fruits. The livestock area has pens for prize pigs, poultry, cattle, and sheep.
• You will also have an opportunity to enjoy the parade.

This Wildways event is $60. 100% of your ticket price goes to support Shasta Land Trust…..See you September 6th!

More information about the fair:  inter-mountainfair.com

For tickets, call Shasta Land Trust at 530.241.7886.

The Great Shasta Rail Trail Celebration, Saturday September 26

The Great Shasta Rail Trail above Lake Britton

Your support of the Shasta Land Trust greatly contributed to the success of this spectacular 80-mile scenic trail and we hope you will be able to join us for a celebration. Extending from Burney to McCloud, the Great Shasta Rail Trail is an important new community resource that supports local heritage and culture and boosts the economic and social vitality of communities in Siskiyou and Shasta Counties.

The Shasta Land Trust has been deeply involved in the development of the trail concept and our staff negotiated complicated transactions necessary to acquire the 80-mile rail corridor. We were a Core Team member of the trail creation from the very beginning, and former Executive Director Ben Miles continues to sit on the board of the newly launched Great Shasta Rail Trail Association (GSRTA). Executive Director Anne Murphy has continued Shasta Land Trust’s efforts to finalize the transaction and take interim ownership of the rail trail while the transition to the next phase of ownership with the GSRTA and trail implementation and improvements commence. Our Stewardship Team volunteers continue to support the trail as well and through their hard work have conducted ongoing trail maintenance and culvert clearings. 

Details for this event will be announced shortly and will coincide with the popular Biketoberfest event in McCloud that attracts hundreds of people each year for biking events. It will be a wonderful day of outdoor activities – we hope to see you there!

It Starts With A Bold Vision

CELEBRATING JOE STUDENICKA AND THE LATE WAYNE PAULEY

Save Burney Falls founders Studenicka and the late Wayne Pauley submitted a request to develop the Burney to McCloud corridor as a multi-use trail, stopping the railroad company’s abandonment request. The two leaders initiated purchase negotiations with the railroad. They developed the concept, engaged others in their vision, and began taking the many steps toward making the vision a reality. 

Their passion for this concept caught on quickly. Broad community support was clear from the beginning as 35 groups participated in the initial planning sessions, nearly double the required number for that stage of the process. 

We celebrate the original vision of Joe Studenicka and Wayne Pauley and the exciting acquisition of the Great Shasta Rail Trail. The vision continues to grow and evolve as The Great Shasta Rail Trail Association and its supporters will now begin the work to renovate bridges and trestles, replace culverts, upgrade the trail surface, post signs, build restrooms, and new trail heads. New connections will be made into the communities of McCloud and Burney, local businesses will enjoy increased tourism, and individuals and families will enjoy boundless recreational opportunities for hiking, cycling, and skiing with access to creeks and waterfalls and North State beauty. Shasta Land Trust conserves significant lands in far Northern California for future generations to enjoy – and this project lives up to that goal.

AmeriCorps Corner with Jake

Beating the heat with some cool friends!

Jake and his friends at the top of Cinder Cone

Recently, I was fortunate enough to have some great friends from college fly out, visit, and explore northern California. I’ve never driven so much in a week’s time, but we went to some really neat places and it was all worth it!

Our first outing was making the classic rounds of waterfalls and hiking around Lassen. While Burney Falls is always a great stop, but going off the beaten path to Potem Falls is what really took the cake. It was especially nice having the whole place to ourselves to relax and explore.

After some refreshing dips in the cold waterfall waters, we hiked to the top of Cinder Cone in Lassen. Man, was that a rough, yet, awesome hike! Hiking on those cinders was like taking two steps forward, one step back, but the views up top were definitely rewarding.

Our next big adventure was to the lava fields and tubes of Lava Beds National Monument. I am so glad we made the trek up there. I really enjoyed hiking up to a lookout station and learning more about how rangers spot and track fires. Also, getting to climb through caves covered in glitter-like bacteria, ice floors, and almost getting lost was definitely an experience!  I need to remember to bring better flashlights next time…

After some hiking at Whiskeytown and spending time in San Francisco, it was unfortunately time for them to go. It is always a good time to hang out with old friends and I’m so glad they made it out here!

Definitely looking ahead to more adventures like this one!

Until next time,
Jake

AmeriCorps Position Opening

We're hiring an AmeriCorps Community Program Associate for 2015-2016! Click here for the job description and service plan.

For more information on AmeriCorps, please check out the details below from our friends at the Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership.

 

Do you love the Sierra?  Want to help restore and protect the Range of Light?  Do you want to gain valuable environmental professional experience?

Apply to become one of the 28 Members of the 2015-2016 Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership (SNAP)!

SNAP is celebrating the 10th year of our program in 2015 - 2016!

We are seeking enthusiastic, conservation-minded people to commit to a year of service to protect Sierra natural resources and sustainable communities. During the year, SNAP members will gain skills and technical training, mentor with outstanding environmental leaders and receive an education award at the successful completion of service.
 
Deadline for applying is July 25, 2015. Interviews will begin in early August.

Since 2007, more than 150 SNAP Members have served at 32 Sierra conservation organizations and agencies to restore more than 12,000 acres of habitat, monitor more than 1,000 ecological sites, educate more than 145,000 people and recruit more than 22,000 community volunteers to serve their local Sierra watersheds.

Responsibilities & Projects:

Members will serve full-time, from October 15, 2015 – September 15, 2016. Projects & responsibilities will vary depending on service positions but, will be based on watershed restoration and assessment, watershed education and outreach, and volunteer recruitment and management. For more detailed service descriptions, including Position Descriptions and Service Plans, please click here.

Applicant Requirements:
Must be a U.S. Citizen, U.S. National, or Lawful Permanent Resident Alien of the U.S.

• Must have a minimum of a High School Diploma or GED (higher education degrees are highly recommended).
• Must be a minimum of 18 years or older.
• Must not have a criminal history that precludes the applicant’s ability to serve as an AmeriCorps member.
• Must not have been released for cause from a previous AmeriCorps term of service. 
• Must have not served more than 3 previous AmeriCorps terms of service.

Compensation and Benefits:

Monthly stipend of $1,254 per month

• Standard health insurance
• Up to 340 hours of technical, ecological and skills-development training throughout the year.
• AmeriCorps Education Award of $5,550 will be granted upon completion of the program for use on existing qualified student loans or future higher education expenses.

How to Apply:

1.     Check out the 2015-16 SNAP Position Descriptions and Service Plans by clicking here.

2.     Fill out the online SNAP Member application by clicking here. (You can download a sample of the SNAP application here for reference, but you must fill it out via theonline application.)

3.     Email your resume and a 1 page cover letter stating your interest in the SNAP Member position and your best qualifications for the position to lynn@sierranevadaalliance.org. Be sure to title your email subject: “SNAP Application 2015 – 2016”.

Deadline to Apply: July 25, 2015!

The Sierra Nevada Alliance and the Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership conform to all laws, statutes, and regulations concerning equal employment opportunities. We strongly encourage women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply to the SNAP Program. We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, age, disability status, Genetic Information & Testing, Family & Medical Leave, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

For more information please contact:

Lynn Baumgartner, Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership Program Director: 530-542-4546 x 705or lynn@sierranevadaalliance.org or click here to visit the Join SNAP page.

Applications are due July 25, 2015!

 AmeriCorps is a network of local, state, and national service programs that connect more than 70,000 Americans each year in intensive service to meet our country’s critical needs in education, public safety, health, and the environment. AmeriCorps members serve with more than 2,000 nonprofits, public agencies, and faith-based and community organizations.
 

Shasta Land Trust Year in Review

Local Conservation Made Possible With Your Support

Great Shasta Rail Trail

We're excited to announce that we closed on the Great Shasta Rail Trail project, a beautiful 80-mile stretch of rail trail connecting Burney to McCloud. A huge thank you to our friends at the Great Shasta Rail Trail Association, who will soon own and manage the rail trail, and all of our many partners and supporters who made this project a reality!

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Stewardship Council & PG&E 

We started working on 15 conservation easements with the Stewardship Council and PG&E, totaling nearly 33,000 acres in Shasta County. Located primarily within our two focus areas of the Cow Creek Watershed and the Fall River Valley, these properties are connected through large habitat corridors and allow us to build landscape scale connections to significant lands.

These properties will be open to the public and also provide additional access points to the Great Shasta Rail Trail. We'll have the opportunity to collaborate and build relationships with numerous local conservation organizations, state agencies, and other partners. 

Easement Stewardship Monitoring

We completed the monitoring of 11 conservation easements in 2014, meeting our monitoring goal of 100% visits to every property.

The 2015 monitoring visits are well underway and we completed the 2015 monitoring training for volunteers. 

 

Restoration

We partnered with Ducks Unlimited on a restoration project on the Fall River Ranch to enhance wetlands and create new upland livestock water sources.

We also partnered with the Sacramento River Watershed Action Group (SWAG) to design restoration plans for Hathaway Ranch to address erosion problems along Oak Run Creek.

Trade Lands

The Maynard and Emerson families generously donated 80 acres of non-conservation land, known as trade lands, to Shasta Land Trust. Funds from the sale of this property, which is currently pending, will go directly to support Shasta Land Trust's mission.

 

 

Your Contributions Make Our Work Possible

Photo by Rick Bonetti

Volunteers

Over 130 volunteers put in an impressive 1,750 hours over the past year donating their time and talents for a variety of activities, including monitoring conservation easements, representing the land trust at area festivals and events, landscaping, trail and river cleanups, hosting Wildways events, and stuffing envelopes. A huge thank you to all of our volunteers! 

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• Special Events - $45,000
• Donations - $55,000
• Operating Grants - $92,000
• Land Conservation Grants - $480,000

 

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A Very Special Thank You to our Generous Donors!

 The Shasta Land Trust is successful because of you. Last year 315 generous donors contributed to create a lasting legacy so families can continue to enjoy the scenic beauty, outdoor living, and rich natural resources of the North State. We listed our 2014/15 donors on the website with a big Thank You for your commitment to conservation and your support of the Shasta Land Trust. Your contributions have a powerful impact on the quality of life in our region. Thank You!

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New Website

We launched a brand new website. Check it out at shastalandtrust.org. We've made it easy to donate online and added monthly giving options. Be sure to check out our blog, purchase tickets to upcoming Wildways events, sign up for eNews, and keep updated on the latest news and happenings.

 

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Teresa Talbott,

Conservation Project Manager

We hired Teresa Talbott as our Conservation Project Manager, a new position to focus on our Stewardship Council and PG&E projects. 

 

Anne Thomas,

Development
Coordinator

We hired Anne Thomas as our part-time Development Coordinor, a new position to focus on fundraising and donor engagement.

 

 

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New Office Location

We moved offices this past year to a new location at 1768 West Street in Redding. We love the charm and character of this 1920's building! It's the perfect space for our growing organization.

 

 

A Very Special Thank You to our Generous Donors!

The Shasta Land Trust is successful because of you. Last year 315 generous donors contributed to create a lasting legacy so families can continue to enjoy the scenic beauty, outdoor living, and rich natural resources of the North State. Thank You for your commitment to conservation and your support of the Shasta Land Trust. Your contributions have a powerful impact on the quality of life in our region!

 

Benefactors ($1,000 and above):

Marilyn Hickle & Mel Stone

Shasta Community College

Dave Short & Kathleen Gilman

David & Claudette Civalier

Gregg Werner & Susan Whitaker

Dave& Barbara Klasson

David & Judy Bush

Francis & Ann Duchi

Richard & Tammy Douse

Tom O`Mara & Alice Wilkinson

Don & Tracci Benner

Ron & Marilyn Chiodo

Linda Wright & Donald Owen

The Nature Conservancy

Scott Keyes

Dennis & Sherrill Bambauer

Jill Halvorsen

Chuck Henderson, Red River Forests LLC

Allen & Kathy Kost

Steven McCanne

Lillian Nelson

Ceceli Wilhelmi

Conservators ($500-$1000):

Warren & Colleen Lytle

Marilyn & Terry Thomas

Lawrence & Judy Johnson

David & Lisa Phillips

Jim & Mary Rickert

Tom & Gretchen Stone

Burton & Jan Brockett

Jeff Collins, CPA

T. James Fisher, Attorney At Law

Dan & Sara Frost

Marcia Morrison

David & Andrea Scott

Mary Speigle

Gillian Trumbull

John & Debbie Stokes

Chris & Billie Harvey

Randy & Noel Bush

Muffy Berryhill

Steven & Nancy Russell

Jeff & Dee Haynes

Mark & Margaret Wood

Warren & Tara Swanson

Don & Cathy Koch

Terry Applegate & Mari Ennis-Applegate

Rick & Lynne Bonetti

Dave & Mey Bunte

Norman & Kelley Verhoog

Sheila & Lowell Barnes

Gary & Belinda Sanda

Stewards ($250-$500):

Judy & Ken Price

Nancy & Tom Ruffner

Linda Samuels

Debbie Townsend

Howard & Deidra Schweitzer

Pam Sanchez

Bob & Jean Blankenship

David Gerard

Richard Gregory

Mission Linen Supply

Robert & Marcia Keeline

Liz Leach

Ben Miles & Melina Taylor

Bob & Mary Nash, Nash Ranch

Diana & Ross Peacock

Allen Peterson

Lee & Judy Salter

Jessie Shields

Brian Sindt & Barbara Hays

Joel Stratte-Mc Clure

North Valley Distributing

John & Betty Twitchell

Carolyn & Jim Warnemuende

Bob & Barbara Cross

Lee & Gail Leonard

Carolyn & Robert Bond

Joel & Jaclyn Kwiatkowski

Lang Dayton

Koen & Allison Breedveld

Winfield & Lisa Henn

Nancy & Jim Wilson

Karen Little

Robert & Della Martin

Paul & Stephanie Stremple

Kimberly Percifield

Bob & Diane Madgic

Terri & Jay Thesken

Ronald Reece

Susan Wilson

Steve & Angelia Boero

Cynthia & Bob Castner

John Fecher

Richard & Sandra Johnson

Doug & Susan Mandel

Lois Sweeney

Diane Hawthorne

Guardians ($100-$250):

Sandy Tincher and Walt Cole

Linda & Tony Lucero

Carolyn Furnish, MA, LMFT

Jenis Openshaw

Rickert Ranch LLC

Lyda Alward

Sue Asbill

Kathy & John Barry

Dennis Boatner

Lewis & Sheana Butler

Kathy & Steve Callan

John & Marian Chandler

John & Marian Chandler

Robert & Beatrice Currie

Harry Daniell

Henry & Patricia Demo

Laurie Erskine-Farley & Rex Farley

Jan & Tom Gandy

Lou & Diane Gerard

John Haynes

Don & Lois Jacobs

Karen Keating-Jahr & Steven Jahr

Janet Landles

Roger & Janel Longnecker

Andy & Nancy Main

Sylvia & Bob Marchi

Rebecca & Duane Mason

Marcia & Robert McKenzie

Jim & Mary Middleton

Joann Moore & Ray Manley

Patrick Moriarty

Will Murray

Andrew Myers

Don & Joan Neptune

Russ & Anne Peterson

Dan Rossi

Lynda Scheben & Paul Blackwell

Ken & Susan Seamans

Sandi & Brad Shearer

Mary Stegall

Dan Suther

Holly & Tom Voorhees-Pasquini

Sally Wells

James White

Marlene Woods

Elin Klaseen & Robert Prokop

Adrienne Cowling

Claudia Brousseau

Kit Harvey

Matthew Edwards

Francie Sullivan & Dick Roseberry

Libby & Ted Carr

Sharon & Bob Salpas

Dorothy & Juan Tello

Barbara & Kelly Pierce

Bill Oliver

Larry & Sherron Jackson

Robert Kinkead

Tom & Sue Morehouse

John & Kathy Di Perry

Dave & Eleanor Barnes

Terry & Allan Craig

Wilson Curle & Linda Carpenter

Patricia Payne

Frank & Cynthia Schabarum

David Shoffner`s Auto Sales

Tom Burnham

Sandy Dubose

Debbie Lupeika and Tim MacLean

Mark & Denise Mills

Antonio & Dana Reis

Priscilla Brutlag

Leimone & Todd Waite

Vicki Sharp

Gary & Marcy Lauben

Rick & Cynthia Bennetts

Ron & Faith Lane

Jane Elmore

Clay & Susie Harvey

Jack & Kristen Schreder

Daryl & Penny Harris

Lynda Burkhalter

Pat Liebert

Fred & Debbie Moffitt

Ceil Harvey and Kim Healey

Patricia Crow

Susan Salvesen

Dave & Sally Capp

Karen Coffey

Steve & Eda Ebe

Ken & Robyne Hartman

Protectors ($75-100):

Karin Lilienbecker & John Deaton

Rev. David Robinson

Will & Jane Wittmann

Pamela & Gary Woodward

Josh Bartolomucci

Larry & Bonnie Boisclaire

Melissa Buciak

Bill & Rebecca Cileo

Cathy & Bruce Makinson

Joe & Alice Montgomery

Susan & Jerry Partridge

Sue Ralston

Susan Weale & Charles Meinershagen

Connie Word

Richard & Donna Bersbach

Wenda Cote

Rod & Joyce Evans

Doug & Margie Hansen

Peggy Herndon

Nels Klaseen

Anne Murphy

Vera Neal

Bonnie Sterling

Burt & Joyce Bundy

Robert Christoph

Sandra Fecher

Annie Goheen

Bill & Susan Keller

Supporters (up to $50):

Barbara McClaskey

Beatrice Nevins

Kim & Paul Niemer

Joann Packard

Charles Darby Rauch

Peggy & Pat Rebol

Richard & Chrisida Regnart

Donald B. Rhodes, O.D.

Robert & Margrid Rock

Dan Scollon & Kim Stempien

Carolyn Singh

Henry & Elizabeth Slowik

Dabney Smith

Randall & Judy Smith

Sara Sundquist

Brian Sway & Susanne Rockwell

Susan & Skip Tescher

Martha Tinkler

Harry Tully

Russell & Patricia Vellines

Alex & Sally von Dachenhausen

Dale & Jane Bagley

John Kinion

Bud Lackie

Linda Lou Lafranchise

Frank & Michelle Barnard

Peggie Linville

Ken & Julie Partsch

Bruce Ross, District Director, California State Assembly

Nola Wade

Laurie & Don Burk

Melisa Castro

Paula Crumpton

Shannon Diego-Ruelas

Heather Hennessey & Randy Haynes

Rhonda Joyce

Susan Vanderwerf

Ryan & Avery Lytle

David & Tina Bartle

Jack & Mary Chandler

Tom & Darlene McGowan

Fred & Linda Quigley

Paulette Gooch

Michelle Maupin-Cornelius

George & Lynn Swendiman

Rosemary Thomas

Henry Little

John Livingston

Katie & Paul Connaughton

Gerald Bendix

Elizabeth & Pedro Betancourt

Jim & Debbie Huber

Michael Klasson & Katherine Holmes

Lynn Thibeault

Judy Williams

Kathryn McDonald

Lin Stewart

Dorothy Appledoorn

Carl & Lupe Arness

Bob Bailey

James & Marlys Barbosa

Richard Baumann

Melita Bena

Pete Berkowitz & Lisa Dice

Toby Bodeen

Ryan Brewster

Judy Cassidy

Troy & Leeana Clegg

John & Ann Coe

Steven & Caryl Conley

Ann & Den Corrin

Dean & Syd Davis

Sandra & Jason Dotzenrod

Norma Earl

Gwen Gibbs

Greg & Kay Gibson

Patty Gomez

McCloud Local First Network

Bill Haedrich

Sheila Hall

Vickie Hall

Egon & Judi Harrasser

Dennis & Heidi Heiman

Francesca Huntsman

Miriam Johnson

Richard & Paula Kahler

Sharon Kennedy

Gene & Gwen Knaebel

Cookies Cuttery

Michael & Melanie Lander

Barbara Lapp

Ronald & Karina Lapp

David Ledger

Rush & Hollie Lenroot

Robert & Elizabeth Madison

Barbara Marchi

Karen Maynor

Missy McArthur

Lon & Cindy McCasland

Featured Wildways Event

A Step Back in Time at the Shasta County Fair in McArthur

Sunday, September 6th
9am - 5pm
Purchase Tickets Here

Spend a memorable Labor Day Sunday getting to know what goes into the makings of a real county fair. Get to know the people behind the scenes as you learn about the history and the agriculture of the Fall River Valley. Some of the scheduled activities you will be treated to include a cattle pen show, sonogramming of youth-fed cattle, a paint branding competition, and the fair’s annual Cattlemen’s Social. Admission to the fair and a catered lunch at the historic home of Craig and Marlene McArthur are included. Learn about specialty crops of the Fall River Valley, new irrigation methods, and see a mint distillation unit.

Bus transportation to and from Redding will be provided. 

Hosted by Francis & Ann Duchi, Jim & Nancy Wilson, Lynn & Larry Forero, Marilyn & Terry Thomas, Fall River-Big Valley Cattlemen’s Assoc., Intermountain Fair Heritage Foundation, McArthur Ranch, Inc., and McArthur Livestock

AmeriCorps Corner with Jake

Memorial Day weekend and some birthday fun!

Jake and a friend fishing in California

I’m now the big 2-4! Another year older, another year wiser. Well, I at least hope I’m wiser.

Last Sunday, May 24th, I celebrated my golden birthday…in the Golden State…whoa, how neat is that?! It was a time filled with adventure with friends, relaxation, meals with great coworkers, and FISHING!

To start my birthday weekend off right, my amazing coworkers took me out to a lunch filled with good food and great conversation. I was presented with a card signed by the staff and board members, and in that card was a little slip of paper. That little slip of paper turned into a clue for a gift they all got me, a California fishing license! I can’t thank you guys enough for your kindness and generosity for the license and throughout my time here!

The interesting place of Nevada City was my destination for the weekend. There reside many of the other SNAP members, so it’s always a good time hanging out with that crew. While there, I finally tested the waters and got some fishing in! Due to incoming thunderstorms in the area, no fish were caught and our time there was cut way too short. I guess I’ll just have to explore areas to fish up here. Maybe some of Shasta Land Trust supporters have some ideas…hint, hint :D

Of course birthdays are supposed to be a time of relaxation, and relax I sure did! Being Memorial Day weekend, many of the State Recreational areas were packed, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying some time swimming and relaxing along the South Yuba River. I soaked up some rays, drank more river water than I probably should have, and hung out with some great people!

Although it was a birthday away from family and old friends, they were all just a call or text away. All in all, a very enjoyable birthday here on the West Coast!

Thank You for Joining Us at Triple B Ranch

Landowner Steve Boreo leading a hike

The celebration at the Triple B Ranch was a fantastic day filled with hikes and tours with incredible views, excellent food, and great people!  
 
We were celebrating a major achievement and we want to be sure you know that this type of permanent land protection is made possible by the contributions of many supporters and volunteers. Contributions by people in our community make the work of the Shasta Land Trust successful.
 
We are lucky to have the opportunity to work with Triple B Ranch landowners, Steve and Angelia Boero, and very glad so many of our supporters had a chance to meet them. Also, we want to say Thank You again to all our volunteers and to Wildcard for delicious brew, and Ten Mile Station for inspiring music.

The Record Searchlight published a nice article about this project and our event on the front page of the paper.

Why is this land significant?

Preserving Land in the Cow Creek Watershed

We celebrate the permanent protection of Triple B Ranch for many reasons – including the scenic beauty you have probably already heard so much about. Additionally, this land and the Cow Creek Watershed provide natural and agricultural benefits that are important to everyone in the region. Triple B Ranch is the sixth conservation easement completed by the Shasta Land Trust in this watershed, providing protected habitat of nearly 20,000 acres.

• Cow Creek is the third largest Sacramento River tributary in the northern Sacramento Valley
• It has an average flow of 695 cubic feet per second though the actual flow varies with the season
• The annual discharge is approximately 502,000 acre feet, enough water to supply 1,255,000 average California households or 3.640,000 people
• It supports runs of fall and late fall-run Chinook salmon and steelhead trout as well as a diverse population of other native and nonnative fish
• The 275,000-acre watershed supports a diverse animal  population including  blacktail deer, turkeys, black bear, coyotes, mountain lion, and elk
• The Creek supplies 278 diversions for crop and pasture irrigation, stock watering and hydroelectric power

We are all thinking about the importance of protecting clean water resources these days. Clint Snyder is Assistant Executive Officer for the Central Valley Water Board, and he had this to say recently:

"Cow Creek and its numerous tributaries are experiencing increasing pressure from a variety of land uses, not to mention those added by the current drought.   I applaud the Triple B Ranch for their generosity and the Shasta Land Trust for their dedication to protecting this sensitive watershed.  Those efforts will help to reduce long-term demands on the water supply, therefore sustaining flows for aquatic species and other wildlife."  

Shasta Land Trust Joins Up with Spring Rivers Foundation

Jake assists with a learning station

Shasta Land Trust recently had the pleasure to work with the Spring Rivers Foundation on some of their environmental education field trips at Sucker Springs Creek near Burney. Jake Dickmann, our AmeriCorps conservation associate, teamed up with them to learn how they connect students and adults with the natural world.

Jake experienced several of their hands-on field trip stations for kindergartners and third graders, which involved lessons on the living and non-living objects around us and lessons on population ecology with native deer. Spring Rivers Foundation has an active outdoor education program that uses place-based learning at outdoor laboratories throughout Shasta County. 

A huge thank you to Spring Rivers Foundation for a great opportunity to collaborate. We look forward to partnering with them in the very near future!

Photo courtesy of Spring Rivers Foundation

Welcome Teresa Talbott, Conservation Project Manager

Shasta Land Trust welcomes our new conservation project manager, Teresa Talbott, to the organization. Teresa started with us in May and is focused on completing the suite of 15 conservation easements with the Stewardship Council and PG&E. These exciting projects require a dedicated professional with vast real estate experience.

Teresa grew up on the West Coast and started her career designing bike trails in Central Oregon for a large resort. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Geography from Southern Oregon State University while writing grants on environmental economics. She continued her grant writing in graduate school at the California State University Chico and submitted an unprecedented economic grant proposal which was later used to help protect Mono Lake. She worked with the Tahoe Conservancy securing conservation easements and as a forestry program coordinator for nearly a decade and sat on a Forest Health Consensus Group for five years helping address complex and politically sensitive forestry issues in the Lake Tahoe Basin.  

Teresa later relocated to the Northwest to be closer to her family. As a staff member, board member, consultant or volunteer, Teresa has a long history of collaboratively working with private, public, or non-profits to attain outstanding business results in conservation and cultural preservation. Some of her accomplishments include facilitating property donations toward the preservation of a historic heritage farm along the Columbia River known as the Zimmerman House. The Zimmerman Heritage Farm is going through the planning process to become a heritage museum and community park. Also along the Columbia River, Teresa was a board member for the Friends of Vista House helping to raise nearly 5 million dollars towards restoration. As a land use planning consultant, Teresa helped obtain approval for relocation of a boat building business and marina also along the Columbia River.   

On the North Shore of Oahu, Teresa and her family own vacation rental property that her grandparents built and managed. It is known as Keiki Beach Bungalows. Teresa has rafted many rivers in the Northwest and the North State. One of her favorite trips was rafting down the Colorado River in wooden dories for three weeks on a private trip with the National Geographic. Having spent many years in Southern Oregon and the North State, she has a deep love and appreciation of the beautiful outdoor recreation opportunities available. As the conservation project manager, Teresa is excited to bring her experience to the Shasta Land Trust and learn more about the area and community. She is also looking forward to returning to the Shasta Trinity Wilderness. In her spare time, she enjoys painting, backpacking, biking and hopes to learn how to fly fish in the North State.

Please join us in welcoming Teresa!

Free Event - You're Invited! Triple B Ranch Dedication

JOIN US FOR THE
TRIPLE B RANCH DEDICATION
SUNDAY, MAY 17TH
11AM – 3PM

Celebrating the permanent conservation of 600 acres of
wildlife habitat along South Cow Creek and Old Cow Creek
with landowners Steve and Angelia Boero.

Join us for hikes, tours, and bbq lunch. Beer and wine will be available for adults.

RSVP by May 14th at 530.241.7886 or info@shastlandtrust.org.

RSVP required. Please contact Shasta Land Trust at 530.241.7886 for more information.
Trucks and 4WD vehicles are recommended.

AmeriCorps Corner with Jake

Jake and his cousins at 9,000 ft

What a crazy and fun April it was! To start the month off, two of my cousins flew out from the Midwest to visit and explore California. With this short time off, I was expecting to get some rest and relax. Boy was I wrong.

Our first main outing was to Mount Shasta. With the road open all the way to Bunny Flat, we parked, hiked, and trudged through the bright mountain snow…which I forgot about. By the end of the day, my face was as red as a tomato. Even the insides of my ears and nose were burnt! A mental note was taken that day; snow + mountain + no sunscreen = bad idea.

Our second main excursion was to the coast and the redwoods. For what seemed like ages of driving in the car, it was well worth it for the awesomeness of the coast! Even though I’ve been there back in 2008, it was still so new to me. Walking in the cold, salty, water, eating fresh seafood, and getting lost in the forest...I’ll definitely be back there!

With my cousins back in the Midwest and a good couple weeks at work, it was time for SNAP Spring Training! A good amount of the time was spent doing restoration work in the Deer Creek watershed in the Nevada City area. With the entire group of SNAPpers hard at work, we pulled countless numbers of scotch broom and Himalayan blackberry plants. Nothing is more satisfying than the sound of roots from an invasive plant ripping out the ground!

It was an awesome month with family, friends, and exploring more of Northern California!

Until next time,
Jake

Volunteer Monitor Training

Volunteer monitors at work!

We visit each of our 11 conservation easements every single year, to make sure that the nearly 22,500 acres of ranchland, wildlife habitat, and open space remain protected. Forever. And every year, volunteers assist staff in monitoring these properties between May and September.
 
Easement monitoring is one of our most important responsibilities as a land trust, and it just happens to be one of the most fun, too!  All of our current protected properties are private and not open to the public, so this is a unique opportunity to explore beautiful places that few people are able to visit and see firsthand why they're important to protect. 

We encourage anyone interested in monitoring to join us for a training session about conservation easement monitoring on Thursday, May 21st, at 5:30 pm in the Shasta Land Trust Office.

This 1.5 hour training will cover the what, why, and how of monitoring, and include plenty of time for questions and discussion. Light refreshments will also be provided. RSVP’s are appreciated, but not required. Feel free to bring friends or family who might be interested in monitoring with us!

Please contact Jake at 530.241.7886 or jdickmann@shastalandtrust.org if you are interested in monitoring properties with the Shasta Land Trust this summer!

Volunteer Spotlight - You!

In honor of last month being Volunteer Month, our latest volunteer spotlight is Shasta Land Trust’s volunteers and supporters - ALL OF YOU! Last year, you generously provided over 1,100 hours of hard work, dedication, resources, and other services to help advance the mission of Shasta Land Trust.

With a great array of volunteer committees, including the Environmental Education, People, Wildways Planning and Kickoff, and Lands Committees, as well as the Stewardship Team, we’re so lucky to have such an involved and great group of people! From tabling events, event planning, Wildways hosts, envelope-stuffing, and landscaping to trail cleanup and work, it always amazes us what we can do and achieve with your help!

To wrap up Volunteer Month, the members of the People Committee, including Muffy Berryhill, Marilyn Thomas, Debbie Stokes, Deb Townsend, Tara Swanson, Diane Madgic, and Don Benner, planned and hosted a great Volunteer Appreciation event on Earth Day. A fitting day for the work we do conserving wildlife habitat and open spaces. A huge thank you to them for such a wonderful evening!

Once again, thank you all for the incredible amount of service you have provided us over the years. We wouldn't be where we are today without you!