Visit to Upper Bear Creek Forest Conservation Easement
SLT’s Board and staff had the pleasure of tromping around in the woods with folks from New Forests and FWS Forestry on the newly protected Upper Bear Creek Meadows Conservation Easement just east of McCloud. The 4,768-acre conservation easement borders the Shasta-Trinity National Forest by Pondosa and neighboring land already conserved through other public-private conservation partnerships, knitting together landscape scale protections.
After years of project work, SLT was able to connect with New Forest Staff from as far afield as Sydney, Australia, where the landowner is headquartered. The group discussed how this conservation easement protects unique habitats for wildlife, meadows, aspen groves, as well as the headwaters of Fall River and Pit River while keeping productive timberland intact in perpetuity.
We enjoyed seeing the beautiful color change of the aspen and ongoing restoration efforts to remove conifer encroachment in the meadow. FWS Forestry staff highlighted the protections in place for several special status species including Rocky Mountain Elk, southern long-toed salamander, Cascades frog, willow flycatcher, black-backed woodpecker, American goshawk, bald eagle, sandhill crane, fisher, and northern spotted owl. Endemic Redband trout populate the cold water of Upper Bear Creek and two rare plants, Klamath fawn lily and long-haired star tulip are also found on the property.
Getting out on the land together always brings us closer to our partners and the places we protect. The field visit was an opportunity to celebrate our growing relationship and highlight the importance of SLT as a local partner for conservation. SLT is thankful to partners with a forest landowner committed to long term conservation.
SLT Board members Gareth, Wendy, John, and Bruce at the Upper Bear Creek Forest CE
Meadows at Upper Bear Creek provide habitat for enhanced regional biodiversity
Western Mount Shasta Forest Resiliency Project
Together with neighbors, we are working in participation of the Western Mt. Shasta Forest Resiliency project to steward and protect forest on Rainbow Ridge for the long-term, aiming to build a future where community and nature thrive, united in the mission to care for the land that sustains us all.
Siskiyou Land trust was recently a key partner in the West Mount Shasta Forest Resiliency workshop showcasing the forest health and demonstration forest at Wherrit forest. This field workshop was an opportunity to engage with local partners and community members to learn about forest restoration at multiple sites in Siskiyou County. Participants increased their understanding of how forest restoration practices can increase forest ecosystem health and wildfire resiliency using lessons learned from the West Mount Shasta Forest Resiliency Project.
We’re proud to be participating in forest stewardship alongside neighbors on Rainbow Ridge to foster healthy, fire-resilient landscapes that will benefit people, waters, and wildlife for generations to come. By collaborating with local landowners and conservation easement partners, we are taking immediate and long-term action needed to restore fire to the landscape in a safe and sustainable way.
Wherrit Forest site visit, Mt Shasta Forest Resiliency Project tour
Grant Funding Awarded for Wildlife Habitat and Community Resilience on Working Lands
Western tanager, photo by Steve Huckabone
Siskiyou Land Trust was recently awarded a $200,000 Wildlife Habitat and Community Resilience on Working Lands grant from the Roots Program administrated by Point Blue Conservation Science funded by CA Wildlife Conservation Board. This grant is intended for projects that improve and restore wildlife, fish and pollinator habitat on working lands. Wildlife habitat improvement projects that SLT will be working on include removing invasive plant species, increasing native plant diversity, installing bird boxes, bat and bee houses, raptor perches, wildlife watering stations, and other wildlife habitat structures as well as enhancing our demonstration community pollinator garden and garden greenway property with numerous native plants beneficial to monarchs and other pollinators. These wildlife habitat improvement projects will be focused on private working lands including lands protected by Conservation Easements and lands owned by the Siskiyou Land Trust. The invasive plants that are prevalent on the project sites include: Yellow Star-Thistle, Musk Thistle, Bull Thistle, Canada Thistle, Dyer’s Woad, Scotch Broom, and Sweet Pea, as well as some other less aggressive invasives. This part of the project will involve hand pulling, mowing and string trimming (no herbicides) the invasive plants before they advance further on our forested and agricultural lands.
After non-native plants are removed, native plants will be established to support native plant diversity, pollinators, and habitat. community garden properties, as well as increasing the native plant diversity at these sites by establishing native plants that are highly beneficial to pollinators, birds and other wildlife.
Birdbath and birdhouses in the garden provide water and shelter for local birds.
SLT is excited about installing numerous nest boxes for a variety of avian species that will include barn owls, western screech owls, American kestrels, bluebirds, chickadees, nuthatches, swallows as well as bat and mason bee boxes. Nesting sites on some properties are limited and numerous species including barn owls and kestrels may choose to nest in haystacks which are often unintentionally destroyed during the spring nestling stage as these haystacks are usually temporary in nature. Providing alternative nesting sites provides a safer option than haystacks, barns and workshops where the birds are easily disturbed and will not only benefit the birds but also the landowners since raptors are well known for their rodent control. We feel that raising landowners and community awareness about the vulnerability of nestlings in haystacks is extremely important.
If you are interested in pulling invasive plants, planting natives to increase pollinator and wildlife habitat or installing nest boxes please let SLT Stewardship staff know (see email below). SLT will be hosting numerous events to implement these projects over the next two years. The more community members we can engage in the importance of pulling invasives and planting natives the better! Email LauraBradley@siskiyoulandtrust.org to add your name to the list!
