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Shasta Valley in the Lower Klamath Basin

November 15, 2005

At 14,162 feet, snow-capped Mount Shasta towers over Nelson Ranch, The Nature Conservancy’s first acquisition in the Lower Klamath Basin. In 2005, The Nature Conservancy purchased the property — which includes five miles of the Shasta River — from the Nelson family in a joint effort to protect one of the region’s most important salmon nurseries.

The mighty Klamath River carves a wide path from the mountains of southern Oregon through California’s northern tier before emptying into the Pacific. Until the last century, the river and its tributaries supported one of the greatest concentrations of salmon and steelhead on the Pacific Coast. Tales from the Old West evoke a time when salmon were so numerous that locals claimed they could cross the river by stepping on their backs.

But things have changed since then. Many aspects of today’s local economy, particularly ranching and agriculture rely on the same water that fish do. This increased demand on the region’s water supply has led to controversial battles over water rights, quality and distribution.

In California, The Nature Conservancy is focusing its efforts on protecting the Shasta River and its tributaries, which create one of the most important spawning nurseries for Chinook salmon in the entire Klamath Basin. In 2005, The Nature Conservancy purchased Nelson Ranch, a 1,700-acre property that includes five miles of the Shasta River. This is the first time a private conservation group has purchased a property of this size in the Shasta Valley, and it represents an important step in the Conservancy's effort to find common ground between conservationists and the local community.

The Nature Conservancy purchased the Nelson Ranch for $3.375 million through a partnership with Stillwater Development, a conservation-minded investment company. The Nelson family, longtime ranchers and residents in Shasta Valley, had moved out of the area and leased the property to a local rancher. Chuck Nelson, acting on behalf of the Nelson family, began working with Stillwater Development to sell the ranch, but he wanted to be sure that its natural beauty and ranching lifestyle would be preserved for future generations.

Together, Stillwater Development, the Nelson family and The Nature Conservancy concluded that the best way to keep the ranch and its fragile natural areas intact would be for The Nature Conservancy to acquire the ranch and for conservation-compatible grazing to continue.

As a result, the ranch will continue to support the local agricultural economy and contribute to the county tax rolls. Simultaneously, The Nature Conservancy will conduct an inventory of natural resources on the property, investigate salmon and steelhead issues, and learn about water use in the region as it relates to private landowners.

Safeguarding the Nelson Ranch marks the beginning of The Nature Conservancy’s efforts to restore the Shasta River. By applying sound science, collaborating with partners and identifying values that we share with the local community, the Conservancy seeks positive, innovative solutions that benefit both nature and humans in the Lower Klamath Basin.

For More Information:

• Where We Work: The Nature Conservancy in California
  Working with partners, local communities, and people like you, The Nature Conservancy has worked on more than 100 projects and preserves in California since its founding in 1958.
• Feature Story: Nelson Ranch: Preserving Fisheries in the Lower Klamath Basin
  The Nature Conservancy and a Shasta Valley rancher have found common ground in their desire to protect both an important salmon nursery and a ranching lifestyle long cherished by local residents.
• How We Work: Conservation Easements
  Conservation easements are one of the most powerful, effective tools available for the permanent conservation of private lands in the United States. The use of conservation easements has successfully protected millions of acres of wildlife habitat and open space, keeping land in private hands and generating significant public benefits.
• How We Work: Sustainable Waters Initiative
  The Nature Conservancy's Sustainable Waters Initiative helps protect freshwater ecosystems by advancing water policies and conservation approaches so that human needs for water can be met while sustaining healthy freshwater ecosystems.
• How You Can Help: Donate Online to Support Our Efforts
  Your online donation helps us to protect the Lower Klamath Basin and other great places in California.
• Archive of our Saves of the Week and Success Stories
  Read more about The Nature Conservancy's work to save the last great places on Earth.