The Nature Conservancy Purchases Landmark Property Near Lassen Volcanic National Park
Spectacular 1,440-Acre Child’s Meadow Supports Wildlife and Ranching
Chico, Calif. — October 10, 2007 — The Nature Conservancy announced today the purchase of a 1,440-acre complex of nearly pristine mountain fields known as Child’s Meadow near the southern entrance of Lassen Volcanic National Park. The property, which will continue to be used as summer pasture by a local ranching family, is home to the headwaters for Deer Creek and a variety of wildlife including black-tailed deer, mountain lion, bear and migratory birds.
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Child's Meadow near Lassen Volcanic National Park.
Photo © Rich Reiner/TNC |
“Mountain meadows and riparian areas are the two most important habitats for birds in the western United States,” said Rich Reiner, ecoregional ecologist for The Nature Conservancy. “Child’s Meadow is especially critical for declining species such as willow flycatcher, and the property’s meandering creek plays an important role in the Deer Creek watershed.”
Several miles of frontage on both sides of Gurnsey Creek flow through Child’s Meadow, becoming the headwaters of Deer Creek. Mountain meadows help manage floods by absorbing water during storms and slowly releasing it during dry periods. This hydrologic function is important to salmon and steelhead trout in Deer Creek that need cold, reliable water during the region’s hot and dry summers.
Child’s Meadow, which rests at 5,000 feet and is well-known for its spectacular views along State Highways 36 and 89, was purchased from the Simmons Family Trust. For many years the Simmons moved their herd of horses between the property and Stilson Canyon Road in Chico.
Because The Nature Conservancy will continue to manage the property as a working ranch, public access will be allowed only through arranged tours. For more information, contact The Nature Conservancy at 530-897-6370.
The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 15 million acres in the United States and have helped preserve more than 102 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. The Nature Conservancy has protected more than 1.2 million acres of land and 3.8 million acres of ocean in California. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.
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