This conservation easement limits further development on the ranch, protecting the many natural resources on the property and ensuring that it remains open space available for ranching purposes.

Located in the Fall River Valley, Fall River Ranch is owned by the Fall River Ranch Partnership.  The 436 acre cattle ranch will remain in private ownership and will continue to be used for productive ranching uses under the terms of the conservation easement.

The productive ranchland of Fall River Ranch includes over a mile of river frontage on beautiful Fall River, the largest spring-fed river system in the nation.  The majority of the ranch is composed of rich grasslands, with about a half of the property in timber which will continue to be harvested in a sustainable manner.  "This ranch has been a big part of our lives for 50 years and we are delighted that is will be preserved in its present state forever," said Lewis Butler, a member of the Fall River Ranch Partnership.

The Fall River Ranch will not be open to the public as a result of the conservation easement, but some limited visitation will be conducted by Shasta Land Trust in the future. 

Shasta Land Trust is a local non-profit conservation organization, formed in Redding in 1998.  Working only with willing landowners who are motivated to conserve their property, Shasta Land Trust has helped conserve over 16,000 acres of land in this region.  Support for Shasta Land Trust is derived from its many supporters and members.

The Trust for Public Land is a national nonprofit land conservation organization that conserves land for people to enjoy as parks, gardens, and natural areas, ensuring livable communities for generations to come.  Since its founding in 1972, TPL has helped protect more than 2.5 million acres of land in 47 states, including over 14,000 acres of lands in Shasta County in partnership with Shasta Land Trust.  The Trust for Public Land depends on the support and generosity of individuals, foundations, and businesses to achieve its land for people mission.

The conservation easement on Fall River Ranch joins another similar Shasta Land Trust easement protecting nearly 2,000 acres of ranchland and wildlife habitat in the Fall River Valley, helping support the local ranching economy and ensuring the diverse natural resources of the region may thrive for years to come.

The conservation easement was purchased from the Fall River Ranch Partnership with funds provided by the California Sierra Nevada-Cascade Conservation Grant Program of the California Natural Resources Agency.  The conservation easement for Fall River Ranch permits a handful of cabins in one area of the property, but prohibits any additional residential development on the property.  Continued grazing is permitted, as is the ability to maintain the necessary ranching and agricultural infrastructure.  The property will remain in private ownership and may be sold or passed down to heirs, but will remain under the restrictions of the conservation easement forever.  The ranch will continue to support the local ranching economy, provide important wildlife habitat, help provide clean water to Fall River, and offer scenic views of its natural expanses for many generations to come.