Fort Reading Ranch Protected!

“The California Strategic Growth Council is proud to support projects like the Fort Reading Ranch acquisition through the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program. It ensures that working ag lands in Shasta County will stay working lands. This strengthens the area’s ability to withstand the effects of extreme weather by protecting vital watersheds and open space,” said Erin Curtis, executive director of the California Strategic Growth Council. “ We applaud the Shasta Land Trust’s leadership in advancing conservation solutions that benefit both agriculture and the environment."

We are excited to announce the permanent protection of 122 acres at the historic Fort Reading Ranch in Shasta County!

This vital working landscape—home to rich agricultural operations, scenic open space, and a proud ranching tradition—is now safeguarded for generations to come. With irrigated pastures, rotational grazing, and well-maintained ranch infrastructure, Fort Reading continues to serve as a model for sustainable agriculture and land stewardship.

Located along Cow Creek, the ranch supports a thriving cattle and hay operation, with around 100 Black Angus cow/calf pairs grazed annually and 200 tons of hay produced each spring. The property includes a flood irrigation system, two agricultural wells (including a high-efficiency well installed in 2023), water storage tanks, and facilities like a hay barn and cattle shelter that keep operations running smoothly throughout the year.

Funds for Fort Reading Ranch were made available through the California Strategic Growth Council’s Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program (SALC) in collaboration with the Department of Conservation. SALC is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment – particularly in disadvantaged communities.

We are deeply grateful to the Langum Family for their vision, leadership, and commitment to honoring Dale Bagley’s legacy and preserving the land he loved.

Thanks to their dedication, Fort Reading Ranch will continue to support local agriculture, protect vital water and wildlife resources, and stand as a lasting symbol of Shasta County’s rural heritage.

We look forward to building on this success to protect even more of our region’s irreplaceable working lands.