Pit River Conservation Easement

The Pit River Conservation Easement, containing an immense 3,978 acres of precious shoreline and forest, is protected forever! The property conserves vital resources necessary for wildlife, healthy ecosystems, and the preservation of Tribal heritage.

This property provides important connective access between three already protected Shasta Land Trust properties: the Pit River Tunnel CAL FIRE property (6,982 acres), Marble Creek UC Berkeley property (3,244 acres), and the Tunnel Reservoir property (901 acres), linking together over 15,000 acres among all four properties!

The land is located in the ancestral territory of the Madesi band of the Pit River Tribe, who for centuries resided, fished, and gathered along the Pit River. The property contains many sites of historic cultural importance that are now protected forever from the threat of development.

The region’s iconic Pit River winds through the property, with a substantial 7.9 miles of shoreline contained within the conservation easement, in addition to .39 miles of Cape Horn Creek. The protection of the Pit River and its tributaries provides immense environmental value because of its precious natural resources and connectivity to the Sacramento River.

The aquatic habitat of the property supports gulls, osprey, and bald eagles that hunt from the Pit River’s abundant fish, such as rainbow trout, sculpin, and Sacramento pikeminnow. The ample shoreline additionally supports waterfowl, herons, belted kingfishers, and other native wildlife species. 

The property’s expansive timberlands features thriving tree stands of Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, incense-cedar, California black oak, and Oregon white oak. Many other native plants including deer brush, snow berry, California poppy, and white leaf manzanita grow beneath the towering trees, and along the property’s meandering shoreline and meadows. The rich acres of timberland provide opportunities to manage forest resources for ecological, economic, and community benefits for years to come.

The public can enjoy the land and explore nature with many opportunities to fish, hunt, bird watch, and hike along the river’s edge. A small day-use area located along the Pit River near Bush Bar also has public amenities including a whitewater take-out, picnic table, restroom, and parking. 

We are thankful for our partners at Pacific Gas and Electric and the Stewardship Council for the protection of this property’s precious natural and cultural resources, for which future generations will greatly benefit.