Bear Valley Ranch

Working in partnership with the American Land Conservancy and Gabrielsen Cattle Company, the Rangeland Trust acquired title to a 12,893-acre conservation easement on the Bear Valley Ranch, fee ownership of which was purchased by the ranching company as a conservation buyer.  When the transaction closed in the summer of 2001, the Rangeland Trust assumed responsibility for holding and monitoring the easement, which conserves productive rangeland in harmony with the preservation of some of the premier wildflower habitats and scenic viewsheds in Northern California.  A management plan optimizes grazing production by employing grazing rotation techniques for the best utilization and conservation of forage and to control exotic weeds.  Spectacular wildflower populations are protected forever.  Major contributors to the Bear Valley project included the California Wildlife Conservation Board, California Department of Transportation and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation.