JS Ranch

Shasta County

Preserving a Family's History While Staving Off Development

JS Ranch is a 5,94- acre ranch, owned by George and Christine McArthur, located in the Cascade Range foothills, 10 miles east of Redding. The property has functioned as a working ranch operation since the 1860s. Old Cow Creek and Clover Creek both pass through the property, and subdivision and rural residential development are increasing in the Cow Creek watershed. The conservation easement enables the continuation of an economically viable cattle ranching operation. The ranch fell within the California Department of Fish and Game’s Cow Creek Conceptual Area Protection Plan which targeted conservation of mule deer winter range, mountain lion habitat, riparian corridors, aquatic habitat for anadromous fish, blue oak woodlands, chaparral, vernal pools, and populations of sensitive species. The conservation project was funded by the California Wildlife Conservation Board and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.