Three Land Trusts and One Watershed
Staff of Shasta Land Trust, Siskiyou Land Trust, and Northern California Regional Land Trust float the Sacramento River in Redding, California on Friday, September 6th, 2024.
The grass had just shed its morning dew as the shadow of the iconic Sundial Bridge stretched toward 10am. Lance Law and Terry Hanson of North Country Raft Rental stood proudly over two inflated 16” Blue NRS Rafts when the Northern California Regional Land Trust Staff arrived at the boat launch, having traveled up to Redding from the Sacramento River’s valley region. Siskiyou Land Trust staff arrived next smiling and full of mountain energy, having successfully navigated the winding roads on their way down. Shasta Land Trust arrived after that, led by their Executive Director Paul, excited to share their home stretch of river with fellow land and water conservationists.
It was time to launch into the water and share the day together on the largest river in California, which rises in the Klamath Mountains and flows south for 400 miles.
On Friday, September 6, 2024, the staff from three land trust offices who work in three different regions of the Sacramento River Watershed paddled the river together. Each land trust manages conservation easements and resource monitoring in their defined region. Like-titled staff from the three land trusts shared rafts, conservation directors, stewardship directors, GIS staff, and administrators.
Rafting the Sacramento River.
Conversations on the water were dynamic with the staff sharing grant experiences, funding agency contacts, landowner outreach strategies, and stories of land appreciation. Outings like this help to establish and strengthen professional relationships between staff who work in neighboring land trust offices. The day was full of laughter, commiseration, and environmentally-sparked recognition as to why we work so hard to protect our beautiful working and wildlands.
After a big thank-you was given to the guides, the paddlers loaded up their vehicles and drove to the Shasta Land Trust office to enjoy a wonderful lunch of burgers, watermelon and homemade strawberry shortcake.
Alas, the shadows of the trees began to stretch toward the east, signaling it was time to return home to our families. We came together on the river and spent a beautiful day with new friends celebrating a special watershed that we are all lucky to live and work within.
