Stewards of the Land

Landowners: John Brigham, Susan Ball, and Tyler, Lizzie, and Sharon Velten

Place They Call Home Away From Home: Thistle Rock Ranch in the Little Chico Creek Canyon

Conservation Easement Completed: 2013

Land Trust Staff: Please introduce us to your property, and share what makes it unique.

Landowners: This historic ranch encompasses approximately 240 acres of oak woodland, open pasture, and riparian landscape. Canopy species include beautiful mature live oak, black oak, valley oak, blue oak, sycamore, California bay, and a variety of native shrubs and grasses. Its unique character is derived from a series of meadows offering habitat and corridors for native wildlife species. In the late 1800s, there was a pear orchard on the property that produced state champion pears. Currently, the land is uncultivated with just a few fruit trees remaining (lemon, pomegranate, and apple). Three creeks flow through the property, providing year round water sources for wildlife.

Land Trust Staff: Please tell us about your land ethic. Who, if anyone, has influenced how you think about land stewardship?

Landowners: John and Brycie Brigham, parents to the current owners of the property, left a legacy of appreciation for the special nature of these 240 acres. They chose to protect the land values in a conservation easement in the hope that their family would continue to use it as a retreat from the hustle of the city. John and Brycie loved the peace in the canyon, the endless wildlife (birds, fish, bears, cougars, coyotes, and deer) as well as the numerous swimming holes, walking trails and the ability for children to be immersed in nature without interruption from TV or internet.

“One of the most important legacies of the Conservation Easement is that we have developed a community of neighbors who […] share our values and concern for the long-term sustainability of the land.”

Land Trust Staff: What benefits have you seen from the Conservation Easement? Does it play a part in your family’s legacy planning efforts?

Landowners: As the family of John and Brycie Brigham, we support the decision they made in 2011 to preserve and protect their property in perpetuity. Over the last 50 years, the property has served as a second home to its owners, a place that draws the family together from across the United States.

One of the greatest threats to this special place is the effects of a changing climate. The Camp Fire destroyed a number of beautiful, large trees, and our hillside and road were badly damaged. Drought is killing vegetation, and the excessive heat is causing damage to the exterior of our buildings. Fire is a regular concern, as is the requirement to clear the land of the underbrush that ignites so easily.

To us, one of the most important legacies of the Conservation Easement is that we have developed a community of neighbors who have also protected their land with assistance from the Northern California Regional Land Trust, and who share our values and concern for the long-term sustainability of the land. They help watch over the property when we aren’t around, provide helpful advice on conservation techniques, share equipment, and pitch in to help when we need it. The Easement has brought together these landowners who are passionate about land, water, and forest values and want to work to support our community in Little Chico Creek canyon.

Land Trust Staff: Do you have any other thoughts about the benefits of Conservation Easements?

Landowners: We reached out to Northern California Regional Land Trust staff recently to ask for support of controlled burns on our property, as well as for referrals for help in clearing the land. They are very aware of the issue and have begun sending helpful information our way. We hope they will continue to provide landholders with resources for adapting landscape management under climate change.