CDFW updates supervisors on restoration, monitoring at Big Springs Ranch; signals limited interest in additional land transfers

California Department of Fish and Wildlife officials briefed the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors on management and monitoring activities at Big Springs Ranch and outlined how those actions are supporting cold-water habitat and broader watershed recovery efforts.

Michael Harris, environmental program manager for CDFW's climate and watershed program, told the board the department acquired the property primarily for its cold-water resources and said CDFW has "almost completely stopped using irrigation water" on the property in recent years to support salmon recovery and regulatory commitments.

Harris described land-management actions completed and planned: last year the department contracted for more than $1 million in juniper removal; two weeks before the meeting CDFW completed about 180 acres of prescribed burning with CAL FIRE and plans additional burns; CDFW is seeding previously planted areas with native pollinator mixes and planting native shrubs to increase habitat value. The existing grazing lease remains active through the 2026 grazing season.

On monitoring, CDFW reported acoustic recording units and point counts for birds with 62 species identified so far, juvenile fish snorkel assessments in Big Springs Creek and the Shasta River, and deployment of water-temperature probes and flow monitoring in multiple streams the department manages. Harris said the department paid for gauging stations on the property and is working to improve their accuracy.

CDFW also described public-access preparations: three parking areas and visitor locations were installed two years ago, wildlife signage is being added, roads have been improved to reduce erosion, and CDFW planned an educational event for schools and a weekend public opening featuring biology activities and fish-monitoring demonstrations.

Harris said the department is collaborating with the county on access and monitoring (including allowing county staff to sample water), exploring translocation of pheasants from the airport area to the wildlife site and conducting multiple restoration projects designed to increase cold-water contributions to Little and Big Springs. For clarity to the board, Harris said the department "does not want any more lands transferred to the department," and noted that when the property transferred from a nonprofit (The Nature Conservancy) to the department, the transaction provided the county with more than $350,000.

Harris offered to return with a formal presentation and additional materials if the board wanted a deeper briefing.