The Nature Conservancy purchased the 1440 acre Child’s Meadow parcel near the southern entrance of Lassen National Park. The Childs Meadow is an alpine meadow that forms part of the headwaters of Deer Creek, one of the few California streams that hosts both steelhead and spring salmon.

The property is located east of Hwy 89, just below Morgan Summit. The meadow will continue to be used as summer grazing for the horses of the Simmons Ranch, north of Chico.

Proximity to the Lassen National Forest’s southern entrance had caught the eye of developers, who proposed a conversion to vacation homes and golf course.

This alpine meadow acts as a sponge absorbing snow melt and releasing it during the warmer months when cold water is critical to the survival of fish in Deer Creek.

Golfers have plenty of real estate to hack away at already, draining the region for homes is not the best way to save Parr.

Technorati Tags: Deer Creek, Nature Conservancy, Child’s Meadow