Wednesday October 29, 2025
Record Searchlight —
The Pit River Tribe has regained ownership of 270 acres of ancestral land along the Fall River.
The Western Rivers Conservancy purchased the Pope Jensen Ranch in early September and transferred it to the tribe, according to a community announcement. The move will allow the tribe to begin restoration efforts on nearly 135 acres of freshwater wetlands.
The property is located within the ancestral lands of the Ajumawi Band of the Pit River Tribe and holds historical and cultural significance.
Restoration plans underway
The Fall River is one of the largest spring-fed rivers in the United States, known for its cold, clean waters and abundant trout populations, the conservancy said.
The Pope Jensen Ranch is situated in the heart of the Fall River Valley, where high-elevation wetlands collect snowmelt and rain in the winter and slowly release it into the river and its tributaries in the summer.
Over half of the ranch is classified as wetland. The Pit River Tribe plans to use Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge to restore the habitat by reintroducing native plants and controlling invasive species. This will benefit both conservation and tribal resilience, providing natural resources for basket making, medicines and food, the conservancy said.
Wildlife habitat protected
The Fall River Valley is a critical area for migratory birds traveling the Pacific Flyway, a major north-south route extending from Alaska to Patagonia. The wet meadow and wetland habitats, including those found at Pope Jensen Ranch, support over 6 million birds, including more than 60% of the state-threatened greater sandhill crane breeding population in the Intermountain West, the conservancy reported.
The three-mile stretch of river running through the property supports native fish like rainbow trout and bigeye marbled sculpin, a California fish that is of special concern. The ranch’s grasslands and riparian vegetation also provide habitat for wildlife such as mule deer, beaver and muskrat.
The Fall River is one of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s designated wild trout waters and is home to one of the largest populations of wild native rainbow trout and non-native brown trout of any river in California.
Funding secured for conservation
The Westernn Rivers agency identified the Pope Jensen Ranch as a conservation priority in 2022 and worked to secure funding through a Fish and Wildlife grant to purchase and convey the property to the Pit River Tribe. The tribe manages several thousand acres of conservation and agricultural lands in the area, according to the Western Rivers Conservancy.
Acquiring these 270 acres of ancestral lands enhances tribal resiliency and ensures the permanent conservation of prime fish and wildlife habitat, the conservancy said. Fish and Wildlife’s Nature-Based Solutions Program provides funding for mountain meadows and non-coastal wetlands consistent with the state of California’s Natural and Working Lands Climate Smart Strategy and Pathways.
“This land has always been a vital part of our people’s history and way of life, and its conservation ensures that the waters, wildlife and cultural values it holds will be safeguarded for generations to come. Together, we are taking important steps toward healing the land and strengthening the future for both our Tribe and all who depend on these waters,” said Yatch Bamford, chairman of the Pit River Tribe.