Beginning Monday, May 7th, 2018, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area will utilize goats to manage vegetation and fuels at the Tower House Historic District, Upper Clear Creek Picnic Area, and Grizzly Gulch. The Tower House Historic District is located approximately two miles west of Whiskeytown Lake and has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1973 for its association with early settlement in northern California during the Gold Rush. Managing vegetation and fuel loads in this area is critical for maintaining defensive space around such historic structures as the Camden House. Beginning in the 1850s, the settlers of the Gold Rush era grazed this well-watered and productive area with goats, cattle, sheep and pigs. In the absence of grazing, many of the nonnative species which have been introduced over the years (such as Himalayan blackberry, yellow star thistle, and Scotch broom) will take over if left unmanaged, and can adversely impact historic orchards, structures, and the pastoral landscape. In order to address these concerns, the National Park Service is utilizing goat grazing to support the following objectives:
• Preserve the historic structures and cultural landscape.
• Stabilize and preserve the historic vegetation.
• Manage invasive species.
• Reduce hazardous fuels and create defensive space around structures.
After completing work at the Tower House Historic District, the goats will move up Clear Creek to graze around the Upper Clear Creek Picnic Area and the facilities around Grizzly Gulch. The objective of the grazing in these developed areas is to reduce the buildup of hazardous fuels around structures and to reduce the occurrence of non-native weeds.
During the project, portions of the park and some trails will be temporarily closed to allow for fencing to contain the goats. Visitors are welcome to view the goats, but may not enter closed areas or approach the goats or the livestock guardian dogs. Livestock guardian dogs are used to protect the goats from predators. These animals are not pets, so visitors are advised to keep their distance for their safety and that of the livestock. As always, pets must be leashed while in the park.
The goats for this project are provided and managed by Northwest Goat Grazers out of the Wallowa Valley in Oregon. Approximately 60 acres will be grazed during this project, which is expected to last four weeks.
For more information on this project, please contact Jennifer Gibson (530) 242-3457. For general information on Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, please visit www.nps.gov/whis, or stop by the visitor center.
