Beginning Monday, April 27th, 2020, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area will utilize goats to
manage vegetation and fuels at the Tower House Historic District. 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. Though this area is closed due to hazards resulting
from the Carr Fire of 2018, the goats will be viible from state highway 299 to both the north and
the south. 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 non-native weeds.
• Reduce hazardous fuels and create defensive space around structures.
During the project, temporary fencing will be utilized to contain the goats. Visitors are welcome
to view the goats from a distance 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. Please keep your distance for your safety and for the safety of the
livestock. As always, pets must be leashed at Whiskeytown.
The goats for this project are provided and managed by Blue Tent Farms out of Red Bluff, CA.
Approximately 20 acres will be grazed during this project, which is expected to last up to three
weeks.
For more information on this project, please contact Joseph Nicholas, (530) 722-5608. For
general information on Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, please visit www.nps.gov/whis.
