For many years, the Ross family has struggled to stop illegal dumping on their land on Salmon Creek northeast of Redding. In spite of their efforts to haul garbage and to stop illegal access, the dumpers have continued to dump household garbage, car bodies, and construction debris on the land; and to destroy natural resources in the area. The Ross Family spends several thousand dollars each year to deposit the illegal garbage at the local landfills and to try to restrict access. In March 2008, nearby neighbors approached the Western Shasta Resource Conservation District (WSRCD) about helping the Ross Family to clean up the garbage and construct barricades to keep trespassers off the land.

The WSRCD accepted the challenge and put out a call for volunteer help. Lee Delaney, Watershed Coordinator for the WSRCD, said the response has been outstanding. To date, the Salmon Creek Partnership includes the Ross family; numerous neighbors; the Rotary Club of Redding Stream Team; Good News Rescue Mission; Shasta County District Attorney’s Office, Work Release Program and Sheriff’s Department; City of Redding Police Department; California Department of Fish and Game; Ochoa and Shehan Builders, Inc.; Shasta County Supervisor Glenn Hawes; Stillwater-Churn Creek Watershed Alliance member Bob Nash; Redding Soft Air Paint Ball Club; and the WSRCD.  The Partners have pledged equipment and sweat to clean up the area. Thank you to all the partners for their hard work and commitment!