A new fencing project has been completed at McCahill Ranch along the Kings River, where Kings River Land Trust (KRLT) holds a conservation easement with landowner Roger McCahill.
The ranch, known for its oak savanna, riparian habitat, and productive rangeland, is permanently protected through a conservation easement agreement established with KRLT. The easement was funded by Caltrans as part of required mitigation to offset the destruction of Valley Oaks and oak land savanna for Highway 180 expansion. The easement ensures that 20 acres of riverfront property will remain in agriculture and open space, protecting both wildlife and working lands.
This past September, crews from TJ Fence Co., a company based in O’Neals, replaced an aging fence around the ranch. The new fencing will provide the durability and function needed to support the property’s conservation goals.
“We are immensely pleased with the work TJ Fence has done and highly recommend them to anyone else in need of their services,” says KRLT Executive Director Luke Hoekstra.
According to KRLT, the old fencing had deteriorated to the point where it no longer contained livestock effectively. Without secure fencing, cattle grazing — an essential practice that helps manage vegetation, reduce wildfire risks, and limit invasive weeds — would be difficult to continue. New fencing also clearly marks property boundaries, deterring trespassing and illegal dumping.
“Fencing may not seem like a big deal, but it’s critical for balancing the needs of agriculture and conservation,” Hoekstra says. “It allows the landowner to continue ranching while protecting the natural resources that make this place so valuable.”
The project benefits extend beyond the McCahill family. Healthy rangeland provides wildlife habitat, clean water, and scenic open space, while also contributing to the local food supply and economy through cattle production.
KRLT notes that projects like this are part of a larger effort to protect farmland and habitat in the Kings River Watershed. California loses more than 50,000 acres of farmland each year to development, according to USDA figures, making local easements critical for the future of agriculture and conservation.
The McCahill Ranch easement ensures the land cannot be converted to urban development, conserving its Valley Oaks, river frontage and wildlife habitat. KRLT will continue to monitor the property annually to uphold the conservation agreement, while daily ranch operations remain in the hands of the landowner.
Community members can support KRLT’s work by donating to help cover costs of fencing improvements or by contributing to future conservation easements.
“If the public would like to support this project, they can do so by making a donation to help us pay for the fencing replacement or contribute towards our purchases of conservation easements on additional Kings River Watershed properties,” Hoekstra says. “That is a great way for the public to become a part of our community-wide effort to create a legacy of land protection that we can all be proud of and pass on to future generations.”