Growing in Harmony Wildflowers Bloom where Cattle graze

by CCA Associate Director of Communications Maureen LaGrande

Nestled away on the westside of Colusa County lies Bear Valley, a place where not many live but cattle graze and every spring wildflowers bloom. This much anticipated spring spectacle has been dubbed as the “super bloom.” While the flowers have been around for years with the help of cattle grazing, the knowledge of their beauty came to light with social media and media attention from publications such as The Sacramento Bee, SF Gate and San Francisco Chronicle.

While the valley is large, only a handful of people live there and get to experience all the good and bad nature has to offer on a daily basis. Summers are dry, hot, with little water and raise concern for wildfires. Winters are cold with the potential for snow. But the spring poses a time when the sun is shining, soft breezes blow, and dormant annual plants bounce back to life.

Emmett Rothweiler of Dixie Valley Ranch is in his sixth winter on the Bear Valley Ranch and over the years has interacted with the admirers who travel the distance to see the flowers.

126 miles North of San Francisco and 88 miles Northwest of Sacramento, Bear Valley can be reached off of Highway 20 going West towards Clearlake. The closest town with amenities is Williams, once on Highway 20 headed towards Bear Valley, the pavement quickly turns to dirt and there are little to no public restrooms, gas stations or phone service. Visitors who come to see the flowers pull over on the side of the gravel road to take in the scene. Along with the cattle, and occasional wild animal, some of the wildflowers that can be seen include Indian paint brushes, lupine, California Poppies, pepper weed and many more varieties.

Picnics, photo shoots, videos, endurance off road bike races and an array of other activities are centered around the bloom. Everyone is entitled to experience nature and the blooms beauty but the ranchers whose cattle inhibit these hills still have a job do. Something not always initially evident to the public is the fact that the flowers are there because of the cattle and the ranchers proper grazing management practices. Ranchers work tirelessly to care for their livestock and maintain their land to ensure that it can produce feed for the cattle.

No workday for a rancher looks the same, some may be moving cattle to a new pasture, fixing fence, branding and shipping. When asked what challenges he and other ranchers face with the increased spring traffic, both Rothweiler and fellow rancher down the road, Jim Keegan, Williams, share how visitors don’t always realize that while the road may be public, it is utilized for pushing cows to a new pasture. Most visitors on the road are understanding and wait their turn as the cows move on by. Others who become frustrated with the roadblock tend to drive around the cattle being moved which at times can cause a frenzy.

Keegan whose family has been ranching in Bear Valley since the 1880s, shared how over the years, people wanted to get into the fields of flowers for a better view. With this in mind, Keegan chose to put a wildflower access gate on a piece of his property where people can safely enter, and not harm the fences. Before field access was available Keegan shared, “I’ve seen them go right under the NO TRESSPASSING sign.”

For the most part, those who visit are respectful and appreciative of the land, ranchers and cattle. Rothweiler shares how most of his interactions come about when visitors are jumping over his fence to get up close to the flowers. “I kindly ask them to get out of the pasture and explain to them that they stepped on the exact same flowers on the side of the public road to get over my fence.” From here

Rothweiler starts conversation with them about the livestock and grasslands. Many of the nature-seekers he speaks to are intrigued to learn how the cattle help manage overgrowth and allow for the flowers to make their way to the surface. When given the chance to talk to the ranchers, visitors ask an array of questions such as, “Do the cows eat the flowers?” Keegan enjoys speaking with visitors, sharing the rich history of ranching in the valley and its natural ecosystem.

The “super bloom” provides a unique opportunity for ranchers to actively engage and educate the public in its naturistic setting. After visiting Bear Valley, Rothweiler feels those who come to see the flowers have a bit better of an understanding as to why the flowers are here and respect for the cattle. While he may only give them a brief explanation of the coexisting life between the cattle and the flowers, and how they depend on one another to flourish, they are able to walk away with new knowledge that can be shared with others. Between seeing the flowers in person and chatting with local ranchers, the public experience first-hand how cattle can provide a positive benefit to the land.

Each year it seems more and more people make their way out to see the flowers. “Last year, on one of the weekends it seemed like there were about 100 people up and down the road,” Rothweiler said. In the past, Keegan has hosted wildflower tours and has had his ranch featured on Home and Garden TV, Channel KCRA 3 and ABC 10, making Bear Valley a very popular place in the spring.

Cattle grazing where the flowers grow promotes biodiversity among the native and nonnative herbaceous plants. The benefits of grazing these lands are endless, keeping overgrowth at a minimum, habitat for wild animals, reducing fuel for fires and allowing for the introduction of other plants. Both the Keegan and Bear Valley Ranch are conserved through the California Rangeland Trust. This ensures that the ranches will remain rangeland, providing homes for wildlife, livestock and herbaceous grasslands.

Lack of rain and brutally dry summers the last few years have caused the bloom to be short lived. On a good year, with steady rainfall and neutral temperatures the bloom usually lasts around three weeks or from mid-March to mid-April. The cold temperatures Bear Valley has faced this winter has led to little growth as of press time, but in the coming weeks flowers can be expected. “If we get some more rain and it starts to warm up, the bloom this year should be good. You can see that the flowers are trying.” Rothweiler said.

Serving as stewards of the land, ranchers continue to do the best they can for their livestock and the natural resources utilized to keep the land functioning for future generations. Keegan shared one thing he wishes people knew about cattle and cattle producers is how much they love taking care of the land, soil, water and air. Those who speak with Keegan, not only learn more about the land but also receive a true, full view of ranching.

Whether one looks at the wildflowers in Bear Valley through their phone screens or in person, the land and livestock that inhibit these places were there before the super bloom fans were. When visiting it is crucial to remember to be respectful of the plants, animals and those who live and work here. “We are stewards of the land; we are here to make the land better. If we made it worse, we would no longer have it,” Rothweiler said.