Conservation partners protect 12,575-acre ranch in Napa County

Public-private partnership takes critical step toward preserving open space and completing wildlife-compatible recreational area in popular Napa region

Sacramento, Calif.—December 15, 2005—The Wildlife Conservation Board, in partnership with the Blue-Ridge Berryessa Natural Area Conservation Partnership, the Department of Fish and Game, the California Coastal Conservancy, The Land Trust of Napa County and The Nature Conservancy, today announced the acquisition and protection of the 12,575-acre Napa Ranch, an important milestone in protecting the region’s natural areas and providing wildlife-compatible recreational opportunities. The property, which will become part of the California Department of Fish and Game’s Knoxville Wildlife Area, includes one of the last unprotected segments of the 70,000-acre Eticuera Creek watershed, which supports a wide variety of threatened plants and animals.

“What the Point Reyes National Seashore is to San Francisco, or the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is to Los Angeles, the Blue-Ridge Berryessa Natural Area can be for our region,” said Ray Krauss of the Blue-Ridge Berryessa Natural Area Conservation Partnership, a coalition of private landowners and public land managers dedicated to conserving 750,000 acres in portions of Napa, Yolo, Solano, Colusa and Lake counties. “More than 10 million people live within a three hour drive of the BRBNA, and that population is expected to increase 33 percent by 2020. The protection of Napa Ranch is a big step in our effort to protect the region’s natural treasures and its way of life before it’s too late.”

The acquisition of Napa Ranch contributes 12,575 acres to the Knoxville Wildlife Area and a network of open space that spans the Cache Creek Wildlife Area, the Cache Creek Natural Area, the Knoxville Wildlife Area, the McLaughlin Reserve, the Cedar Roughs Wildlife Area and the Lake Berryessa public lands. Protection of the property preserves an important wildlife corridor serving a variety of wide-ranging animals, including mountain lion, bear and bald and golden eagle. Napa Ranch also contains one of the last unprotected segments of the Eticuera Creek watershed, which spans 70,000 acres of oak woodlands and serpentine chaparral — two highly threatened vegetation types in California of which only a small percentage remains. While only four percent of oak woodlands are protected in California, they are known to support more than 80 species of migratory and resident birds and more than 330 species of amphibians.

The acquisition is an important step in providing a wide range of nature-based, resource-compatible public activities for the growing populations of Napa, Yolo and Lake counties and visitors from the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento regions. Opportunities for hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, swimming and white water rafting are currently available on some of the surrounding properties. The property, which spans both Napa and Yolo counties, features the spectacular Zim Zim waterfall which, upon completion of a land-use and habitat restoration plan for the property, will be accessible to the public for the first time.

Napa Ranch was purchased by the Wildlife Conservation Board in cooperation with the Blue-Ridge Berryessa Natural Area Conservation Partnership, the California Coastal Conservancy, The Land Trust of Napa County and The Nature Conservancy for $12,500,000 using public and private funds. The Wildlife Conservation Board allocated $7,200,000 for the purchase and received a $2,300,000 Land and Water Conservation Fund grant from the National Park Service, a $1,500,000 grant from the State Coastal Conservancy, a $1,000,000 grant from Resource Legacy Fund Foundation’s Preserving Wild California program secured by the Napa Land Trust and a $500,000 grant from The Nature Conservancy.

"These kinds of partnerships are critical to the preservation of land, wildlife, watersheds and recreational opportunities," said Al Wright, executive director of the Wildlife Conservation Board. "In protecting this property through stewardship and management, we are safeguarding its benefits and use for our generations and generations that follow us."

“The Land Trust has been working continuously on the Knoxville Region of Napa County since about 1990 and, with the acquisition of Napa Ranch, we have a swath of lands that is unparalleled in Napa County,” said John Hoffnagle, executive director of The Land Trust of Napa County. “We all know that the Napa Valley harbors world-class vineyards. Now we see that Napa County’s world-class territory encompasses natural systems as well.”

“The Napa Ranch is a jewel in the Bay Area’s greenbelt,” said Sam Schuchat, executive officer of the California Coastal Conservancy. “This was a natural project for our Bay Conservancy and a wonderful public and private partnership. By working together, we have preserved an incredible natural resource and provided recreational opportunities for California’s growing population.”

“This is the future of conservation in California,” said George Yandell, North Coast project director for The Nature Conservancy. “The Blue-Ridge Berryessa Natural Area Conservation Partnership has combined a strong vision with a team of forward-looking partners to protect one of our state’s most important natural areas. We’re proud to be a part of their success.”

The California Department of Fish and Game will manage Napa Ranch as part of the Knoxville Wildlife Area and, with support from The Nature Conservancy and the Blue-Ridge Berryessa Natural Conservation Partnership, will develop a land-use and habitat restoration plan for the property. The Department of Fish and Game also manages the adjacent Cedar Roughs and Cache Creek Wildlife Areas. For more information on the Blue-Ridge Berryessa Natural Area, visit www.brbna.org. The Land Trust of Napa County can be reached at www.napalandtrust.org. For more information on the public lands surrounding the Napa Ranch, visit the Department of Fish and Game at www.dfg.ca.gov/lands/wa/region3/r3list.html.

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Blue-Ridge Berryessa Natural Area Conservation Partnership The Blue Ridge Berryessa Natural Area Conservation Partnership (BRBNACP) promotes the conservation and enhancement of the expansive landscape that comprises the BRBNA by encouraging the sensitive management of its natural, agricultural, recreational, archeological and historical resources. As a voluntary and inclusive organization, the BRBNACP facilitates coordination and collaboration among its public, private, and nonprofit partners; provides research, information, and education services to partners; and conducts outreach to the public. www.brbna.org

California Coastal Conservancy The California Coastal Conservancy, established in 1976, is a state agency that uses entrepreneurial techniques to purchase, protect, restore, and enhance coastal resources, and to provide access to the shore. We work in partnership with local governments, other public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private landowners. To date, the Conservancy has undertaken more than 950 projects along the 1,100 mile California coastline and around the San Francisco Bay Area region. www.coastalconservancy.ca.gov

California Department of Fish and Game The mission of the California Department of Fish and Game is to manage California's diverse fish, wildlife, and plant resources, and the habitats upon which they depend, for their ecological values and for their use and enjoyment by the public. The Department maintains native fish, wildlife, plant species and natural communities for their intrinsic and ecological value and their benefits to people. This includes habitat protection and maintenance in a sufficient amount and quality to ensure the survival of all species and natural communities. The Department is also responsible for the diversified use of fish and wildlife including recreational, commercial, scientific and educational uses. www.dfg.ca.gov

The Land Trust of Napa County is a county-wide, community-based land trust that works to protect the natural diversity, scenic open space and agricultural vitality of Napa County by preserving lands with significant conservation values for present and future generations, and by fostering an appreciation and understanding of the natural environment. www.napalandtrust.org

The Nature Conservancy is an international nonprofit membership organization, whose mission is to preserve plants, animals, and natural communities by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. Founded in 1951, The Nature Conservancy and its more than one million members have safeguarded more than 12 million acres in all 50 states and Canada. The Conservancy has also worked with like-minded partner organizations to preserve more than 100 million acres in Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean, the Pacific, and Asia. In California, The Nature Conservancy has protected more than 1.2 million acres. www.nature.org/california

Wildlife Conservation Board was created by legislation in 1947 to administer a capital outlay program for wildlife conservation and related public recreation. The primary responsibilities of the Board are to select, authorize and allocate funds for the purchase of land and waters suitable for recreation purposes, and the protection and restoration of wildlife habitat. The Board places major emphasis on partnerships with other conservation groups, including federal, state and local resource agencies, conservancies, joint ventures and non-profit conservation organizations. Even though the Board is relatively small in terms of staff size, building partnerships has expanded the Board's capacity by helping it leverage state funds with other matching funds. Partners provide additional resources and expertise, as well as build community outreach programs to gain local support, and assist with project operations and maintenance costs. www.wcb.ca.gov