None The Nature Conservancy in California Press Releases Search All Press Releases Misty Herrin Phone: (213) 327-0405 E-mail: mherrin@tnc.org

Final Portions of Scenic Palo Corona Ranch Acquired for Public Access

Carmel, Calif.—December 16, 2004—The Nature Conservancy and The Big Sur Land Trust recently completed the sale and transfer of their remaining interest in Palo Corona Ranch to the California Department of Fish and Game and Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District, bringing nearly the entire 9,898-acre ranch into public ownership. The final acquisitions of the 2,085-acre Middle Ranch and the 7,093-acre South Ranch were made possible through the cooperation of the California Wildlife Conservation Board and the California Department of Parks and Recreation.

Palo Corona Ranch—a scenic, 10-mile stretch of mountains, old-growth redwoods, oak woodlands and pristine meadows—serves as the northern gateway to Big Sur. It extends southward from Carmel to Los Padres National Forest, which connects to Hearst Ranch in San Luis Obispo County, creating a 70-mile-long wildlife corridor along California’s spectacular central coast.

“The gateway to Big Sur now belongs to the people of California,” said Bill Leahy, Executive Director of The Big Sur Land Trust. “The dedication and devotion of so many individuals, public agencies and non-profit environmental organizations made it all possible.” 

“Transferring Palo Corona Ranch into public ownership is a win for everyone,” said Peggy McNutt, Managing Director of The Nature Conservancy’s central coast ecoregion.  “Not only will the forests, grasslands and oak woodlands of the ranch be protected for the long term, they’ll be accessible for the public to enjoy for generations to come.”

“Completing the acquisition of this magnificent property is an important milestone in the creation of the 4,300-acre Palo Corona Ranch Regional Park that will provide the public with a wonderful scenic open space area to explore while protecting significant wildlife corridors,” stated Joe Donofrio, General Manager of the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District. 

Last April, The Nature Conservancy and The Big Sur Land Trust completed the sale and transfer to public ownership of the 680-acre Palo Corona Front Ranch to the Monterey Peninsula Park District (Park District). The deal to transfer ownership of the remaining 9,178 acres of the ranch closed Dec. 6, with 5,562 acres of the south ranch going to the Department of Fish and Game, and 3,616 acres of the middle-to-southern part of the ranch going to The Park District. The Big Sur Land Trust will retain ownership of 40 acres.

Funding for the $37 million purchase came from three state agencies—the Wildlife Conservation Board ($14 million), the Coastal Conservancy ($9 million) and the Department of Parks and Recreation ($9 million)—and the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District provided the local commitment ($5 million).
         
Al Wright, Executive Director of the Wildlife Conservation Board, said, “We’re proud to be part of this historic partnership that has given us the opportunity to link surrounding protected properties into one major conservation project. Preserving these extraordinary resources was critical to our agency’s commitment to provide $14 million of 2000 Park Bond Act funds.”

Along with its native plants and wildlife—which include rare native stands of Monterey pine, old-growth redwood, condor, black bear, mountain lion, tiger salamander, Smith’s blue butterfly and steelhead trout—Palo Corona Ranch was considered a prime conservation target for its strategic location. The ranch connects 13 separate wilderness areas and parks, including Point Lobos State Reserve, Carmel River State Beach, Garrapata State Park, Hatton Canyon State Park, Joshua Creek Canyon Ecological Reserve, Los Padres National Forest and the Ventana Wilderness. Biologists favor connecting protected areas to allow wildlife more room to migrate, find food and mate. Such movement helps maintain the genetic diversity of wildlife populations, which in turn enhances their prospects for long-term survival.

The Nature Conservancy and Big Sur Land Trust will continue to work collaboratively with the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District and California Department of Fish and Game to provide private funds and support for long-term stewardship of the ranch. In a rare move, the various agencies overseeing Palo Corona Ranch and adjacent public lands have signed an agreement to work towards a cohesive and coordinated landscape management approach to maximize limited resources and ensure its protection for future generations.