$10 million Appropriated for 30,000 Acres of Wilderness Adjacent to the Great Redwood Trail

The Grand Canyon of the Eel River, from Dos Rios to the Humboldt Redwoods, is the most rugged landscape within the 196-mile Eel River system. [Photo from Staff / The Wildlands Conservancy]

The Grand Canyon of the Eel River, from Dos Rios to the Humboldt Redwoods, is the most rugged landscape within the 196-mile Eel River system. [Photo and caption from Staff / The Wildlands Conservancy]

Press release from the office of Senator Mike McGuire:

Senator Mike McGuire is thrilled to announce that the State of California has appropriated $10 million dollars to complete the acquisition of the iconic Lone Pine Ranch, in the beautiful Eel River Canyon.

“The Eel River Canyon is like no other place in the west, and it will be the crown jewel of the Great Redwood Trail,” Senator Mike McGuire said. “I’m thrilled that we were able to secure these funds which will allow The Wildlands Conservancy to acquire and open the Lone Pine Ranch to the public. This amazing piece of Earth will feature a breathtaking twelve miles of Trail along the Eel River with a total of 18 miles of riverfront. We couldn’t be more thrilled!”

The ranch was owned for decades by Dean Witter, an investment banker and stockbroker originally based in San Francisco who purchased the land in the early 1940s and died in 1969.

The Wildlands Conservancy has been working on this acquisition for several years. The Conservancy previously spent $3.9 million of its own funds to purchase a 3,000-acre portion of the Ranch straddling Humboldt and Trinity counties. That deal gave the nonprofit organization a two-year option to purchase the remaining 27,000 acres for $25 million. The $10 million from the State is the final piece of the puzzle to ensure a successful purchase of the property. Additional funds had been previously secured via private donors and grant funding.

“I am so impressed with The Wildlands Conservancy. Their vision for this spectacular landscape, ability to raise the funds to help purchase this property and their track record of working with the neighbors and the public is unmatched,” said McGuire. “We can’t wait to move the property’s master plan forward and eventually get folks onto the land and hiking the Trail. We’re grateful for the Conservancy’s partnership.”

The Wildlands Conservancy owns and operates California’s largest nonprofit nature preserve system. All of their properties are open to the public and are free of charge for hiking and camping.

“The Wildlands Conservancy applauds Senator McGuire’s effort to secure critical funds to protect 18 miles of the scenic Grand Canyon of the Eel River and catalyze progress on the Great Redwood Trail. The Wildlife Conservation Board’s support for acquisition of the Lone Pine Ranch is the key to protecting wildlife, vibrant forests, and rich wetlands, which significantly advances the State’s vision to protect 30 percent of our lands and waters by 2030. The Wildlands Conservancy is proud to add this nationally significant landscape into its Preserve system for permanent stewardship and development of free public access,” said David Myers, President of The Wildland Conservancy Board of Directors.

Myers called acquisition of the Witter Ranch “a rare opportunity to preserve some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the country.”

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32 Comments
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Farce
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Farce
2 years ago
cutommorrow
Guest
cutommorrow
2 years ago

what a crook of shyt. 10 mil. for the public. My experience with conservancy ownership is it’s closed to public.

Eocscw
Guest
Eocscw
2 years ago
Reply to  cutommorrow

Totally agree. 10M of state funds and there are 1000’s living in cardboard boxes. Sure looks like it could have been spent a lit more wisely.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
2 years ago
Reply to  cutommorrow

You’re clearly misinformed about who is managing this property in the future. Actually check out their website? https://wildlandsconservancy.org/

The Wildlands Conservancy is a private non-profit, and they hosted more than 1 million visitors on their Preserves available to the public throughout California last year. They do this completely free of charge, and including their camping, education programs, and hiking trails. They manage rivers, forests, estuaries, oceanfront,rangelands, and mountainous properties throughout the state.

They are active land stewards that take on the challenges of complex management. Their properties have managed to grazing for biodiversity and fuels reduction, restoration projects that improve habitats for high-profile species such as salmon, and the reintroduction of tule elk at their Wind Wolves Preserve. They also have redwood forest in the Sonoma County, where they do timber management and selective harvesting for climate resiliency, old growth characteristics, carbon sequestration, and fuels reduction.

Last edited 2 years ago
Susan Nolan
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Susan Nolan
2 years ago

The Wildlands Conservancy has a different goal than the parks, but its holdings are open to some extent. The Seawood Cape Preserve is open on the ocean side of Patricks Point Drive (the side almost everyone prefers to visit). The Eel River Estuary Preserve reservation is open by reservation. At this point, the preserve in this article is open to boat-in visitors by reservation. https://wildlandsconservancy.org 

Farce
Guest
Farce
2 years ago
Reply to  Susan Nolan

Can we stay in the house we just helped buy? Or swim in that pool?

Nay
Guest
Nay
2 years ago

Can anyone send a google maps link to where this will be located?

Marc
Guest
Marc
2 years ago
Reply to  Nay
Mark
Guest
Mark
2 years ago
Reply to  Nay

About 20 miles south of Kenntenpom on the road to Covelo

Jeffersonian
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Jeffersonian
2 years ago

More wasted govt money to remove yet another ranch from private ownership at taxpayer expense for what purpose. It’s not needed for a trail. It’s just another govt. land grab to benefit the owners who can’t sell it and won’t work it. Part of McGuires pipe dream when he should be getting more water and fisheries restoration for the Eel river.

Marc
Guest
Marc
2 years ago
Reply to  Jeffersonian

You don’t think preserving 30,000 acres of watershed along nearly 17 miles of river will help retain flow and help with fish and wildlife populations? Tell me, what would you suggest for $10M that would likely be wasted otherwise?

Jeffersonian
Guest
Jeffersonian
2 years ago
Reply to  Marc

It was already preserved in private ownership. . And managed much better than it will be now. The cows will come off. It will brush up. And then burn . How about ten million to knock down the dam diverting eel river water to the russian instead.

Farce
Guest
Farce
2 years ago
Reply to  Jeffersonian

I won’t condemn buying this ranch but I am fully with you on getting more flow back from Santa Rosa! Maybe more storage and then cutting them off in May would be a good investment for the fish? And of course granting zero permits to mega-grows

Anonymous
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Anonymous
2 years ago
Reply to  Jeffersonian

The Wildlands Conservancy manages forests with selective timber harvest and grazing for environmental benefits across numerous properties.

Last edited 2 years ago
Frankie Joe
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Frankie Joe
2 years ago

Any discussion on including Tribes as co-managers or at least a discussion on implementing traditional land management?

Eel River Boyz
Guest
Eel River Boyz
2 years ago
Reply to  Frankie Joe

Oh yeah lets give it to the managers of big bend,and horse ranch..been there lately?? no animals in sight,night time poaching,bad idea…the end of lone pine begins..sad say goodbye to wildlife…new name

Bone Pine Ranch

Jeffersonian
Guest
Jeffersonian
2 years ago

What a waste of taxpayer money. Just another preserve that doesn’t need to be a preserve.

Trashman
Guest
Trashman
2 years ago

Open to the public only if you can hike for miles?

I like stars
Guest
I like stars
2 years ago
Reply to  Trashman

Currently no foot access without trespassing.

Mr. Bear
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Mr. Bear
2 years ago
Reply to  I like stars

You can go up or down the river

I like stars
Guest
I like stars
2 years ago
Reply to  Mr. Bear

True, as long as you don’t ever climb above the annual mean high water line. So I should have said there is no practical foot access without trespassing.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
2 years ago
Reply to  Trashman

https://wildlandsconservancy.org/conservation/eelriveremeraldnecklace

Apparently they have a vision for creating floating and camping opportunities too.

Big Bang
Guest
2 years ago

Yeah, just park your new Suburu at Dos Rios and leave it for a few days whilst hiking with the kiddos.. The burned out, shot up hulk will sell for scrap after the wrecker tows it back to Ukiah

Bozo
Guest
Bozo
2 years ago

Yup. Public (paid) land for private ownership, You will be be arrested if you go there !!!!! State paid $10 million… for not sub-dividing it for dope farms.

IMHO: Land will likely continue operating as a private deluxe ranch… under new ownership.

Redwood trail. Costs about $500 million (or so depending on inflation) to complete the trail. Good luck.

slam dunk
Guest
slam dunk
2 years ago
Reply to  Bozo

cant wait ti see the hoophouses all over it like hmongfork

I like stars
Guest
I like stars
2 years ago
Reply to  Bozo

I’ll bet they spend 500 million just to do studies and establish committee. That trail will be a money pit, just like the rail line.

Cleverkins
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Cleverkins
2 years ago

Yay!!

Chris
Guest
Chris
2 years ago

Man the teaparty / magamindless comments here here are thick as thieves here, lol.

I like stars
Guest
I like stars
2 years ago
Reply to  Chris

Thanks for that valuable contribution. You are clearly so much better than those you disparage.

Chris
Guest
Chris
2 years ago
Reply to  I like stars

I like tea, here-here.

Roy branson
Guest
Roy branson
2 years ago

The way it works people. Is like this. Government and organised crime are one. We buy it. They lock it up. The cartel grows dope. We lose. Keep sleeping on the way to slaugher… oh and newsome won. An hr after the polls closed too…. Hmmmmm?????

Ben
Guest
Ben
2 years ago

I’m thrilled to hear this and the State got a deal.. Not at all thrilled about a trail that will disturb dozens of Native village sites and cemeterries as well as priceless petroglyphs.. This “trail” should be preserved as a memorial to the Kuneste (Wylaki) and administered by the Round Valley tribes..