Lone Star Ranch: Six Generations of Stewardship, Now Protected Forever

Press release from California Rangeland Trust:

Lone Star Ranch

The California Rangeland Trust is proud to announce the conservation of the Lone Star Ranch in Humboldt County. Owned and operated by Mark and Dina Moore along with their children, the 4,688-acre working cattle ranch will now be protected forever through a conservation easement—ensuring its continued stewardship as a working landscape rich in both natural beauty and agricultural productivity.

Nestled within the Eel and Mad River watersheds, Lone Star Ranch plays a vital role in regional conservation. These watersheds flow to the Pacific Ocean and serve as important corridors for fish and wildlife. The new easement directly connects to the Six Rivers (Iaqua) Preserve, forming a continuous 9,435-acre block of protected habitat between the Six Rivers National Forest and California’s coastal conservation lands.

The ranch has been in the Moore family since 1896, when the original parcel was purchased for just five gold coins, according to county records. Since then, six generations have called Lone Star home, each one committed to protecting and responsibly stewarding the land for the next.

Today, the Moore family continues to manage Lone Star Ranch through sustainable cattle grazing and responsible timber practices. Guided by a deep commitment to land stewardship, they regularly engage in partnerships and programs that enhance their knowledge and care of the land. Over the years, they have collaborated with a variety of organizations, including the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Point Blue Conservation Science, University of California Cooperative Extension, Humboldt County Resource Conservation District, and others.

“Through [these partnerships] we aim to show that the practices we implement and the values we uphold are focused on restoring and enhancing the ranch’s ecosystem as a whole,” said Dina Moore.

Over the years, the Moores have witnessed how the division of open space can disrupt ecological function and threaten the viability of working lands. Determined to preserve their ranch and its natural resources, Mark and Dina voluntarily partnered with the California Rangeland Trust to establish a conservation easement that would permanently safeguard Lone Star Ranch—keeping the land intact and functioning as a working landscape for generations to come.

“This easement was a lifelong goal,” said Mark Moore. “It was a dream of my mother to keep the ranch together as one. For us, this easement represents the fulfillment of a vision shared across multiple generations.”

The conservation easement was completed with funding from the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) and the California Strategic Growth Council’s Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program (SALC) in collaboration with the Department of Conservation (DOC). SALC is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment, particularly in disadvantaged communities.

“Humboldt County is known for its agricultural heritage, beautiful landscapes and rich biodiversity, and this project protects all of these important attributes in perpetuity,” said Jennifer Lucchesi, Director of the Department of Conservation. “Through responsible cattle grazing and sustainable timber practices, this property has been cared for by people committed to land stewardship and ecosystem health that provides many species an environment abundant with resources.”

In addition to public funding, private individuals from across California (and five other states) sent donations to see this land conserved. These gifts were not only from local donors, but they arrived from 22 counties—from coastal communities like Santa Barbara and San Diego to inland regions such as Sacramento, Merced, and Tehama—reflecting a broadly-shared commitment to protecting the ecological benefits and heritage of working ranches like Lone Star.

“This project reflects the heart of what we do at the Rangeland Trust—partnering with ranching families like the Moores who are deeply committed to stewarding the land for future generations,” said Michael Delbar, CEO of the California Rangeland Trust. “The conservation of the Lone Star Ranch protects critical habitat, water resources, and open space for agricultural production in one of California’s most ecologically valuable regions. We are proud to stand alongside the Moore family and our many funding partners, including the generous individuals whose support was instrumental in making this project possible. Their investment reflects a shared vision of keeping working lands intact and thriving for the benefit of all.”