California Rangeland Trust
Encyclopedia
The California Rangeland Trust was formed in 1998 by a group of ranchers within the California Cattlemen's Association. Since its inception, the trust has worked with voluntary landowners and other conservation partners to conserve 187229 acres (757.7 km²) of rangeland on 27 ranches across 19 counties.
Steve Sinton was the Rangeland Trust's founding chairman. A graduate of Stanford University
and the University of Colorado
Law School, Stinton practiced water and environmental law
in Sacramento, California and San Luis Obispo County for fifteen years before retiring to operate two family cattle ranches with his father and manage several commercial buildings in the City of San Luis Obispo. The Sinton family also operates a 120 acre (0.4856232 km²) vineyard. Steve is a member of the California Cattlemen's Association, the San Luis Obispo County Cattlemen's Association and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, the San Luis Obispo County Water Resources Advisory Committee, and the San Luis Obispo County Native Tree Committee. Stinton was awarded the National American Farmland Trust Steward of the year in 2005.
In California, there are over 22 million acres (89,030.9 km²) of privately owned rangeland. The California Rangeland Trust would be able to conserve nearly 500000 acres (2,023.4 km²) of rangeland if funding was available. The Rangeland Trust uses conservation easement
s as the tool to conserve rangeland properties.
An additional ranch recently preserved is Ecker Ranch
, a 1080 acres (4.4 km²) ranch now protected by an agricultural easement.
Other notable ranches in the Trust's portfolio include:
In 2000, California Rangeland Trust accepted the donation of a 1122 acres (4.5 km²) easement as mitigation for a commercial development located in the northwest corner of Tejon Ranch. As a condition of approval for the development, Tejon Ranch Company donated an easement on nearby grazing land in order to protect habitat for the San Joaquin kit fox
and blunt-nosed leopard lizard
.
In 2005, the Hearst Corporation, American Land Conservancy
, California Rangeland Trust, and the State of California completed a comprehensive conservation project that permanently protects the 128 square miles (331.5 km²) Hearst Ranch. A major component of the project is the conservation easement restricting future development on 80000 acres (323.7 km²). The Hearst ranch is the largest privately-owned working cattle ranch remaining on the California Coast. The conservation easement ensures that the scenic, open space, agricultural and natural resource values of the ranch are preserved. California Rangeland Trust holds, monitors and enforces the conservation easement.
A conservation easement agreement was placed on December 27, 2007. Originally part of the historic Spanish land grant, Rancho Cañada de los Pinos
, the owners purchased San Lucas Ranch in 1924. This donated easement on 1534 acres (6.2 km²) of the working ranch preserves a piece of California’s western heritage and habitat resources. It is part of a much larger unified ecological landscape which includes scenic mountain and riparian views of the Santa Ynez Valley
and the surrounding mountain ranges. A primary value of this property is the Valley Oak
savannah and grasslands that once covered most of the valley.
In March 2001, a conservation easement protected the entire 17000 acres (68.8 km²) ranch of John and Zee Varian near Parkfield, California
that is part of the Diablo Range
Project. The property is in one of the most productive grazing regions in the state and includes significant oak woodlands and other unique and important natural values.
Steve Sinton was the Rangeland Trust's founding chairman. A graduate of Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
and the University of Colorado
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
Law School, Stinton practiced water and environmental law
Environmental law
Environmental law is a complex and interlocking body of treaties, conventions, statutes, regulations, and common law that operates to regulate the interaction of humanity and the natural environment, toward the purpose of reducing the impacts of human activity...
in Sacramento, California and San Luis Obispo County for fifteen years before retiring to operate two family cattle ranches with his father and manage several commercial buildings in the City of San Luis Obispo. The Sinton family also operates a 120 acre (0.4856232 km²) vineyard. Steve is a member of the California Cattlemen's Association, the San Luis Obispo County Cattlemen's Association and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, the San Luis Obispo County Water Resources Advisory Committee, and the San Luis Obispo County Native Tree Committee. Stinton was awarded the National American Farmland Trust Steward of the year in 2005.
In California, there are over 22 million acres (89,030.9 km²) of privately owned rangeland. The California Rangeland Trust would be able to conserve nearly 500000 acres (2,023.4 km²) of rangeland if funding was available. The Rangeland Trust uses conservation easement
Conservation easement
In the United States, a conservation easement is an encumbrance — sometimes including a transfer of usage rights — which creates a legally enforceable land preservation agreement between a landowner and a government agency or a qualified land...
s as the tool to conserve rangeland properties.
An additional ranch recently preserved is Ecker Ranch
Ecker Ranch
Ecker Ranch is a ranch in Madera County, California near Yosemite National Park. In 2009 it was listed as one of about 30 historic ranches in California that have been preserved under the auspices of the California Rangeland Trust....
, a 1080 acres (4.4 km²) ranch now protected by an agricultural easement.
Other notable ranches in the Trust's portfolio include:
- Tejon Ranch, Kern County
In 2000, California Rangeland Trust accepted the donation of a 1122 acres (4.5 km²) easement as mitigation for a commercial development located in the northwest corner of Tejon Ranch. As a condition of approval for the development, Tejon Ranch Company donated an easement on nearby grazing land in order to protect habitat for the San Joaquin kit fox
Kit Fox
The kit fox is a fox species of North America. Its range is primarily in the southwestern United States and northern and central Mexico. Some mammalogists classify it as conspecific with the swift fox, V. velox, but molecular systematics imply that the two species are distinct.-Range:The...
and blunt-nosed leopard lizard
Leopard Lizard
The Long-nosed leopard Lizard, Gambelia wislizenii, is a relatively large lizard ranging from 3 1/4-5 3/4 inches . It has a large head, long nose, and a long round tail that can be longer than its body...
.
- Hearst RanchHearst RanchThe Hearst Ranch is a ranch that consists of 2 cattle ranches: San Simeon – Piedra Blanca Rancho. This ranch surrounds the Hearst Castle and comprises , one of the largest working cattle ranches on the California coast. The other ranch is the Jack Ranch in Cholame, California, which was acquired...
, San Luis Obispo County
In 2005, the Hearst Corporation, American Land Conservancy
American Land Conservancy
The mission of American Land Conservancy is to conserve land for the benefit of people and wildlife.- About ALC :American Land Conservancy is a non-profit land conservation organization dedicated to protecting America’s natural heritage by conserving land for the benefit of people and wildlife...
, California Rangeland Trust, and the State of California completed a comprehensive conservation project that permanently protects the 128 square miles (331.5 km²) Hearst Ranch. A major component of the project is the conservation easement restricting future development on 80000 acres (323.7 km²). The Hearst ranch is the largest privately-owned working cattle ranch remaining on the California Coast. The conservation easement ensures that the scenic, open space, agricultural and natural resource values of the ranch are preserved. California Rangeland Trust holds, monitors and enforces the conservation easement.
- San Lucas Ranch, Santa Barbara County
A conservation easement agreement was placed on December 27, 2007. Originally part of the historic Spanish land grant, Rancho Cañada de los Pinos
Rancho Cañada de los Pinos
Rancho Cañada de los Pinos or College Rancho was a Mexican land grant in present day Santa Barbara County, California. The grant extended along the north bank of the Santa Ynez River opposite Rancho Lomas de la Purificacion and encompassed Mission Santa Inés and present day Santa Ynez, in the...
, the owners purchased San Lucas Ranch in 1924. This donated easement on 1534 acres (6.2 km²) of the working ranch preserves a piece of California’s western heritage and habitat resources. It is part of a much larger unified ecological landscape which includes scenic mountain and riparian views of the Santa Ynez Valley
Santa Ynez Valley
The Santa Ynez Valley is located in Santa Barbara County, California, between the Santa Ynez Mountains to the south and the San Rafael Mountains to the north. The Santa Ynez River flows through the valley from east to west. The Santa Ynez Valley is separated from the Los Alamos Valley, to the...
and the surrounding mountain ranges. A primary value of this property is the Valley Oak
Valley Oak
Quercus lobata, commonly called the Valley oak, grows into the largest of North American oaks. It is endemic to California, growing in the interior valleys and foothills. Mature specimens may attain an age of up to 600 years. This deciduous oak requires year-round access to groundwater.Its thick,...
savannah and grasslands that once covered most of the valley.
- V6 Ranch, Fresno and Monterey Counties
In March 2001, a conservation easement protected the entire 17000 acres (68.8 km²) ranch of John and Zee Varian near Parkfield, California
Parkfield, California
Parkfield is an unincorporated community in Monterey County, California. It is located on Little Cholame Creek east of Bradley, at an elevation of 1529 feet...
that is part of the Diablo Range
Diablo Range
The Diablo Range is a mountain range in the California Coast Ranges subdivision of the Pacific Coast Ranges. It is located in the eastern San Francisco Bay area south to the Salinas Valley area of northern California, the United States.-Geography:...
Project. The property is in one of the most productive grazing regions in the state and includes significant oak woodlands and other unique and important natural values.