Carmel, Calif. — The Big Sur Land Trust announced today that it has completed a land acquisition deal just west of Rancho San Carlos Road and Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley. The acquisition includes a conservation easement protecting approximately 10 acres of important Carmel River habitat, the purchase of a 3-acre property for future use as a river education center, and an approximately 2-mile long public trail. The acquisition secures another critical segment of the Carmel River Parkway, a program aimed at reconnecting local residents to the Carmel River through appropriately managed access and educational opportunities.

“The Carmel River Parkway is a priority project for the Big Sur Land Trust focused on reconnecting people with the lands and waters of the community in which they live and expanding opportunities for people to become directly involved in long-term stewardship of the Carmel River, its habitats, fish and wildlife,” said Bill Leahy, executive director of The Big Sur Land Trust. “By conserving important riverfront property, providing a space to support public education and outreach about the river, and securing access to an important future trail connection, this acquisition completes another major step in realizing the community’s vision for the Parkway.”

The Big Sur Land Trust acquired the 3-acre parcel from the Rancho San Carlos Partnership for $1.13 million with funding provided by private donations and a major lead gift from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. Quail Lodge, Inc. donated the conservation and trail easements.

“The community benefits of the Carmel River Parkway are many,” said Tom Gray, managing principal of the Rancho San Carlos Partnership. “Santa Lucia Preserve is pleased to have played a small part in this important project.”

“The conservation easement is an important dedication and will insure that the natural processes of the Carmel River are protected for fish and wildlife, community enjoyment and public safety,
said Lawson Little, president of Quail Lodge, Inc. “The Big Sur Land Trust is the perfect partner to make this happen.”

The 3-acre property has an existing building that is currently used by the Santa Lucia Conservancy as an office space and nature education facility. While the Land Trust will continue to lease the building to the Conservancy over the next several years, the long-term vision is to transform the facility into a river education center and collaborate on Carmel River Parkway-related education programs that showcase the cultural and natural history of the Carmel River.

“We have been a long-time partner of The Big Sur Land Trust,” said Jim Sulentich, executive director of the Santa Lucia Conservancy. “The new relationship at the property will provide great new opportunities for collaboration that will benefit the resources and the community.”

Beginning in 2004, The Big Sur Land Trust has been leading efforts with a diverse group of partner agencies, organizations and community members to build a comprehensive and collaborative approach to protecting and restoring the Carmel River and inspiring local community involvement.

As a first expression of this effort, in 2004 and 2005 over 200 people gathered in community workshops to help create a Carmel River Parkway Vision Plan. The Vision Plan involves three main components: trails, education and restoration. A network of public trails is envisioned to provide safe access and connection to existing public parklands, such as Palo Corona Ranch, and other trails, offering residents and visitors new paths to help link schools, shopping centers, businesses and parklands in a “walkable town” that will also reduce highway traffic. Educational opportunities and facilities that serve as connection points for learning more about natural history of the river, cultural stories and communities of Carmel Valley are also a key component, as are efforts to help restore the natural function of the river, protect and revive river habitats, restore natural floodplains, and replant trees and other native plants. For example, the Land Trust is restoring the 32-acre Moo Land property adjacent Garland Park that it purchased in 2006 as another critical link in the Parkway and is also currently overseeing a Lower Carmel River Floodplain Restoration Project on the Land Trust’s Odello East property that will help restore the natural floodplain at the mouth of the river, increasing wetlands and providing added flood management for nearby businesses and neighborhoods.

“The Carmel River Parkway is a community-based conservation effort,” added Bill Leahy. “Although design of a trail connection in the section of the parkway associated with today’s acquisition is several years away, when the time comes for planning we will be sure to once again reach out to local residents for their input. The communities close to the river certainly have a key role to play in the long-term care of this significant and vital waterway.”

Founded in 1978, the mission of The Big Sur Land Trust is to conserve the significant lands and waters of California’s Central Coast for all generations. The Land Trust has protected more than 30,000 acres of land since its inception. The Land Trust is committed to pursuing land and water conservation work that strengthens our communities and inspires a stewardship ethic so that Monterey County can maintain its unique and special place in the world. The goal and commitment of the Land Trust is to pursue resource conservation that supports the well-being of land and people and sustains our region’s unique quality of life for us all. For more information visit www.bigsurlandtrust.org