POST Acquires San Gregorio Farms
267-Acre Property Fills Missing Link
June 19, 2001
The Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) announced today that it has purchased 267 acres of grassy meadows, agricultural fields and rolling hills on the San Mateo Coast, less than a quarter-mile from the junction of Highways 1 and 84.
The property, known as San Gregorio Farms, was acquired from private owners for $3.95 million. It will link other protected lands to create 3.5 contiguous miles of permanent open space along Highway 1.
"This property represents a key piece in the puzzle to prevent development and preserve the open, rural character of the San Mateo Coast," said Audrey Rust, president of the Menlo Park-based land trust. "With the existing parcels, San Gregorio Farms could have been developed into at least five home sites.
"Development of this land would have been very detrimental. It would have threatened critical wildlife habitat, negatively impacted the scenic landscape along Highways 1 and 84, and eliminated future opportunities for public access and trail development."
San Gregorio Farms is bounded by three other protected properties: the privately owned San Gregorio Ranch, over which POST holds a conservation easement, to the north; San Gregorio State Beach to the north and west; and Pomponio State Beach to the south.
This land, used in recent years for hay production, also once hosted organic farming and an unusual "worm farm" operation. The higher reaches of the property afford spectacular views of the coast and neighboring hillsides. The San Gregorio Creek meanders through the lowland areas, creating a rich wildlife habitat that is home to many threatened and endangered species.
In the northern portion of the property, the San Gregorio Creek estuary supports the California red-legged frog, San Francisco garter snake and tidewater goby (a small spiny fish). Steelhead trout now swim upstream through the estuary to breed in La Honda Creek, and there are numerous opportunities for salmon habitat restoration.
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"The most important aspect of this acquisition is the preservation and enhancement of wildlife habitat resources," Rust said. "POST's ownership of the upper estuary, combined with public ownership of the lower portion, will facilitate integrated management and restoration of the creek and estuary."
San Gregorio Farms is the fifth property to be acquired in POST's $200 million "Saving the Endangered Coast" campaign, launched in April with two $50 million gifts from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.
"This is an example of the important lands that will be lost if we aren't successful in raising the additional $100 million toward our campaign goal," Rust said. "If we succeed, this rich coastal landscape will be permanently safeguarded. Gifts of all amounts from individual donors are the key to meeting this goal and preserving this land as open space.
"Our goal is to add San Gregorio Farms to the state park system," she continued. "Accordingly, we are seeking support from the state of California to help fund the purchase of the property. Every dollar that we can obtain in state funding for this project will replace private gifts to POST, allowing us to use our donor gifts again for other important property acquisitions along the coast."
POST has no plans to remove the three residences currently located on the property, which provide opportunities for affordable housing, Rust noted. POST also intends to maintain haying on San Gregorio Farms by the local tenants, the Arata family.