Historic 624-Acre Redgate Ranch in San Gregorio Preserved in Perpetuity
November 9, 2004
Menlo Park – Following several months of negotiation, Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) has agreed to purchase a land preservation agreement known as a conservation easement from Greg and Amanda Jones for $1 million preserving the historic 624-acre Redgate Ranch. The family offered the conservation agreement at an amount well below market, thereby making a substantial contribution to POST's Saving the Endangered Coast campaign. In addition, Mr. and Mrs. Jones have pledged the donation of a trail easement, which will provide opportunities for expansion of public trail networks over a portion of their property.
"When POST purchased the neighboring Driscoll Ranch, I decided to look into what this organization was all about," said Greg Jones. "We found that POST's vision of land preservation and conservation is closely aligned with our own, so we approached them to explore how we might work together."
Conservation easements are voluntary legal agreements between landowners and qualified conservation organizations. They allow landowners to preserve natural resources, continue farming, and restrict development on their property while retaining private ownership of the land.
The preservation agreement will protect the scenic and natural values of Redgate Ranch, a highly visible stretch of land along Highway 84, a San Mateo County Scenic Corridor. Immediately adjacent to another POST property, Driscoll Ranch, the land constitutes a major portion of the historic Souza Ranch, which the Joneses acquired in August 2000. The family uses the property primarily as a working farm and weekend family retreat. They raise red oats for hay on about 150 acres and are committed to grassland restoration to improve wildlife habitat on the rest of the property. Under the terms of the agreement, the Jones family will continue to own and manage the land.
Encompassing a major ridge and a narrow interior valley, the Redgate Ranch contains open grasslands, northern coastal scrub, coastal oaks, and mixed conifer woodland. Part of the San Gregorio watershed, the property is bounded by two direct tributaries to San Gregorio Creek: Bogess Creek to the east and El Corte de Madera to the west. San Mateo County has identified these waterways as containing habitats for a number of rare and unique species, such as the federally threatened steelhead trout.
"This is one more opportunity for us to work in partnership with private landowners as we develop this important private conservation technique and preserve the tremendous natural resources in our own backyard," said POST President Audrey Rust. "As we approach the culmination of our campaign in 2005, it is the generosity of people like Greg and Amanda who will help us reach our goal and protect the land we love."
"We hope this is just the beginning," Greg Jones said. "We are looking forward to a long and successful working relationship with POST."