U.S. House of Representatives Approves GGNRA Boundary Expansion to Include POST's Rancho Corral de Tierra
UPDATE: On December 20, President George W. Bush signed the GGNRA boundary expansion legislation into law
December 6, 2005
The U.S. House of Representatives approved a boundary expansion for the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). The legislation allows the GGNRA to extend its southern boundary to include portions of Peninsula Open Space Trust's (POST) Rancho Corral de Tierra, 4,262 acres that lies seven miles south of San Francisco and 20 miles from the Silicon Valley.
"POST is grateful for the efforts of Congressman Tom Lantos (D-San Mateo), Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-Palo Alto) and the Bay Area Congressional delegation for leading the effort to expand the boundaries of the GGNRA in U.S. House of Representatives," said POST President Audrey Rust. "The work of Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-California), Senator Barbara Boxer (D-California) and the Congressional delegation has been outstanding and we look forward to continuing our partnership as we shift our focus to the appropriations process."
While the legislation permits the boundary extension, the recreation area will not be expanded to include portions of POST's Rancho Corral de Tierra until the GGNRA receives federal appropriations to acquire portions of the property.
"We are pleased that the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives have agreed that a boundary expansion of the GGNRA to include Rancho Corral de Tierra is in the national interest. The GGNRA and Rancho Corral de Tierra are a treasure trove of recreational opportunities, unique habitat, diverse wildlife and tremendous views," continued Rust. "As we move forward in the appropriations process, we will need the support of our community to ensure the inclusion of Rancho Corral de Tierra in the GGNRA."
Rancho Corral de Tierra, historically known as Rancho Corral de Tierra Palomares encompasses the majority of the 1839 Mexican Land Grant to Francisco Guerrero y Palomares where he built the first adobe on the San Mateo Coast at Denniston Creek. POST acquired the historic property in three phases beginning in 2001 for a total cost of $29,750,000. POST's private donors, the California Coastal Conservancy and the Wildlife Conservation Board made the acquisition possible.
The property supports distinctive coastal scrub and coastal chaparral habitats with numerous federally listed, rare and endangered plant and animal species and a number of other special species of concern including the Peregrine Falcon and Hickman's cinquefoil, among others. It also contains the headwaters for four major watersheds.
Rancho Corral de Tierra is an important recreation asset for the GGNRA. Acquisition of portions of the property would connect the congressionally designated Bay Area Ridge Trail with the California Coastal Trail. The acquisition would also create an easily accessible and logical southern entrance to the existing recreation area that does not currently exist.