President Approves $1.96 Million for Federal Protection of POST's Rancho Corral de Tierra
January 23, 2008
Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) will receive $1,960,000 from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund for the protection of Rancho Corral de Tierra near Montara, 10 miles south of San Francisco. This funding will help fund the transfer of the 4,262-acre property to the National Park Service as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA).
“POST is extremely grateful for the continuing support of our elected officials in Washington for securing this first stage of appropriations for Rancho Corral de Tierra,” said POST President Audrey Rust. “In particular, Sen. Dianne Feinstein truly championed this cause. We could not have secured this essential funding without the support of the senator.”
Said Rust, “This is the first step in reaching our goal of $15 million for federal protection of Rancho Corral de Tierra over the next three years. Our bill went through many cuts and we are very fortunate to have survived. Once we secure the necessary funding, the National Park Service will finally be able to move forward with opening this stunning landscape to the public.”
POST acquired Rancho Corral de Tierra in 2001 and since then has been working with the Bay Area Congressional delegation—including Sen. Feinstein and Sen. Barbara Boxer and Reps. Tom Lantos and Anna Eshoo—to ensure permanent federal protection of the land.
“The GGNRA has long been the crown jewel of the San Francisco Bay Area’s beautiful landscape, and we look forward to having Rancho Corral de Tierra become the southern gateway into these spectacular lands,” said Sen. Feinstein. “In today’s tough budgetary times, private organizations like POST play a critical role in helping the government protect open space at a more affordable price. POST’s anticipated transfer of Rancho Corral de Tierra for about half the original purchase cost makes this an especially worthwhile project.”
Two years ago, the Interior Department supported the expansion of the GGNRA to include the mountainous coastal property within its boundaries. Inclusion of the land into the GGNRA will enhance recreation in the area by connecting the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the California Coastal Trail. It will also provide permanent protection of four Coastside watersheds (for Denniston, San Vicente, Montara and Martini creeks) as well as habitat for unique and endangered plants and animals, including Montara manzanita, Hickman’s cinquefoil, peregrine falcon, San Bruno elfin butterfly, San Francisco garter snake and California red-legged frog.