Welcome to this Site

-- View of the Hearst Ranch --

We believe that the Conservation Framework published by the American Land Conservancy and the Hearst Corp. describes an outstanding conservation project. While some details are still being negotiated, this project deserves and has received widespread public support:

• Over 81,000 acres of this remarkable landscape will be permanently preserved as a working ranch. The already fine land stewardship of the Hearst Corp. will be formalized and monitored.

• The public will receive access to 18 miles of incomparable coastline.

• The minimal development allowed will be carefully designed and sited and subject to the standard permit processes of San Luis Obispo County and the California Coastal Commission.

• The outright purchase of certain parcels will add to California's already impressive catalog of public lands. The use of conservation easements to protect the rest of the ranch is a well-tested approach successfully applied nationwide.

• The cost of this protection will be determined by the standard public agency process of appraisal. The result will be a fair market transaction with a willing landowner for the public benefit.

This web site has been developed to provide a central source for public information regarding the Hearst Ranch conservation project. We intend this site to inform the public about the many important resources on the Ranch and about the process by which these resources are to be preserved.

This web site is in no way connected to the ALC or the Hearst Corp., nor are we involved in the negotiations between ALC, Hearst, and the State of California.

We have met with various individuals from ALC, Hearst Corp., and public agencies to better understand the framework and the public agencies' process. We have also toured the ranch (as have many others) and many of the photos on this site were taken on that tour.

From these experiences, we conclude that this is an historic chance to preserve a unique landscape. We believe the public should now speak out strongly in support of this project and urge our public officials to realize this opportunity.

We urge you to gather information from this web site and other sources and decide for yourself whether preserving this extraordinary piece of California is important. If you decide it is, please join our effort to support this project and preserve the Hearst Ranch.

To join the effort to preserve the Hearst Ranch
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To ask questions or make comments
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