The KUSP Land Use Report #49: Palo Corona

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The following Land Use Report is presented by Gary Patton, Executive Director of LandWatch Monterey County. The opinions expressed by Mr. Patton are not necessarily those of KUSP Radio, nor of any of our sponsors.

What piece of Monterey County real estate did you help buy recently? The answer (and it was a pretty spectacular purchase) is the 10,000-acre Palo Corona Ranch, often called the "Gateway to Big Sur." If you'd like more information, including pictures, check out the Land Use Report section, under the Local Show section, of the KUSP website. And use the website to make a comment or suggestion on any of these Land Use Reports.

Thirty-two million dollars of state funds were used to help purchase the Palo Corona Ranch. This money came from Proposition 40, authored by Assembly Member Fred Keeley. The people of the state have gone into debt to finance the purchase of key open space and natural areas, and one of the first properties acquired is right here in the Monterey Bay Area. It's an amazing property. Thanks to the voters, it will now be preserved in perpetuity.

But while the voters made the money available, it wasn't the voters, or any state agency, that "did the deal" that led to the purchase of the Palo Corona Ranch. During the next several editions of this Land Use Report, I'm going to put the spotlight on land trusts. These are state, national, and local organizations working to ensure that the best parts of our natural environment are given permanent protection.

Today, let’s salute the Nature Conservancy and the Big Sur Land Trust. They "did the deal" that made possible the permanent protection of the stunningly beautiful Palo Corona Ranch.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information on the Palo Corona Ranch:
Nature Conservancy Website: http://nature.org/success/palocoronaranch.html
Big Sur Land Trust Website: http://www.bigsurlandtrust.org/news.html

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