By Chloe Lovejoy
A new lawsuit against the National Park Service is attempting to ensure the long-term viability of agricultural land in the Point Reyes National Seashore.
The legal action comes after The Nature Conservancy brokered a settlement between 12 local ranches and the NPS to buy out the operations. The broad use of nondisclosure agreements paired with the negotiations happening in private has led to speculation about the voluntary aspect of the deal.
The departing ranch families and their employees — a total of 90 people — must vacate their operations within 15 months of the Jan. 8 settlement. Seven ranches chose to stay in their leases, along with two others that were not party to the agreement.
On Jan. 6, NPS revised and released an updated 2025 Point Reyes Seashore General Management Plan that would eliminate agricultural zoning for those vacant leases.
“Thanks to agreements between TNC and the closing ranch operations, the park’s future management will include additional opportunities for visitors, non-lethal management of native tule elk, and honors the co-stewardship agreement with the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria,” PRNS Superintendent Anne Altman said in the agency’s Jan. 8 announcement that also publicly shared news of the updated management plan.
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