|
Profiles in Preservation
Big Rock Ranches, Nicasio
In 1985 Lucasfilm, Ltd., the company founded by
filmmaker George Lucas and headquartered near Nicasio, conveyed
a 2,538-acre agricultural conservation easement on its Skywalker
Ranch to Marin Agricultural Land Trust. In spring, 2000, the company
conveyed another easement to MALT, this one totalling 2,296 acres
on three Marin County ranches. The new easement comprises 1,061
acres on Big Rock Ranch, 674 acres on the McGuire Ranch, and 561
acres on the Loma Alta Ranch.
Tom Forster, Director of Operations and Facilities at Skywalker
Ranch, expressed the organization's enthusiasm for the project.
"We are very proud of our long-term relationship with MALT
at Skywalker Ranch. We look forward to adding the easement on the
Big Rock, McGuire, and Loma Alta ranches and to implementing improved
agricultural operations."
The easement conveyance is part of an agreement between Lucasfilm
and the County of Marin tied to approval of an office complex the
company is developing on Big Rock Ranch. The development will cover
56 acres, or about 3% of the three ranches, with the rest of the
acreage preserved for agricultural open space. A cattle operation
is expected to continue while the company considers diversifying
to wine grapes and olives, depending on soil suitability, Forster
said. In the meantime, "We're geared toward improving what
has happened historically at the three ranches." Plans include
removing invasive, non-native weeds such as thistle, modernizing
the cattle watering system, and replacing and realigning fencing
and pastures.
The ranch lands were once part of the San Pedro, Santa Margarita
y Las Gallinas Rancho granted in 1844 to Timoteo Murphy by the Mexican
government. Murphy was the administrator of the Mission San Rafael,
the agent for the Coast Miwok Indians, and the alcade, or mayor,
of San Rafael. His land grant spread over 22,000 acres-from what
is now downtown San Rafael through Terra Linda and almost to Nicasio.
Murphy left the enormous rancho to his nephew John Lucas (no relation
to Lucasfilm's George Lucas), and it passed from John to his widow
Maria, for whom the valley and road were named. Today's Big Rock,
McGuire, and Loma Alta Ranches subsequently had a series of mostly
Portuguese owners, including the Teixeira, Gonsalves, de Sousa,
and Fagundes families. Descendents of some of these families still
ranch in Marin County.
In addition to the agricultural conservation easement conveyed to
MALT, Lucasfilm also will convey approximately seven miles of hiking,
biking, and equestrian public trail easements over the three properties
to the Marin County Open Space District. Contract Planner David
Hansen explained, "When dedicated, the trail will connect the
Loma Alta Open Space Preserve with Big Rock Ridge as part of the
500-mile Bay Area Ridge Trail that rings San Francisco Bay. It will
be a major north/south trail connection for the County and the Bay
Area."
This is the only time a MALT easement property has included such
access. "Ordinarily, the agricultural conservation easements
we acquire do not provide for public access," said Bob Berner,
MALT Executive Director. "The trail easements on the Big Rock,
McGuire, and Loma Alta ranches are a result of separate agreements
between Lucasfilm and the County of Marin." The Open Space
District will maintain all trails.
Preserving Marin County's agricultural landscape and heritage is
the mission that drives all that MALT does. We're pleased to have
the support of George Lucas and the people at Lucasfilm and every
one of our other 41 easement property owners in this important work.
Ellen Straus, MALT Co-founder
Phyllis Faber, MALT Co-founder
Barboni Ranch, Hick's Valley
Big Rock Ranches, Nicasio
Burbank (Anna) Ranch, Tomales
Crayne Ranch, Tomales
Giacomini Ranch, Point Reyes Station
Grossi Ranch, Indian Valley
Ielmorini Ranch, Nicasio
Ielmorini-Moody Dairy, Valley Ford
Jensen (Anna) Ranch, Tomales
Jensen (Bill & Eileen) Ranch, Tomales
Jacobsen Ranch, Chileno Valley
Leiss Ranch, Chileno Valley
Parks (Lois) Ranch, Tomales
Moore Ranch, Nicasio Valley
Poncia (Eugene) Ranch, Tomales
Poncia (Al) Ranch, Tomales
Pozzi Ranch, Tomales
Straus Home & Dairy Ranches, Marshall
Tomales Farm & Dairy—East, Tomales
Tomales Farm & Dairy—West, Tomales
Zimmerman Ranch, Marshall
Home
| Site Map
| Terms of Use
|
