Nature lovers and environmentalists gave a collective sigh of
relief last week, as the final touches to the drawn out process of
transferring the 1,967 acre Pinnacles Ranch to the National Park
Service finished with a dedication ceremony.
Nature lovers and environmentalists gave a collective sigh of relief last week, as the final touches to the drawn out process of transferring the 1,967 acre Pinnacles Ranch to the National Park Service finished with a dedication ceremony. For more than a decade, it was feared the land adjacent to the Pinnacles National Monument would fall into the hands of developers after it was divided among the relatives of owners, Peggy and Stu Kingman, after they passed away. The Kingmans sought to sell their ranch for years, and as the National Parks Service searched for funds, it appeared as though the unique opportunity to expand the Pinnacles was slipping away. At least until the Nature Conservancy rode in on a white horse with about $2.6 million to put down on the land while U.S. Congressman Sam Farr and Senator Dianne Feinstein wrangled in Washington for another $3 million.
The patience of the Kingmans and tenacity of Farr and Feinstein are the only reason this special plot of land now lies in the hands of the people in perpetuity – exactly where it belongs. The Kingmans always wanted to sell their land to the Pinnacles and the satisfaction of seeing it all work out was present on their faces last week.
More importantly, however, is the fact that the popular park now has more habitat for the local wildlife, including the California Condor, that calls the Pinnacles home. Development so close to the scavanging bird could have been disastrous, especially for young birds just learning how to fly. Scientists have documented how the birds often eat discarded trash such as bottle caps while they are learning how to forage. Now with the Pinnacles still isolated from most human impacts, the young birds who fly with a limited range won’t have human garbage nearby to teach them bad habits.
And, the new land has added benefits for residents and visitors as well. The 120-site campground will remain open for campers and the park will add another 700 acres of woodland, as part of 1,967 acres, to the 24,000 acres that already comprise the monument.
Home to bobcats, deer, 148 species of birds including golden eagles, and thousands of types of insects, the Pinnacles is simply too important and too special of a place to lose just for dollars. We’re glad everyone involved in this deal realized that one simple fact.
