
Hearst Ranch
San Luis
Obispo County
Precedent setting agreement redefines
state's conservation paradigm
The Hearst Corporation, American Land
Conservancy, California Rangeland Trust, and the State of California completed
a comprehensive conservation project on February 18, 2005 that permanently protects
the 128 square mile Hearst Ranch, located in San Luis Obispo County,
California. A major component of the project is the conservation easement
restricting future development on the 80,000 acres of the ranch located on the
east side of Highway One. This
spectacular ranch is the largest privately-owned working cattle ranch remaining
on the California
Coast. The
conservation easement ensures that the scenic, open space, agricultural and
natural resource values of the ranch will be preserved in perpetuity.
California Rangeland Trust holds, monitors and will enforce the conservation
easement.