Despite challenges, Walt Ranch in Napa County has been permanently protected
One of the foundation’s most significant Bay Area conservation projects came to fruition in 2023; a partnership with other funders to successfully support the Land Trust of Napa County (LTNC) in their purchase of Walt Ranch, a 2,300-acre property located in eastern Napa County. Situated amongst other already protected areas, the ranch is a haven for biodiversity and is a key part of wildlife corridors supporting rare species and threatened habitats.
The ranch had been a point of contention for several years; its former owners originally intended to convert the land into vineyards. In 2022, they received their permit to begin clearing vegetation from the property, including the removal of over 14,000 oak trees. The project had reached the point that the trees had already been tagged for removal. Such a significant change to the environment would have had a devastating effect on both local wildlife and water resources.
IMAGE: Oak tree originally ragged for removal; Walt Ranch
After long and detailed conversations between the owners and the Land Trust of Napa County, in the end, the Land Trust was able to purchase the property at a significant discount – they secured funding from the State Coastal Conservancy, The Wildlife Conservation Board, and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation to purchase the land. Moore Foundation staff helped source other financing to support the purchase by bringing in a bridge loan from The Conservation Fund. Situated between the city of Napa and Lake Berryessa, the ranch is now part of over 7,700 acres of contiguous protected lands and also creates the potential to link to LTNC’s 1,950-acre Wragg Ridge Preserve, also protected with support from the foundation, and the many thousands of acres of protected land around Lake Berryessa.
Land Trust of Napa County, which has protected of 41,000 acres of land over the past 12 years, and the Moore Foundation have a long history of collaboration, working together on over 20 conservation transactions since 2015. With a tight deadline set in place to complete the transaction, the foundation’s program-related investment helped to secure the sale and buy valuable time for other funders to move forward.
“This is the largest program-related investment that the foundation has ever made,” said Dan Winterson of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. “The size of the investment reflects the significance of the opportunity, and this project is particularly exciting since we don’t typically win these types of deals in conservation. We are grateful for the amazing work of Land Trust of Napa County and the generosity of the landowners that allowed this transaction to be successful.”
Given the size of the property, creating and executing a management and stewardship plan is a substantial undertaking. Maintaining the land involves projects such as controlled burns and forest thinning, and Napa Land Trust is continuing to look for partners so they can consistently carry out these tasks. Looking ahead, parts of Walt Ranch will also be open to public through a network of trails, providing opportunities for activities such as hiking or biking and allowing the community to enjoy the area’s unique flora and fauna, such as the Napa Ceanothus.
IMAGE: Napa Ceanothus; Credit: Mike Palladini, Land Trust of Napa County
After years of controversial back and forth between proponents of conservation and development, Walt Ranch’s acquisition is an important step forward for California conservation.
“Achieving a conservation outcome for Walt Ranch was a major win for the region”, said Napa Land Trust stewardship director Mike Palladini. “With a striking array of native habitats and species, this land is an outstanding example of why our area is recognized as a global biodiversity hotspot. Now the important work of active land stewardship begins, from restoring habitats and watersheds, to increasing resilience to climate change, to facilitating public access”.
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