On Wednesday, January 8th, the Point Reyes National Seashore announced a Revised Record of Decision (ROD) for the General Management Plan Amendment (GMPA) and Settlement Agreement on the management of ranching on public parklands. The signatories to the agreement are the the National Park Service (NPS), park ranchers who participated in the mediation, the Point Reyes Seashore Ranchers Association, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Resource Renewal Institute (RRI), Center for Biological Diversity, and Western Watersheds Project.

Under the agreement and revised ROD,

Twelve of fourteen ranches in Point Reyes will voluntarily cease operations within 15 months;
NPS issued the Revised ROD in light of the private, voluntary ranch closure agreements between TNC and the operators. Under these agreements, ranchers will cease operations and surrender their leases in exchange for compensation from TNC.
The action also authorizes ranching to continue in the GMPA’s Ranchland zone, and the NPS has issued 20-year leases to seven beef ranch families in the north district of Golden Gate. The NPS will negotiate long-term leases for the two remaining beef ranches at Point Reyes.
The action benefits native tule elk by providing increased habitat and disallowing culling. Tule elk will be managed as one herd in Point Reyes, and elk will be allowed to expand within the park.
Under the General Agreement for a government-to-government partnership, the Seashore consulted and collaborated with the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria (FIGR) during the GMPA planning process.
There are approximately 90 tenants living on the ranches that will cease operations. Some of the tenants are ranch employees. Parties are cooperating to provide a range of opportunities to support the ranch employees and ranch tenants who will need to find new employment and housing when ranching operations end, including a transition period of 15 months, severance packages for affected employees, housing financial assistance packages, employee transition support services, and housing transition support services.

“EAC has a long history of protecting the Point Reyes National Seashore and its biodiversity. We note this momentous decision, which is positive for biodiversity and can return the seashore to a more natural state, including for our beloved native tule elk. Of course, this will require management, and we plan to continue engaging with partners and the park to protect these invaluable resources for future generations. We are also pleased to see the inclusion of housing financial assistance packages and other services for our community members, and collaboration with the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria.”

— Ashley Eagle-Gibbs, Executive Director

There are several events coming up to learn more including a town hall tomorrow held by Congressman Huffman joined by the Park Superintendent (Anne Altman), Chance Cutrano of RRI, Marin County Supervisor Dennis Rodoni, Michael Bell of TNC, and Kevin Lunny (Rancher).

We will be participating in these events and encourage you to join if you have questions or want to learn more! Stay tuned for more information as it is available.

Learn More

Huffman Town Hall - RSVP Required, Space Limited
[Recording]
Saturday, January 11, 2025 from 10 - 11:30 am
Dance Palace Community & Cultural Center
Point Reyes Station, CA 94956

Resources Renewal Institute Q+A Webinar - RSVP Required
Online, Monday, January 13, 2025 at 6 pm

Additional Reading
Settlement Agreement
Revised Record of Decision

Press
NPS Press Release and FAQs
Western Watersheds Project Press Release
Point Reyes Light
Press Democrat
Marin Independent Journal
Bay Nature
Enviro News

Maps from Revised ROD Included Below