POINT REYES STATION, Calif. – The National Park Service (NPS) at Point Reyes National Seashore has released a Revised Record of Decision (ROD) for its General Management Plan Amendment (GMPA) and Environmental Impact Statement, alongside a settlement agreement resolving a 2022 lawsuit over ranching on park lands. The announcement, made on January 8, 2025, outlines significant changes to the management of ranching, native tule elk, and natural resources in the park and the north district of Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
The revised plan follows voluntary agreements between The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and operators of six dairy and six beef ranches, who will cease operations within 15 months and surrender their leases in exchange for compensation from TNC. These former ranch lands will transition to the park’s Scenic Landscape zone, emphasizing resource conservation. The NPS will collaborate with TNC through a cooperative agreement and lease option to restore natural resources on these lands.
Ranching will continue in the designated Ranchland zone, with the NPS issuing 20-year leases to seven beef ranch families in the Golden Gate north district and negotiating long-term leases for two remaining beef ranches at Point Reyes. The plan also enhances habitat for native tule elk by managing them as a single herd, allowing population expansion within the park, and prohibiting lethal management practices.
The NPS worked closely with the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria (FIGR), the only federally recognized tribe in the area, during the GMPA process. A government-to-government partnership will ensure ongoing collaboration with FIGR during the plan’s implementation.
“This is an exciting moment for Point Reyes National Seashore,” said Superintendent Anne Altman. “These agreements create opportunities for visitors, support non-lethal tule elk management, and honor our co-stewardship with the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. We deeply appreciate the legacy of the multigenerational ranching families and the contributions of TNC, litigation parties, and others in reaching this agreement.”
Approximately 90 tenants, including ranch employees, live on the ranches set to close. To support their transition, the NPS and partners are offering 12-month transition periods, severance packages, housing financial assistance, and employee and housing transition support services.
The settlement agreement, resolving the 2022 litigation, was signed by the NPS, Point Reyes Seashore Ranchers Association, TNC, Resource Renewal Institute, Center for Biological Diversity, and Western Watersheds Project. The U.S. Department of Justice and Department of the Interior Solicitor’s Office negotiated the agreement on behalf of the government.
For more details, including frequently asked questions, visit the park’s GMPA webpage or read the settlement agreement (358 KB PDF).
Source: National Park Service News Release, January 8, 2025.