politics
State commission approves transfer of 136-acre Mendocino County coastal property to three tribes
A California state commission approved the transfer of a 136-acre coastal property near Westport to a nonprofit representing three Indigenous tribes. The land includes Blues Beach and coastal bluffs previously managed by the state transportation department.
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A California state commission approved the transfer of a 136-acre coastal property in Mendocino County to a nonprofit representing three Indigenous tribes on June 26. The property includes Blues Beach and coastal bluffs south of Westport. It will go to Kai Poma, which represents the Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians, Round Valley Indian Tribes, and Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians.
Background on the land The state acquired the shoreline and cliffs in the 1960s for Highway 1 expansion and a scenic overlook. In recent years the site saw unregulated public use, including camping and vehicle traffic that damaged cultural resources and left trash, according to a California Coastal Commission report.
Next steps and legal changes Kai Poma plans cultural, archaeological, and environmental studies before creating a long-term management plan. The nonprofit also developed a public access plan with the California Coastal Commission that keeps the property open from sunrise to sunset.
The transfer required a 2021 change in state law that gave the transportation department authority to convey land to tribal governments. The law bars commercial development on the site while requiring continued public access.
