Welcome to Cotoni-Coast Dairies
A Hidden Gem
Ranchers, Recreation Enthusiasts, and Nature Lovers Win in California’s Central Coast
When you step foot onto the newly established Cotoni-Coast Dairies section of the California Coastal National Monument, you know immediately that it is special. Privately owned as farmland for more than a century, Cotoni-Coast Dairies was donated to the BLM in 2014 and is a shining example of how America’s public lands can be successfully used and cared for by communities, partners, and visitors – together. Here, ranchers are testing innovative technologies like virtual fencing to help manage herds, keep the land healthy, and minimize conflict with visitors; visitors now have access to miles of multi-use trails across beautiful rolling hills, rugged coastlines, and redwood forests; and local communities will benefit from a growing recreation economy.
As the official charitable partner of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Foundation for America’s Public Lands works hand-in-hand with local communities to help increase support and funding for some of the hardest-working public lands and waters in America and to inspire more people to connect with the outdoors. Through our new community-driven Stewardship Endowment Fund, we are helping to ensure Cotoni-Coast Dairies (and places like it) have the funding and support they need for years to come.
Stewardship Endowment Fund to Support Long-Term Amenities
Thanks to local partners, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and its charitable partner,
The Foundation for America’s Public Lands.
The completion of a 19-mile trail network with dedicated trail loops for hiking, biking, birdwatching, and horseback riding
ADA-compliant trail sections and viewpoints
Habitat protection for threatened species
Invasive plant removal
Trailhead amenities, like bathrooms and parking
Ongoing trail maintenance and wayfinding signage
Collaboration with communities and local champions, such as the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, to educate visitors on the land’s history
Rancher-led virtual fencing technology to set boundaries on grazing areas
“The Santa Cruz community has shown what’s possible for public lands through partnerships, collaboration, and a shared vision. Santa Cruz is loving this place, and there is no better way to show it than setting up a stewardship endowment to support the long-term stewardship of Cotoni-Coast. What we are seeing here can be a model for how communities across the country can work with the BLM to support public lands for the long haul.”
Val Cole, Santa Cruz resident and Board Member with the Foundation of America’s Public Lands
More Support for the Hardest-Working Lands in America
As the largest manager of public lands in the United States, the BLM is responsible for 245 million acres across the country, yet it receives the least amount of funding compared to other federal land agencies. Financing models like the Foundation’s Stewardship Endowment Fund will allow the BLM to invest in staffing, infrastructure, restoration, and proactive land and water management needed to keep special places like Cotoni-Coast Dairies open to the public and productive for local communities sharing its resources for things like farming and ranching.
