Saving the Land

The primary mission of the Anza-Borrego Foundation (ABF) has been to acquire the private lands within and bordering Anza-Borrego Desert State Park®. When it was formed in the early 1930s, the park was checker boarded by thousands of acres of inholdings—one estimate as high as 60,000 acres—nearly 10% of the current park!

As of 2004, the Anza-Borrego Foundation has deeded nearly 30,000 acres to the park . . . with 30,000 to go! Acquisitions have been in such critical areas as Palm Canyon, Coyote Canyon and the paleontologically rich Borrego Badlands.

The turn of the 21st century has presented ABF with unique opportunities to acquire major ranch lands that park planners long ago hoped would be part of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park®.

Sentenac Canyon and Cienega. ABF’s ranch land “era” began in 1998 with the acquisition of the Sentenac Canyon and Cienega, a rare desert wetland. Located at Scissors Crossing--the junction of highways S2 and 78--the acquisition totaled 1,723 acres and was acquired at a cost of $3.1 million dollars. Funding was provided by state and federal agencies, regional foundations—and individual donors.

Lucky 5 Ranch. In April 2001, California State Parks with assistance from ABF acquired the 2,675-acre Lucky 5 Ranch at a cost of $5.6 million—and in doing this created a wildlife corridor between Anza-Borrego Desert State Park® and Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, a mountain habitat. Funding was sparked by a $2 million anonymous donation and furthered by state and federal funds.

Mason Valley. In January of 2002, 842 acres of Mason Valley became part of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park at a cost of $1.2 million. Major funding was provided by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Proposition 40. In addition, ABF raised over $300,000 from individuals and foundations including the Elizabeth Bixby Janeway Foundation, the Parker Foundation, the Heller Foundation, and the Willis and Jane Fletcher Foundation Fund of the San Diego Foundation. Acquired in memory of former ABF trustee, Frank Wheat, the area is rich in natural and cultural resources.

Vallecito Ranch. On January 9, 2004, the Anza-Borrego Foundation acquired the historic 3,339-acre Vallecito Ranch. Flowing water and dense stands of willows and cottonwoods provide a critical habitat for over fifty rare and endangered species of plants and animals. The $4 million acquisition was funded by private donors and grants from Preserving Wild California, a program of the Resources Legacy Fund Foundation; The Nature Conservancy; Proposition 40; the state government’s Environmental nhancement and Mitigation Grant Program; and the federal government’s Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Horse Canyon. An important partnership was initiated in May of 2003 when ABF joined with the Native American Land Conservancy [www.nalc.org] to acquire 1,298 acres in Horse Canyon, a tributary canyon of Coyote Canyon, at a cost of $300,000. The canyon contains important archaeological sites and is a bighorn sheep habitat. It was added to the park in July of 2004.

These properties represent land values in excess of a whopping $14 million—a phenomenal commitment by nonprofits, government agencies and individuals intent on preserving California’s wild lands. Looking to the future, ABF will actively move forward with our “ground game”—to make our park whole.

ABFI thanks Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC, who provided substantial in-kind support to our acquisition and biological mitigation efforts. Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC has more than 550 attorneys and government relations professionals practicing throughout the United States. The firm serves national and international clients that include Fortune 500 corporations, start-ups, technology companies and financial institutions.