$42 Million Grant Advances Permanent Protection of Wild Cherry Canyon

State Coastal Conservancy, The Wildlands Conservancy, and local community groups partner to conserve approximately 2,060 acres near Avila Beach

FORT BRAGG, CA, UNITED STATES, September 17, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Today, the Board of the State Coastal Conservancy authorized a $42 million grant to The Wildlands Conservancy to acquire the leasehold interest in and fee title of the approximately 2,060-acre Wild Cherry Canyon property in San Luis Obispo County.

Just inland of Avila Beach, Wild Cherry Canyon is an undeveloped sweep of coastal hills and canyons overlooking San Luis Obispo Bay and part of the approximately 12,000-acre Diablo Canyon Lands. A long-term private lease has left the property vulnerable to residential development. Acquisition of both the leasehold and underlying fee title will permanently remove the threat of development and secure its future as a new Wildlands Conservancy preserve.

“This has been more than 25 years in the making. I worked to protect Wild Cherry Canyon as California’s Natural Resources Secretary, and many others worked on it before and since. There were plenty of times when it looked like it might not happen, but the Central Coast community never gave up. Today, we can finally celebrate a major victory for this incredible piece of our coastline. I’m grateful to the Coastal Conservancy, The Wildlands Conservancy, tribal partners and everyone who stuck with this effort over the years to help protect Wild Cherry Canyon for generations to come.” said State Senator John Laird.

“The Coastal Conservancy and many others have been working to acquire this spectacular piece of the California coast for over 20 years,” said Amy Hutzel, Executive Officer of the State Coastal Conservancy. “This large stretch of coastal land offers rare and unique opportunities for habitat conservation, cultural resource protection, and public access. Today we are finally delivering the long-sought protection of this special place.”

The acquisition will occur in two transactions. The Wildlands Conservancy will purchase the leasehold interest by the end of the year, followed by acquisition of the underlying fee title, which is anticipated to close by mid-2027.

“We applaud the extraordinary efforts of everyone who came before us and worked to protect Wild Cherry Canyon,” said Frazier Haney, Executive Director of The Wildlands Conservancy. “Conserving an intact coastal landscape at this scale, bolstering protection for the larger Diablo Canyon landscape, and ultimately providing thoughtful public access is the central focus of Wildlands mission and core values.”
Wild Cherry Canyon’s coastal prairie, oak woodlands, chaparral, riparian habitat and headwater streams support a rich diversity of wildlife and strengthen ecological connectivity across the region.

“Wild Cherry Canyon captures so much of what is special about San Luis Obispo County,” said Kaila Dettman, Executive Director of The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County, a potential partner on a future conservation easement for the property. “The Irish Hills, with steep oak-studded hillsides, significant biodiversity, and remarkable scenery have been a key focus of land conservation efforts for decades. To have permanent protection of Wild Cherry Canyon within reach is incredibly meaningful for our community and for everyone who has worked so hard to get us here.”

Planning for future conservation and public and Tribal use at Wild Cherry Canyon is underway. Through the Diablo Canyon Lands Conservation Planning Project, the Coastal Conservancy and The Wildlands Conservancy will work with the local community and local Tribes to develop conservation, public access, and Tribal access easements or other instruments to protect the community’s vision for the property.

“Wild Cherry Canyon is a special and spiritual place to our Tribe. It’s a place we love and in our terms we belong to it,” said Mona Olivas Tucker, Chair of yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini tiłhini Northern Chumash Tribe San Luis Obispo County and Region. “Our responsibility to care for Wild Cherry Canyon never ends. We’re happy that it will be conserved and look forward to working with The Wildlands Conservancy and Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County for the safe keeping of this remarkable place.”

The community’s vision for permanent land conservation, managed public access, and direct participation of local Tribes is also reflected in the 2023 Diablo Canyon Land Conservation and Economic Development Plan as part of SB 846.

Among the opportunities to be explored is a potential five-mile segment of the California Coastal Trail that would contribute to a planned approximately 20-mile route between Avila Beach and Montaña de Oro State Park. Low-impact camping and outdoor education opportunities for schools, youth organizations, and other organized groups will also be considered.

“For Wildlands, acquisition is the beginning of our responsibility to this land,” Haney said. “We look forward to restoring and rewilding the landscape, working with Tribes to support their access and stewardship interests, and creating thoughtful, free public access so people can experience the beauty of Wild Cherry Canyon.”

Wildlands will manage the preserve in perpetuity. Early private support from the Wild America Fund helped catalyze the acquisition and advance the project through the deposit, due diligence, and project management stages. Additional public and private support will be needed for initial stewardship and ongoing management.

Public access will begin after the necessary planning, resource protection measures and access improvements are completed.
Beyond Wild Cherry Canyon, the Diablo Canyon Lands Conservation Planning Project also includes North Ranch and South Ranch surrounding the Diablo Canyon Power Plant. The planning process will move into a broader public phase on September 23 with a community-wide kickoff event in downtown San Luis Obispo.

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About the State Coastal Conservancy
The State Coastal Conservancy is a state agency established in 1976 to protect and improve natural lands and waterways, help people access and enjoy the outdoors, and sustain local economies along California’s coast and around San Francisco Bay.

About The Wildlands Conservancy
Founded in 1995, The Wildlands Conservancy preserves the beauty and biodiversity of the earth and provides programs so children may know the wonder and joy of nature. Wildlands owns and manages 25 nature preserves totaling more than 210,000 acres across California, Oregon and Utah, providing free public access while advancing ecological restoration, rewilding and outdoor education. Since its founding, Wildlands has helped protect more than 2.3 million acres across the American West.

Sara Seburn
The Wildlands Conservancy
+1 909-712-6231
email us here