Montara GGNRA property going to the dogs, how about Pacifica?

Half Moon Bay Review/Mark Noack, 7/11/13.  "GGNRA opens Rancho to dog-walkers, boundaries lifted in advance of draft plan."

Keep people out of our wilderness

Dogs, not so much

"In a major victory for local canine lovers, National Park officials signaled last week that all of the Rancho Corral de Tierra property near Montara would be open for dog-walking — for now, at least.

Since taking over the property in 2011, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area has posted signs limiting dog-walkers to a section of trails near the neighborhoods of Montara. The boundaries were not heavily enforced by rangers and often ignored by dog-walkers, but the issue gained significance for all involved in light of a looming, comprehensive, dog management plan.

....  “It’s highly significant. They were planning to use their no-dog policy as the base condition,” said Bill Bechtel, organizer for the dog-friendly group. “We felt it was important to challenge this before they issued the (dog management plan).” 

Speier* wrote a letter to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell in June summarizing her concerns that dogs were prohibited on “80 percent” of the Rancho property. Two weeks later, GGNRA Superintendent Frank Dean announced the dog-walking boundaries would be lifted."  Read article.   *  US Representative Jackie Speier.

Reference - Rancho Corral de Tierra, Montara, CA,  Overview. Golden Gate National Recreation Area is poised to assume responsibility for nearly 4,000 acres on the San Mateo County coast just south of San Francisco. Rancho Corral de Tierra (Rancho), one of the largest undeveloped pieces of land on the San Mateo peninsula, was planned for subdivisions, "ranchettes" and a golf course. Instead, its awe-inspiring views, important watersheds, miles of public trails, and diverse wildlife is now open to the public as part of our nation's natural legacy." How Rancho Corral de Tierra was preserved as Open Space.  The Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST), the preeminent land trust in San Mateo County, gathered the support of private donors to leverage $14 million in grants from the Coastal Conservancy and the California Wildlife Conservation Board. POST then purchased the parcel, listed at $50 million, for $29.75 million. Federal legislation to add the ranch to GGNRA passed Congress in December 2005. This opened the way to $15 million in federal matching funds and enabling much of the property to be opened to the public."

Related-  Devilslide Coast, area map.  Left photograph from this website.  Examiner.com, 1/16/11, "The GGNRA has acquired the Rancho and has released its draft dog management plan. The GGNRA’s preferred alternative for the Rancho (which is considered “New Lands”), is a total ban on dogs, leashed or unleashed."  Right photograph from this article.

Posted by Kathy Meeh