THE ACQUISITION OF A CONSERVATION EASEMENT HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED. THE BIG SUR LAND TRUST SAYS THE PROPERTY IS ON THE 965-ACRE VIERRA RANCH (6 MILES NORTH OF SALINAS, IN THE PRUNEDALE AREA). BECAUSE IT’S A CONSERVATION EASEMENT, LOCAL RANCHERS WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP CATTLE THERE, AND VEGETABLES WILL CONTINUE TO BE GROWN ON A 10-ACRE PORTION OF THE LAND. GABILAN CREEK, WHICH RUNS FOR 2 MILES ALONG THE SOUTHERN BORDER OF THE RANCH (AND FLOWS YEAR-ROUND INTO THE MONTEREY BAY), IS RECOGNIZED BY THE NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE AS A STEELHEAD SALMON SPAWNING RUN.
