California funds tribe’s coastal land purchase for restoration
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
The yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini Northern Chumash Tribe in California is seeking to purchase 357 acres of coastal land in Cayucos for $18 million, with a $5 million contribution approved by the state.
The tribe intends to restore the land, which includes a former abalone farm, using traditional Indigenous stewardship practices. This property, known as Alexander Ranch, once held an Indigenous village called tsitxala and has about one mile of coastline featuring diverse habitats like eucalyptus groves and grasslands.
The tribe’s nonprofit organisation entered a purchase agreement in 2024 and has currently raised almost $8.2 million towards the acquisition, including a $7 million grant. They plan to repair the Villa Creek watershed to support steelhead trout and reconnect with their ancestral lands, allowing tribal members to gather there without needing permission. The former abalone farm, which closed in 2020, could be revived with the help of the Harmony Coast Aquaculture Institute, which currently leases the facility.
The institute plans to use algae to treat seawater for a renewed aquaculture operation, potentially producing one million abalone annually and supporting the restoration of endangered abalone species like the black abalone, found on the property. The tribe also hopes to provide consistent access to abalone for cultural and nutritional purposes, as it was a traditional food source for many years.
