One of the happier things to happen here in the last five years is that the neighboring 400 plus acre property was purchased by the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County. The three parcels that make up this property are now in agricultural easements which will protect them from development in perpetuity. The previous owners had drawn up elaborate plans for a 1000 plus unit development, complete with shopping center and golf course. Because Santa Cruz County has a progressive agricultural land preservation policy in place (measure J), they had resorted to trying to get the property annexed into the city of Watsonville, where they could do what they wanted with it. Thanks to the heroic efforts of resistance by local residents, they failed to get the property annexed, and sat on it for years before deciding to sell to The Land Trust.
The property itself consists of 245 acres of rolling marine terrace farmland interspersed with fingers of slough that are fringed with willows and cottonwoods. Its ecological significance is considerable. California has already lost over 90% of its coast wetlands, and what remains is of critical importance to birds and other wildlife. Wetlands also help to clean up contaminated run-off water before it is discharged into the ocean.
Working with another local non-profit called Watsonville Wetlands Watch, the Land Trust developed a ten year management plan for the property. Because the fields are quite steep in places, the property has suffered from erosion in the past and dealing with this was their first priority. They took 55 acres of the most erosion prone acreage out of production. These last few years they have been creating rock lined 
drainage ditches and elaborate settlement basins to ensure that sediment in the run-off water from the fields doesn’t make its way into the surrounding sloughs. They have also created a “seed-meadow” where they rear native grass seed that will be planted out into some of the blocks that they took out of production—similar to what we have done here at our place.
Needless to say we are delighted by this whole turn of events. When we first moved here, the possibility of having tract homes and a golf course as neighbors was a very real one. Now that will never happen. After having a series of farm tenants lease the land, some more responsible than others, it’s great to see good stewardship put at the forefront.
In the five years since the acquisition we have developed a good relationship with the Land Trust and Watsonville Wetlands Watch. For the last few years we have been leasing two small adjoining blocks from them, and earlier this year we volunteered our crew and equipment to help them replant a nearby section with native grass plugs. It is great to have managers who see the true potential of this neighboring property and share our vision of wetland protection and responsible farming.
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