Land Use,
Environmental & Energy,
Contracts
Mar. 3, 2025
Legal battle over Point Reyes ranching deal escalates
In a legal twist to a decades-long debate over ranching at Point Reyes National Seashore, Marin County rancher Bill Niman and attorney Andrew Giacomini have filed lawsuits seeking to block a $40 million settlement that would phase out commercial ranching in the park. The deal, negotiated among environmental groups, ranchers, and the National Park Service, aims to protect public lands and expand wildlife access. Critics argue the agreement undermines Point Reyes' agricultural heritage and disregards ranch workers.
More than 2 million visitors come annually to Point Reyes National Seashore, where herds of tule elk roam grasslands and colonies of elephant seals haul out in rocky coves.
Now lawyers are part of the landscape.
In an echo of Old West range wars, a prominent Marin County cattle rancher has thrown another monkey-wrench at a proposed historic land deal, suing to halt a plan to pay other ranchers a reported $40 million to abandon their leaseholds and exit the park.
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