Land trust secures restoration of Bell Point on Mendocino County coast

The following is a press release issued by Mendocino Land Trust:

Mendocino Land Trust is thrilled to announce that it is under contract to purchase a 157-acre coastal blufftop parcel, known as Bell Point, located just south of Westport on the northern Mendocino Coast. Protecting this remarkable property is made possible with a $2.505 million grant from the State Coastal Conservancy. The California Council of Land Trusts awarded MLT an additional $95,000 Project Advancement Grant to support the project, which will also include planning a new portion of the California Coastal Trail as well as return of the property to Kai Poma, a nonprofit representing three local Native American tribes, who will soon also own nearby Blues Beach to the south. The project has the strong support of the Westport Village Society, State Senator Mike McGuire, Assemblymember Jim Wood, and MLT’s project partner, Kai Poma.

Bell Point project lead, MLT Director of Land Protection Emily Griffen, reports: “The property will be protected forever, opened to public access for the first time, and returned to local Native American tribes for long-term ownership and management.” 

Bell Point sits by the southern edge of the Village of Westport. It consists of approximately 50 acres of open coastal headlands, coastal meadows, riparian wetland, and a bishop pine forest. Across Highway 1, an additional 100 acres of mixed conifer redwood-fir forest, meadowland, and ocean view ridgelines will also be preserved. The headlands offer a jaw-dropping 180º degree view of our rocky and dramatic Mendocino coastline.

Mendocino Land Trust is honored to work with Kai Poma to facilitate the return of this land to three Native American tribes — Sherwood Valley Pomo Band of Indians, Round Valley Indian Tribes, and the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians — as a vital step towards restoration and reparation.

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