After more than two decades of efforts, California approved a $42 million grant to permanently conserve Wild Cherry Canyon, a 2,060-acre stretch of coastal hills in San Luis Obispo County. The California State Coastal Conservancy has authorised the grant to acquire both the property’s leasehold interest and underlying fee title in two transactions, with the first closing by year’s end and the second anticipated by mid-2027.The land, which overlooks Avila Beach and sits within the broader 12,000-acre Diablo Canyon Lands, had remained vulnerable for decades under a long-term private lease, with the risk of residential development. The grant will help remove the threat of future development and eventually turn the property into a permanently protected nature preserve.“This has been 25 years in the making,” Senator John Laird said in a release. “I worked to protect Wild Cherry Canyon as California’s Natural Resources Secretary, and many others worked on it before and since. There were plenty of times when it looked like it might not happen, but the Central Coast community never gave up. Today, we can finally celebrate a major victory for this incredible piece of our coastline.”
The outcome of a 25-year conservation effort
Just inland of Avila Beach, Wild Cherry Canyon is an undeveloped sweep of coastal hills and canyons overlooking San Luis Obispo Bay. Part of the 12,000-acre Diablo Canyon Lands, the property has remained vulnerable to residential development under a long-term private lease. Efforts to protect Wild Cherry Canyon have been under way for more than two decades; however, they have faced several setbacks over the years.Amy Hutzel, Executive Officer of the State Coastal Conservancy, underscored how long this battle had consumed resources and political will. “The Coastal Conservancy and many others have been working to acquire this spectacular piece of the California coast for over 20 years. This large stretch of coastal land offers rare and unique opportunities for habitat conservation, cultural resource protection, and public access. Today we are finally delivering the long-sought protection of this special place,” she said.California’s grant will help acquire both the leasehold and underlying fee title. The acquisition represents far more than a real estate transaction. Wild Cherry Canyon’s coastal prairie, oak woodlands, chaparral, riparian habitat and headwater streams support diverse wildlife. “Conserving an intact coastal landscape at this scale, bolstering protection for the larger Diablo Canyon landscape, and ultimately providing thoughtful public access is the central focus of Wildlands’ mission and core values,” Frazier Haney, Executive Director of The Wildlands Conservancy, said.“Wild Cherry Canyon captures so much of what is special about San Luis Obispo County,” Kaila Dettman, Executive Director of The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County, a potential partner on a future conservation easement for the property, said. “The Irish Hills, with steep oak-studded hillsides, significant biodiversity, and remarkable scenery, have been a key focus of land conservation efforts for decades. To have permanent protection of Wild Cherry Canyon within reach is incredibly meaningful for our community and for everyone who has worked so hard to get us here.”
What’s next?
Plans are already under way for conservation and public and Tribal use at Wild Cherry Canyon. The Coastal Conservancy and The Wildlands Conservancy will work with the local communities and tribes to develop plans for the same.This conservation also carries profound cultural weight for the Chumash tribes, with ancestral ties to this area. “Wild Cherry Canyon is a special and spiritual place to our Tribe. It’s a place we love and in our terms we belong to it,” Mona Olivas Tucker, Chair of yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini tiłhini Northern Chumash Tribe San Luis Obispo County and Region, said. “Our responsibility to care for Wild Cherry Canyon never ends. We’re happy that it will be conserved and look forward to working with The Wildlands Conservancy and Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County for the safe keeping of this remarkable place.”
A coastal trail on the cards?
Along with the conservation efforts, public access is also planned, although visitors will not be able to enter the preserve immediately. A potential five-mile segment of the California Coastal Trail is also on the cards. If implemented, it could eventually form part of a 20-mile route connecting Avila Beach to Montaña de Oro State Park. The authorities are also planning low-impact camping and outdoor education programmes for schools and youth organisations.“For Wildlands, acquisition is the beginning of our responsibility to this land. We look forward to restoring and rewilding the landscape, working with Tribes to support their access and stewardship interests, and creating thoughtful, free public access so people can experience the beauty of Wild Cherry Canyon,” Haney said.Meanwhile, Wild Cherry Canyon is part of the wider Diablo Canyon Lands Conservation Planning Project, which also includes North Ranch and South Ranch near the Diablo Canyon Power Plant.