Carr Ranch - Coming Soon!
Moraga, California
Campaign to Save Carr Ranch:
Carr Ranch, a truly stunning property owned for nearly 100 years by the Carr family, exemplifies the cultural legacy of California ranches and the families that have taken care of them. To save this beautiful land for public open space and preserve it forever, the John Muir Land Trust needs your help to raise $7 million dollars by June 2016.
Geography:
Carr Ranch is located in central Contra Costa at the southern boundary of Lamorinda (Lafayette, Moraga, & Orinda), adjacent to Alameda County. The property features over 600 acres of stunning ridgelines, unique rock formations, gorgeous valleys and sweeping views of the eastern Bay Area, delta and surrounding hills (see vicinity and regional maps).
Please note that Carr Ranch is currently a private residence. Once acquired, it will be opened to the public, providing an unparalleled source of recreation for surrounding communities. You can view Carr Ranch’s stunning ridgelines from Rancho Laguna Park in Moraga.
Drinking Water:
The past four years in California have been the driest on record in 80 years, and perhaps the last 400. Ongoing drought, climate change and population growth pose significant threats to Bay Area water supplies. Situated in the Upper San Leandro watershed adjacent to the Upper San Leandro Reservoir, JMLT acquisition of Carr Ranch provides a onetime opportunity to permanently protect high quality Bay Area drinking water at its source.
Recreation:
As East Bay congestion continues to become more pervasive, public access to open space becomes increasingly important. Once acquired, Carr Ranch will be opened to the public, providing an unparalleled source of recreation for surrounding communities. Much like our existing Fernandez Ranch property, JMLT’s Carr Ranch will offer myriad opportunities for hiking, cycling, birding, dog walking and equestrian activities.
Wildlife Habitat:
Carr Ranch is home to an exceptional diversity of foliage including coastal live oak woodlands, riparian woodlands, coastal scrub and annual grasslands. Nearly all of the property is critical habitat for the threatened Alameda whipsnake. Likewise, Buckhorn Creek and numerous ponds on the property provide breeding and foraging habitat for the endangered California red-legged frog. Carr Ranch is also home to golden eagle, mountain lion, American badger, western pond turtle and many other species essential to our ecosystem.
Next Steps:
Raising $7 million to save Carr Ranch represents a huge step toward our goal in more than doubling the acreage permanently protected by JMLT, as outlined in the newly launched Saving Contra Costa campaign. This ambitious campaign is on track to raise $25 million over the next five years to protect and care for important land in Contra Costa County. Help us protect Carr Ranch and other vital lands in Contra Costa County today.
You can learn more about this important initiative in Community Focus, Lamorinda Weekly, and Contra Costa Times.
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