A significant stretch of California's coastline, totaling 136 acres in Mendocino County, has been officially transferred back to Indigenous tribal stewardship. The California Transportation Commission granted final approval on June 26 for the land, which includes Blues Beach and coastal bluffs near Westport, to be returned to Kai Poma, a nonprofit representing the Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians, Round Valley Indian Tribes, and Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians. This marks the first time land managed by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has been conveyed to tribal governments.
The state originally acquired the property in the 1960s to facilitate the expansion of Highway 1 and to establish a scenic overlook. However, in recent years, the site has experienced largely unregulated public use, with visitors sometimes driving through environmentally sensitive areas, leaving trash, and damaging cultural resources. Holiday weekends and summer crowds frequently used the beach for camping and parties.
This transfer was enabled by legislation signed in 2021, sponsored by state Sen. Mike McGuire, which granted Caltrans the legal authority to convey state-owned land to tribal governments. The new law also includes provisions that prohibit commercial development on the property while ensuring continued public access.
Kai Poma intends to initiate cultural and archaeological studies, along with environmental surveys, to inform the development of a long-term resource management plan. The nonprofit has collaborated with the California Coastal Commission on a public access management plan that will permit visitors to access the property from sunrise to sunset.