A significant stretch of California's Mendocino County coastline, encompassing 136 acres of beach and coastal bluffs, has been transferred from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to Kai Poma, a nonprofit organization established by representatives of the Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians, Round Valley Indian Tribes, and Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians.
Caltrans granted final regulatory approval for the transfer on June 26. This marks the first instance in California's history where land managed by Caltrans and owned by the state has been conveyed to a tribal nonprofit. Kai Poma will now own and maintain the site, which includes Blues Beach, and is tasked with protecting its sensitive natural and Native American cultural resources.
The state originally acquired the land in the 1960s, with plans for Highway 1 expansion and the creation of a scenic overlook. In recent years, the area has seen increased public use, with documented issues including camping, partying, off-road driving through sensitive zones, damage to cultural resources, and litter.
Tribal leaders have emphasized the land's cultural and spiritual importance, noting its historical use for traditional gathering practices, such as collecting seaweed and abalone, and for hosting youth cultural camps. Kai Poma plans to conduct cultural, archaeological, and environmental surveys to develop a long-term resource management strategy. A public access plan, developed in conjunction with the Coastal Commission, is expected to keep the property open to visitors during daylight hours.
The transfer of the land required several years of effort and a legislative change. Until 2021, Caltrans lacked the authority to transfer state-owned property directly to tribal governments. This changed when Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation, sponsored by State Sen. Mike McGuire, D-Healdsburg, that enabled such conveyances. McGuire stated that the agreement allows the tribes to reclaim ancestral lands and cultural traditions. The legislation also prohibits commercial activity on the property while mandating continued public access.
Supporters of the transfer believe it will permanently protect a scenic coastal area and return sacred land to the descendants of its original stewards. J. Carlos Rivera, Chair of the Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians, described the acquisition as enormously significant from a tribal perspective, representing a return to land his people inhabited before colonization.
Following the commission's approval, Caltrans staff are expected to finalize the deed transfer to Kai Poma.