A land conservancy has received a grant to help pay for the cost of buying, and preserving a Central Coast ranch, as well as enhancing its wildlife habitat.
The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County bought the Santa Rita Ranch for $8 million last year. The 1,700 acre ranch is off of Highway 46 in the hills between Templeton and the coast. The ranchland features oak trees, grasslands, and a freshwater reservoir. It's home to more than 150 species of animals.
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology awarded the conservancy $50,000 to help with the purchase price, as well as to aid in efforts to preserve, and enhance the ranch's native habitat.
The property will continue to be operated as a sustainable cattle ranch, but plans call for projects like restoring native vegetation.
