Cultivating Resilience in Marin County: MALT’s Conservation Impact in 2024
December 6, 2024
In a time when strengthening local resilience is critical, the Marin Agricultural Land Trust’s (MALT) work protecting and stewarding farmland in Marin County has never been more important. We are tremendously grateful for the support of our donor community in helping advance our conservation efforts locally. Together we have made great strides in 2024.
From protecting four new properties, to granting more than $3 million in land stewardship since 2002, and building upon an innovative small grants program, each step forward this year has planted seeds of hope for our community. Despite any uncertainty at the global and national levels, locally we continue building a more resilient and prosperous future.
We couldn’t do this without you. This year’s achievements demonstrate what’s possible when a community comes together to protect its agricultural heritage while embracing innovative solutions for the future. Your partnership has helped ensure that the natural and working landscapes of West Marin remain productive, protected, and resilient into the future.
Here’s what you helped make possible in 2024:
Four Newly Protected Properties: A Legacy of Conservation
When you travel through West Marin today, you’ll pass four newly protected properties that will remain protected forever, each with its own unique story:
Perched along the shore of Tomales Bay, the 592-acre Bivista Ridge Ranch is a coastal gem now protected by a MALT agricultural conservation easement. From its windswept hilltops, one can marvel at the dual panorama of Tomales Bay’s serene waters and the vast Pacific Ocean beyond.
The ranch is part of the Taylor family’s dairy operation, which includes the MALT-protected Bivalve Dairy. The easement ensures the ranch remains dedicated to dairy production and enhances regional climate resilience. This $3.9 million easement, with all funding facilitated by MALT, was funded by Marin County’s Measure A and California’s Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation program.
The 1,179-acre Spring Valley Ranch, one of the largest in the county, was also protected in the past year by a MALT easement. This $3.5 million easement adds to 14,247 contiguous acres of protected agricultural land, one of the Bay Area’s largest conservation areas.
MALT’s easement ensures the ranch remains dedicated to agriculture while preserving vital wildlife corridors. Over 200 acres lie within the Critical Habitat Linkage identified by the Conservation Lands Network, supporting species movement across the region and the resilience of our local ecosystem. Funding for this easement was split equally between Marin County’s Measure A and private donations to MALT.
The 903-acre Corda Family Ranch, an iconic Marin County landscape along Novato Boulevard, is now protected by MALT through an agricultural conservation easement. From its coastal grasslands to dense oak woodlands, this historic property has been stewarded by the Corda family for over a century.
With 3.85 miles of creekside habitat, the ranch plays a vital role in protecting clean water for Novato residents and wildlife alike. This $5 million easement adds to 14,383 contiguous acres of MALT-protected lands, supporting biodiversity and climate resilience. Funding came equally from Marin County’s Measure A and private donations to MALT.
The 344-acre Hicks Mountain Belvedere Ranch, home to one of Marin’s tallest peaks, is now forever safeguarded by MALT. This iconic landscape showcases diverse habitats from redwood groves to dense chaparral, offering sanctuary for abundant wildlife while supporting local food production.
Stewarded by the Corda-Dellinger family for over a century, the ranch is known for the Hicks Mountain Hens pasture-raised egg operation. MALT’s agricultural conservation easement ensures this land will forever remain dedicated to agriculture while preserving critical wildlife corridors. This $800,000 easement was funded equally between Marin County’s Measure A and private donations to MALT.
$3 Million Milestone: Investing in Local Land Stewardship
This year also marked a transformative milestone in MALT’s commitment to supporting our community of farmers and ranchers — surpassing $3 million in total land stewardship investments granted since 2002. These direct-to-farmer grants have supported critical improvements on agricultural lands across Marin County, from water infrastructure upgrades to carbon farming initiatives.
This investment demonstrates our belief that a thriving agricultural community is not just compatible with environmental stewardship—it is essential to it.
Seeding Innovation – Small Grants Program
In August of 2023, MALT launched a new small grants program to further protect the future of farmland in Marin County. This year, we held two funding rounds (focused on Biodiversity in Agricultural Working Lands and Building Climate Resilience) awarding a total of $400,000 for projects ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 that preserve agriculture, protect biodiversity, connect our community, and build climate resilience.
Over our nearly 45 year history, we have learned the value of well-targeted and well-timed land stewardship efforts that address both the needs of our community and improve the health of our local landscapes. Our small grants program is a testament to our commitment to a practical approach, rooted in on-the-ground understanding.
Community Connection: Growing Public Understanding
This year marked a milestone in MALT’s community engagement as we welcomed over 1,700 visitors to MALT-protected ranches through guided hikes and educational events. From spring wildflower walks to fall harvest celebrations, these experiences fostered deeper connections between urban and rural communities while providing intimate looks at working agricultural lands. Through these efforts, we’re not just preserving land – we’re cultivating understanding and inspiring the next generation of agricultural advocates in our community.
Looking Forward
As we move forward, our focus remains clear: protecting agricultural lands while supporting the farmers and ranchers who steward them. The working landscapes of Marin County have nourished our community for decades. We are rooted in our commitment to tending to this landscape and in building a vibrant future for the next generation.
From all of us at MALT, thank you for your continued interest and support.
Every protected acre, every supported farmer, and every restored stream begins with you. Learn more about supporting MALT’s mission here.
