Posted on 10/07/2002 11:20:23 AM PDT by TonyWojo
RAMONA – The Nature Conservancy has received a $660,000 federal grant to use as a down payment toward the purchase of the 420-acre Cagney Ranch in the grasslands belt south of the Ramona airport.
The money, which came from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, will be matched with a $165,000 grant from the state, according to Ann Van Leer of the Nature Conservancy.
She said the group hopes to raise the rest of the nearly $2 million needed to purchase the ranch – which is dotted with vernal pools and pockets of undisturbed native grasses – from private donors and through other grants.
Janet Gilbert, spokeswoman for a group called Ramona Grasslands, said purchase of the Cagney ranch will be a major achievement. The property was owned by William J. Cagney, the brother of movie star James Cagney..
Don Adkison, an attorney for the Cagney family, said the Cagney brothers often visited the property, which was used to raise cattle. He said the ranch has value not only for its habitat, plants and wildlife, but because of American Indian artifacts found on it.
"Though Jim (James Cagney) had no real ownership with it, he appreciated it," Adkison said. "He also wrote poetry about nature and was a painter. I think everyone connected with the family is pleased that this land will be protected."
In addition to Gilbert's organization, Van Leer said the Wildlife Research Institute and the Vernal Pool Association also were instrumental in obtaining the grants.
Gilbert said the ranch is a key component of the proposed preserve because it is in the heart of the grasslands.
"I am confident that we will be able to complete this purchase and protect creatures such as the federally endangered San Diego fairy shrimp, arroyo toad, Stephen's kangaroo rat and the threatened California gnatcatcher," she said.
She noted that the area south of the airport is also home to wintering raptors and serves as a stopover for migratory waterfall and songbirds. She said her group's ultimate goal is to purchase about 5,000 acres and bordering terrain and join it with the San Dieguito River Park and Multiple Species Conservation Program lands to the south.
Sharon Quisenberry, who is representing the sellers, said she could not say when the option to purchase the land obtained by the Nature Conservancy will expire. Nor would she say what the exact price of the deal will be.
"But I can reiterate that the Cagney Trust is very happy that this is going to happen," said Quisenberry, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Associates in Ramona. "They think this is a positive step for Ramona and for their family's legacy."
If you said the Rockefellers you were right. I have a whole host of info on the Rockefeller run groups that are behind the Stalinist land grabs, specifically in NY.
Doing well by doing good (with other peoples money).
Praise to Homeschoolers!
Retired Disabled Veterans need your help, or buddy can you spare a minute or two? Attention: VetsCoR
It's okay to give a grant to restrict citizens from beautiful land areas but don't think about helping vets.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.