FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Date: October 1, 2003
Contact: Jennifer Stone (619) 531-4766

COUNTY CELEBRATES AS BOULDER OAKS RANCH BECOMES PERMANENT OPEN SPACE PRESERVE

RAMONA - San Diego County Supervisor Dianne Jacob is pleased to announce the acquisition of Boulder Oaks Ranch, a 1,215-acre swath of diverse habitat located six miles south of Ramona off Mussey Grade Road.

The land is a species-rich patchwork of coastal sage, grasslands, and oak woodlands. It is home to mule deer, ring-tailed cats, golden eagles and the endangered California gnatcatcher, and will be preserved as permanent open space.

"This exciting acquisition will protect our natural resources, limit urban sprawl and truly enhance our quality of life," said Supervisor Dianne Jacob who represents the people of the Second District on the County Board of Supervisors.

The acquisition brings the County's ambitious habitat preservation plan- the award-winning Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP)- closer to its overall goal of setting aside 100,000 acres of meaningful open space for future generations.

"The MSCP has allowed us to strike that delicate balance between land preservation and the rights of property owners," said Jacob, who co-sponsored the County's MSCP in 1997. "Acquisitions like Boulder Oaks Ranch preserve our region's rare plants and animals while respecting responsible and sensible growth," Jacob said.

Last year, the MSCP was honored by the National Association of Counties as a model open space program for other jurisdictions to emulate.

The County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) in collaboration with the California Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) acquired Boulder Oaks Ranch in support of the MSCP. The total cost of the acquisition was $4,410,000 and was funded seventy-five percent by the WCB and twenty-five percent by County MSCP dollars.

The DPR is currently developing a management plan for the Boulder Oaks Ranch facility.