Sunday, March 13, 2005

MARTINEZ
Grant is enough to buy Fernandez Ranch

- By Patrick Hoge

The Muir Heritage Land Trust succeeded in getting the last of the $3.2 million needed to preserve the 702-acre remnant of Portuguese immigrant Bernardo Fernandez's once-vast ranch in western Contra Costa County.

On Thursday, the state Coastal Conservancy board of directors awarded a $1.1 million grant to the trust to buy the property, which lies at the western edge of Franklin Ridge, south of Highway 4 near Franklin Canyon Golf Course.

In February, the state Wildlife Conservation Board awarded $1 million to acquire the ranch, and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation gave $1 million, with smaller donations coming from other sources.

For more information or to learn about upcoming hikes on the Fernandez Ranch, call (925) 228-5460 or log on to www.muirheritagelandtrust.org.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/03/13/BABADIGEST4.DTL