- Details
- By Tribal Business News Staff
- Real Estate
The Blue Lake Rancheria Tribe acquired a 240-acre ranch adjacent to its reservation lands from two Northern California nonprofit organizations, expanding its land base for food sovereignty initiatives.
The tribe took ownership of the Leavy Ranch in Humboldt County through a land transfer from the Humboldt Area Foundation and the Wild Rivers Community Foundation (HAD+WCRF). The property had been left to the foundation as part of a trust established by prior owner Jim Leavey, per a press release from the tribe.
The transfer followed a competitive request-for-proposal process that began in July 2023 and concluded in early 2024. According to a press release from the tribe. The property includes riparian frontage, pastureland, woodland, several structures including two houses, two barns, an aviary, six ponds, and a solar well system. The Leavey Ranch was originally purchased in 1912 by Michael Leavey as part of the family's dairy operation.
Blue Lake Rancheria will continue to operate the ranch as a cattle range while integrating it into its food sovereignty work. The tribe's food sovereignty Program aims to enhance production of traditional and fresh foods for elders, children, and underserved communities.
The tribe also plans to continue a partnership with California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt (Cal Poly Humboldt) that allows the institution to perform sustainability and ecological research on the acreage. However, Blue Lake Rancheria plans to curtail any non-agricultural development on the ranch to protect its cultural and ecological resources.
According to the tribe, future plans include restoration and climate resilience projects, including carbon sequestration, agroforestry, and Indigenous land management. The tribe also plans to use the property in launching educational programs around traditional ecological knowledge, wildlife conservation, and sustainable land management practices.
“This land represents an opportunity to strengthen sustainable agriculture, expand educational programs, and enhance ecological preservation for future generations,” Blue Lake Rancheria Chairman Jason Ramos said in a statement. “Through collaboration and careful stewardship, we look forward to ensuring that Leavey Ranch remains a thriving resource for the community and a model for regenerative land management.”
The Blue Lake Rancheria plans to continue working with Cal Poly Humboldt, the two foundations, and other organizations and tribes in the region, according to the press release. Sara Dronkers, chief operating officer of the foundations, said both organizations share goals with the tribe around food sovereignty, disaster resilience, and restoring Indigenous land management.
