During the Soberanes Fire in 2016 and most recently with the River Fire, Marks Ranch served as part of the incident command center. The land was impacted significantly by equipment and personnel. In our recovery efforts, Big Sur Land Trust (BSLT) partnered with the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation (CMSF) to initiate a three-year Healthy Soils Program project at Marks Ranch.

Recognizing that the health of the Marine Sanctuary is tied directly to the health of the land, the Healthy Soils Program helps working ranches and farmlands improve soil health and promote its ability to sequester carbon that cause ocean acidification and warming. With the Marks Ranch Healthy Soils Project now entering its third and final year, project members from BSLT and CMSF will share how this area is recovering from the 2020 River Fire and what we have learned so far. Participants can expect a gentle and relaxed walk on the land and talk about the research at Marks Ranch that is furthering our understanding of soil restoration.

This event will have a mix of walking and talking. Participants are welcome to hike independently upon the conclusion of the event.

Bring: Snacks or a picnic lunch to enjoy, closed-toe hiking shoes, and everything you might need for a half-day of hiking with us.

Please note that minors will need to be individually registered and accompanied by an adult. 

Distance: Approx. 2 miles
Elevation: 180 ft
Difficulty: Easy
Surface: Uneven dirt path

Hike-day logistics:  

Meet-up location: Marks Ranch (Google Pin)
Start time: 9 am
Estimated end time: 12 pm

Event speakers:

Patrick Riparetti, Director of Stewardship at Big Sur Land Trust
Pam Krone, Water Quality Program Manager at California Marine Sanctuary Foundation
Jazmine Mejia-Munoz, Research, Education and Outreach Associate at California Marine Sanctuary Foundation

Preliminary Event Schedule:

8:30-9 a.m.: Arrival and Check-In.

9-9:15 a.m.: Welcome and Introductions. Brief overview of Marks Ranch.

9:15-10 a.m.: Guided Walk and Talk. Tour project area. Discuss healthy soils and explain Marks Ranch Healthy Soils from Compost Addition and Native Planting project. Q&A.

10-11 a.m.: Residual Dry Matter field exercise

11:00- 11:15 a.m.: Walk to and tour Avalon Flats. Discuss healthy soils project expansion. Briefly mention Monarch Restoration project.

11:15-11:50 a.m.: Present results. Q&A.

11:50 a.m.-12 p.m.: Closing Remarks. End tour in Avalon Flats. Participants are welcome to hike to Hacienda or return to vehicles at entrance.

Please donate now and your generosity will be transformed into wondrous beauty and unforgettable experiences while you support healthy lands, healthy people, and healthy communities in our region.

Healthy Soils at Marks Ranch walk-and-talk with Patrick Riparetti