Caltrans transfers 136 acres of Blues Beach to Pomo Indian tribes

Key Points:

• A 136-acre stretch of Mendocino County coastline, including Blues Beach, is being transferred from California's Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to Kai Poma, a nonprofit formed by three local Native American tribes with ancestral ties to the area.
• This marks the first time in California history that state-owned land managed by Caltrans has been transferred to Indigenous stewardship, enabled by a 2021 law signed by Governor Gavin Newsom allowing such conveyances.
• The land holds cultural and spiritual significance for the Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians, Round Valley Indian Tribes, and Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians, who plan to protect natural and cultural resources while maintaining public access.
• Kai Poma will conduct cultural, archaeological, and environmental surveys and develop a long-term resource management plan, ensuring the land remains open to visitors from sunrise to sunset with no commercial activity allowed.
• The transfer aims to preserve this scenic coastal area, restore Indigenous stewardship, and prevent damage caused by unregulated public use, marking a historic step in returning sacred lands to Native peoples.