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Through her estate, poet Jane Mead donated the 1,318-acre Mead Ranch above Napa Valley, knitting a wildlife corridor beside the 2,300-acre Walt Ranch and the 1,380-acre Sutro Preserve
Space Daily • • science
Key Points:
- The Land Trust of Napa County acquired the 1,318-acre Mead Ranch near Atlas Peak through the estate of poet Jane Mead, who passed away in 2019, securing the land for conservation.
- Mead Ranch is ecologically significant, adjoining the 2,300-acre Walt Ranch and the 1,380-acre Sutro Preserve, creating a large contiguous corridor of protected land on Napa Valley’s eastern ridge.
- The ranch hosts rare and endangered plant species, including Mead’s Owl’s Clover, found only on this property and one nearby, as well as vernal pools considered the most species-diverse in Napa County.
- Jane Mead, a respected poet and conservation supporter, chose to protect the ranch permanently after a cancer diagnosis, motivated by its biodiversity, ecological role, and potential educational use for future generations.
- The acquisition advances a broader, ongoing effort to establish a continuous wildlife corridor along the eastern Napa Valley ridge, enhancing habitat connectivity and long-term conservation prospects.
