The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County (LCSLO) recently completed a transaction to permanently conserve the Adelaida Springs Ranch, a privately-owned working ranch in northwest San Luis Obispo County.
On January 31, 2025, LCSLO acquired a conservation easement over 890 acres of scenic rangeland and oak woodlands, as well as a small family-owned vineyard in the heart of the Adelaida region. The ranch has been owned and cared for by the Foshay family for the last 25 years and currently produces beef cattle and wine grapes. The Foshays’ careful stewardship of the property exemplifies the distinct character of the Adelaida as a place where myriad species of flora and fauna thrive alongside sustainably managed agriculture.
Funds for the purchase of the Adelaida Springs Ranch conservation easement were made available through the California Strategic Growth Council’s Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program (SALC) in collaboration with the Department of Conservation. SALC is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy and improving public health and the environment, particularly in disadvantaged communities. Additional funding for the project was provided by the John S Kiewit Foundation, as well as a generous donation from the Foshay family.
When asked about the importance of this partnership to his family and the property, Laird Foshay replied “Since our childhood days hiking the coastal mountain parks of California, my wife Lisa and I have been drawn to this landscape. It has been very gratifying to live here and raise our family on a working ranch that produces food and wine. We are pleased to participate in the permanent conservation of such a bountiful and charming piece of the world. Many thanks to LCSLO for making this possible.”
“I am deeply grateful to the Foshay family for partnering with us to protect their beautiful property – one that serves as an important part of our local food system and a critical wildlife corridor on the central coast,” said Kaila Dettman, LCSLO Executive Director.
The Adelaida Springs Ranch conservation easement project builds on LCSLO’s long-running conservation efforts within the Adelaida region. Since 2002, LCSLO has permanently protected over 19,000 acres of the Adelaida’s working lands, wildlife habitat and scenic vistas through voluntary conservation easement agreements with families like the Foshays.
The Land Conservancy of SLO County is a local non-profit land-trust, which has permanently protected over 68,000 acres of land on the central coast. To learn how to support projects like this, visit www.lcslo.org.