California has approved the transfer of 136 acres of coastline at Blues Beach in Mendocino County to Indigenous tribal ownership, marking the first return of land managed by the state Department of Transportation to Indigenous tribes.
The stretch of coastline will be owned and maintained by Kai Poma, according to state officials. Public access to the land will still be required under state law.
The transfer represents the first time property managed by the California Department of Transportation, known as Caltrans, has been returned to Indigenous tribes.
What the transfer covers
The 136-acre parcel sits along the Mendocino County coast, one of the more remote stretches of California’s northern shoreline.
Under the terms described by state officials, Kai Poma will assume ownership and responsibility for maintaining the land. State law requirements guaranteeing public access to the coastline will remain in effect after the transfer.
Background
California has pursued a series of land transfers and return efforts involving Indigenous tribes in recent years, covering property held by various state and local agencies.
The Blues Beach transfer differs from prior returns because the land was managed by Caltrans, the state agency responsible for highways and transportation infrastructure, rather than a parks or natural resources department.
The California coastline is subject to public access protections established under state law, which the transfer preserves.