With a deep respect for the land’s natural legacy and cultural history, he and his family have spent the last three decades steadily restoring it. Today, they are working with PFT to secure a conservation easement that will ensure the property’s lasting protection—and public benefit—for generations to come.

Spanning approximately 13,045 acres, Adanac Ranch is a keystone landscape along the Wild and Scenic Eel River. The property’s conservation comes at a critical moment; it sits at the missing link in a vital wildlife corridor stretching from the Sinkyone Wilderness on the coast to Island Mountain in the interior. Bordering Bell Springs Road in northern Mendocino County, the ranch includes rolling grasslands, Douglas-fir forests, and steep stream drainages that descend to the river. Its location within California’s North Coast Range places it at the heart of one of the state’s most biologically diverse regions. Once the homeland of the Yuki people, the area became heavily utilized for timber and livestock in the 19th and 20th centuries. Though significant development has since fragmented much of the surrounding landscape, the Bewleys have maintained Adanac Ranch as a large, contiguous working property, managing it for sustainable timber, grazing, and wildlife habitat.

With 104 legal parcels, the property is at risk of being subdivided and sold off, an all-too-common fate for North Coast lands. By securing a conservation easement, PFT and the Bewleys aim to permanently unify the property, preventing fragmentation while protecting the ranch’s extraordinary ecological and watershed values. The ranch encompasses over 50 miles of perennial and seasonal streams—including Blue Rock and Bell Springs Creeks—that flow into the Eel River, a lifeline for imperiled coho, Chinook, and steelhead salmon. Adanac’s 1.2 miles of direct Eel River frontage support key salmon habitat while also contributing to groundwater recharge that benefits domestic and agricultural users across four counties. The ranch is also home to Roosevelt and Tule elk, black-tailed deer, golden eagles, and threatened species like the foothill yellow-legged frog. Oldgrowth Douglas-fir groves and multiple designated Terrestrial Significant Habitats make the property a biodiversity stronghold.

In addition to its ecological significance, Adanac Ranch offers promising opportunities for public access and recreation. Its eastern boundary runs adjacent to the planned route of the Great Redwood Trail, a transformative Rails to trails project that will eventually connect San Francisco Bay to Humboldt Bay. The Bewleys are committed to providing deeded public access along the portion of the trail that traverses their property, opening new avenues for hiking, biking, camping, nature observation, and cultural engagement. This connection would not only enhance the recreational experience along the trail but also introduce the public to the Eel River’s beauty and ecological importance.

The conservation easement, when completed, will balance productive land use with restoring forest health, protecting mature trees, increasing native grasses, and enhancing habitat and recreation. Future management may also include prescribed fire and restoration activities to support ecosystem health and wildfire resilience.

By partnering with PFT, the Bewley family is advancing a bold and inclusive vision for conservation. Adanac Ranch will remain a working landscape, which also serves as a refuge for wildlife, a source of clean water and climate solutions, and a destination for future generations of trail users seeking a deeper connection with California’s iconic North Coast Range and Eel River.