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Cambria board adopts updated Fiscalini Ranch management plan after months of negotiation
Summary
The Cambria Community Services District board unanimously approved a revised Fiscalini Ranch Public Access and Resource Management Plan (rev. 06/17/2026) after discussion with the Friends of Fiscalini Ranch Preserve and public commenters; FFRP leaders said the update remains consistent with the conservation easement and clarifies day‑to‑day responsibilities.
The Cambria Community Services District board unanimously approved an updated Fiscalini Ranch Public Access and Resource Management Plan (revised 06/17/2026) at its July meeting, a move board members and Friends of Fiscalini Ranch Preserve (FFRP) leaders said preserves the site's conservation protections while clarifying management roles.
FFRP board chair Diane Anderson told the board the group had reviewed the draft carefully with counsel and voted unanimously to concur. "We've actually built a stronger working relationship between CCSD and FFRP," Anderson said, adding that the revised plan “remains fully consistent with the conservation easement” and does not change the easement's core protections.
FFRP executive director Kitty Connolly also described the legal relationship: "The conservation easement is the controlling document. The management plan is different — it guides how those conservation purposes are carried out and cannot conflict with the easement," she said, and added the revised plan removes outdated references (for example, to cattle grazing) and better defines day‑to‑day management responsibilities.
Several members of the public supported adoption but also urged ongoing attention to specific stewardship actions. Local resident Ted Siegler said the plan should focus squarely on managing the ranch "in accordance with terms of the conservation easement," and urged clearer commitments on invasive‑vegetation removal and maintenance. Dennis Ducek asked the board to direct staff to analyze eucalyptus removal and creek restoration opportunities to mitigate fire and flood risk and suggested potential partners such as Cal Fire, the Coastal Conservancy and FEMA for funding.
Board members discussed wording changes proposed by Director Thomas, who said he did not believe the district's role had "shifted" and suggested the plan language be revised to emphasize fiscal discipline and enduring responsibilities. Director Thomas moved for adoption; Director Scott seconded. The roll call vote was unanimous in favor (Directors Thomas, Scott, Gray, Vice President Dean and President Farmer voted Aye).
The board and FFRP leaders emphasized that the conservation easement remains the controlling legal instrument and that the management plan is intended to guide stewardship without overriding the easement. The board did not add substantive new duties to the easement during the approval.
Next steps: staff will incorporate the agreed edits (as noted in the board discussion) and proceed with implementation consistent with the conservation easement and the state Coastal Conservancy concurrence noted in the staff report. The board also received several public requests to return with more detailed analysis of invasive‑species removal and creek restoration options at a future meeting.
