July 3, 2026.
A landmark land return effort is moving forward on California's North Coast as 136 acres of coastal land known as Blues Beach and the surrounding bluffs near Westport are transferred to Kai Poma, a tribally chartered nonprofit organization founded by representatives of the Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians, Round Valley Indian Tribes, and Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians.
The transfer marks the first known return of state-owned land managed by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to a Native-led organization under legislation approved by California lawmakers. The California Transportation Commission approved the transfer in late June.
According to Kai Poma's Blues Beach Public Access and Management Plan, the property lies within the ancestral homelands of the three participating tribes and represents a "multi-layered living cultural landscape" that has been occupied and stewarded by Indigenous peoples since time immemorial. The plan describes the area as containing significant cultural, environmental, and ecological resources that remain important to tribal communities today.
Sherwood Valley Tribal Chairman J. Carlos Rivera called the transfer a historic moment for Native communities connected to the area.
"This is beyond huge," Rivera told media outlets following the approval. "It's enormous from our tribal perspective that we are basically obtaining the land that our people once lived on before colonization."
The State of California acquired the property during the 1960s as part of Highway 1 development and scenic overlook projects. Over the decades, the site became a popular recreation destination, but concerns grew regarding damage to sensitive habitats, cultural resources, illegal camping, and unmanaged vehicle access.
Kai Poma was specifically established to receive and manage the property. According to planning documents prepared for the California Coastal Conservancy, the organization was created to ensure long-term protection of cultural sites and ecological resources while maintaining public access. Its board and leadership are composed of elected representatives and leaders from the three tribes.
The nonprofit's management plan calls for extensive cultural, archaeological, environmental, and habitat studies before long-term improvements are implemented. Future planning will focus on protecting Native cultural resources, restoring habitat, improving watershed health, and determining appropriate public access patterns based on scientific and cultural assessments.
Importantly, public access will continue. Under agreements developed with the California Coastal Commission, Blues Beach will remain open to the public from sunrise to sunset, although vehicle access is being restricted during the transition period. Pedestrian access will remain available.
The transfer became possible after California enacted Senate Bill 231, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2021. The legislation authorized Caltrans to transfer surplus coastal lands to a qualified tribal nonprofit organization at no cost. The law requires the property to remain protected as natural habitat, preserve Native cultural resources, and continue providing public access.
Supporters say the project demonstrates how tribal stewardship and public access can work together. Mendocino Land Trust, which has partnered with Kai Poma on other conservation projects along the coast, described the transfer as an important step toward both conservation and cultural restoration. The organization noted that the land will be managed for the benefit of tribal members, coastal ecosystems, and the public alike.
For the participating tribes, the return of Blues Beach represents more than a land transaction. It is a restoration of responsibility to care for a place that has sustained Indigenous communities for generations and a model for future land return efforts across California.
Sources: Kai Poma Blues Beach Public Access and Management Plan, California Coastal Commission; Caltrans; Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians; Mendocino Land Trust; California Transportation Commission.