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Saving

LAND

The primary goal of the Anza-Borrego Foundation is to preserve land by purchasing it from willing sellers and adding it to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. When the Park was formed in the early 1930s, it was a checkerboard of thousands of acres of private land inholdings — one estimate is as high as 67,000 acres, which is 10% of the current Park!

ABF has acquired more than 55,000 acres of property since 1967 to add to the Park. These acquisitions have been important for the park’s ecosystem, like Borrego Palm Canyon, Coyote Canyon, and the Borrego Badlands. ABF is committed to continuing these efforts to preserve wilderness areas for future generations.
 

ABF’s Accomplishments in Saving Land

The orrganizations and individuals committed to preserving California’s wilderness have contributed over $23 million dollars since 1998 to acquiring land for Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Here are some examples:

Sentenac Canyon and Cienega

This rare desert wetland area is located near Scissors Crossing, the junction of highways S2 and 78. Funding for the 1,723 acres was provided by state and federal agencies, regional foundations and individual donors.

Lucky 5 Ranch

Purchases in 2001 and 2015, totaling 2,675 acres created a wildlife corridor between Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, a mountain habitat. Funding was sparked by a $2 million anonymous donation and state and federal funds.

Mason Valley

In 2002, 842 acres of Mason Valley became part of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Major funding was provided by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Proposition 40, foundation grants and individual donations.

Vallecito Ranch

The historic 3,339-acre Vallecito Ranch, a critical habitat for over 50 rare and endangered species of plants and animals, was purchased in 2004. Funds were provided through Resources Legacy Fund Foundation’s Preserving Wild California program, The Nature Conservancy, state and federal programs and individual donations.

Horse Canyon

In 2004, ABF and the Native American Land Conservancy jointly acquired and transferred to the Park 1,298 acres of Horse Canyon. The canyon, a tributary of Coyote Canyon, contains important archaeological sites.

Tulloch Ranch

Another wildlife linkage was made with Cuyamaca Rancho State Park in 2005 when the 2,080-acre Tulloch Ranch was added to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Funding was provided by state and federal programs and a private foundation grant.

Our Story of

THE LAND TRANSFER

We dream of a day when Anza-Borrego Desert State Park becomes whole — when all lands within the Park’s established boundaries are protected forever. 

In the 1930s, efforts began to purchase, donate, grant, and set aside lands for ‘a great desert state park’ in Eastern San Diego County. Later, final boundaries were established for what was to eventually become the 1,000 square-mile Anza-Borrego Desert State Park that we know and love today.

WHAT HAPPENED

It became difficult for patrol rangers and visitors to determine where public property ended and private property began. This caused damage to resources, and trespass incidents were common. In-holders demanded that the state park build access roads to their property. Most people agreed that a long-term land acquisition program was necessary to reduce the number of in-holdings, make the Park fully accessible, and preserve resources.

One of the primary goals of Anza-Borrego Foundation is to secure land – through purchase or donation – from willing sellers, for eventual transfer to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Since ABF’s formation in 1967, we have successfully acquired more than 55,000 acres of critical inholdings throughout the Park – from the Riverside County line in the North, down to the Mexican Border. 

These acquisitions include properties in some of the Park’s most iconic areas, such as Borrego Palm Canyon, the Borrego Badlands, and Coyote Canyon; which contain critical natural resources, cultural sites, and habitats for endangered species.

Overview of

THE LAND TRANSFER

On July 29, 2021 we celebrated the transfer of 17,597 acres of formerly private inholdings from Anza-Borrego Foundation to the state park. The lands in this transaction represent over a quarter-century of dedicated planning and work. 

Some parcels in the transfer were purchased by ABF as early as 1992, with the most recently acquired in 2016. The 331 parcels contained in this land transfer represent the largest and most complex transaction ever between a non-profit state park partner and California State Parks.

Watch

THE CELEBRATION

Armando Quintero, Director of California State Parks, Ray Lennox, Park Superintendent and Scott Morrison, Director of Conservation Science at The Nature Conservancy, and other notable speakers will engage and inspire you on the significance of this event and other important topics.

 

A few of our

STATS & HIGHLIGHTS

17497

17,597 acres of formerly private inholdings of land are being transferred to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park from the Anza-Borrego Foundation

231

The 331 separate parcels of land represent the most complex transfer of land from a non-profit state park partner to the state in the history of California State Parks

9900

Almost 10,000 acres of the total are in designated State Wilderness Areas.

210

This transaction “dissolves” 310 miles of private property boundaries within the State Park, simplifying park patrol and protection efforts and decreasing park management costs.

590

The largest single parcel is 690 acres, and the smallest, a former mining claim, measures 3 feet by 402 feet.

1

The oldest acquisition in the transfer was purchased by ABF 29 years ago, and the most recent was in 2016.

Much of the land in the transfer preserves bighorn sheep habitat and provides connectivity to other protected lands, such as Cuyamaca Rancho State Park and federal lands managed by the US Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management

3400

The transfer includes 3,500 acres in the Borrego Badlands, which contain rich paleontological resources and serve as prime flat-tailed horned lizard habitat.

We Need

YOUR SUPPORT

Donate Now

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is one step closer to becoming whole! With your help, we can finish the job and make the park ecologically and geographically complete.

There are still 14,000+ acres of critical inholdings scattered throughout the park. These inholdings are rich in natural, scenic, paleontological, and geological resources and include important cultural sites and prime habitat for endangered plants and animals.

Your financial support will allow us to fulfill our long-standing dream of making the park whole. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park needs you!

DONATE

Land Acquisition

FOCUS AREAS

Northern Coyote Canyon: 1,100 acres

Headwaters to Coyote Creek and Borrego Valley Aquifer; Mountain lion, Desert Peninsular Bighorn sheep; Quino Checkerspot Butterfly habitat; Transition from desert to chaparral higher elevation zone

Clark Dry Lake: 1,200 acres

Fairy Shrimp and Flat-tail Horned Lizard habitat; Vernally wet pools; Historical and culturally sensitive sites; Mesquite bosque, an important habitat for a surprising variety of plants and animals.

Photo Credit: Judy MacLean-Fowler

Glorietta Canyon: 100 acres

Park access point; Viewshed; Potential habitat for the rare plant Hellhole Scaleseed, which has been recorded in the area, and only known within Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

Photo Credit: Aaron Hock

Kane Springs Road: 600 acres

High diversity of cactus species in the area; Off roading threats; Cultural Sites; Desert Peninsular Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Lion habitat.

Borrego Badlands: 1,800 acres

Flat-tail Horned Lizard, Desert Peninsular Bighorn Sheep; Geological significance; Unique and rare plant species such as Orcutt’s Woody-Aster and Peirson’s Pincushion that have been documented nearby; Rare animal habitat; Paleontological significance.

Photo Credit: Carla Gilbert

Old Springs Corridor: 1,000 acres

Least Bell’s Vireo, Flat-tail Horned Lizard; Fragile sand dune habitat; Area known for a spectacular spring wildflower bloom; Off roading threat.

To learn more or support the effort, please contact Julie Gerson at (760) 767-0446 ext 1007.

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Contact Information

Mailing Address:

  • P.O. Box 2001, Borrego Springs, CA 92004

Administration Office:

  • 587 Palm Canyon Dr. #122, Borrego Springs, CA, 92004

Visitor Center:

  • 200 Palm Canyon Dr. (At the west end), Borrego Springs, CA, 92004
  • Hours: 9:00AM-5:00PM Daily

State Park Store:

  • 587 Palm Canyon Dr. #110, Borrego Springs, CA, 92004
  • Hours: 9:00AM-5:00PM Daily

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California State Parks

© 2023 Anza-Borrego Foundation

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