MENDOCINO CO., — A 136-acre beach near Westport in Mendocino County has been transferred to a nonprofit established by three local Native American tribes, Caltrans announced Thursday.
Legislation by state Sen. Mike McGuire, D–Santa Rosa, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2021, allowed Caltrans to transfer Blues Beach near Westport at no cost to a qualified nonprofit corporation.
Five years later, the transfer is underway with Kai Poma, a nonprofit organized by tribes with ancestral ties to the region — Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians, Round Valley Indian Tribes, and Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians, according to Caltrans.
During the transfer, Caltrans said they will close Blues Beach to vehicles, in cooperation with Kai Poma and the California Coastal Commission. Pedestrian access will still be available.
Caltrans said once the transfer is complete, Kai Poma will own and maintain the 136-acre site, protecting “sensitive natural resources and Native American cultural resources.”