For decades, 2,060 acres of California’s Central Coast remained closed to the public as a buffer around the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant.
asserted
acres → remain → plant
Now, the land above Avila Beach in San Luis Obispo County is set to become a nature preserve with hiking trails and campsites after a $42 million conservation deal.
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land → set → deal
The Wildlands Conservancy, a nonprofit land trust, has agreed to acquire the property known as Wild Cherry Canyon, San Francisco Chronicle reported.
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Chronicle → agree → Canyon
On Thursday, the state agreed to provide $42 million through the State Coastal Conservancy, allowing the organisation to proceed with the purchase.
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organisation → agree → purchase
The property is owned by Eureka Energy, a subsidiary of Pacific Gas and Electric Company, which operates the nearby nuclear facility.
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which → own → facility
The land has coastal hills, valleys, native grasslands and oak and pine woodlands.
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land → have → hills
The land which has been the subject of development plans, including proposals for high-end homes, is on the path towards becoming public open space, after the deal.
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which → include → deal
The Wildlands Conservancy plans to create trails and camping opportunities while protecting Native American cultural sites.
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Conservancy → plan → sites
The preserve is expected to open to the public within five years, while guided tours could begin as early as next year.
uncertain
tours → expect → year
Wild Cherry Canyon becomes nature preserve
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Canyon → become → ?
Cattle currently graze on the property, while a road through the area leads to the power plant.
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road → graze → plant
The wider Diablo Canyon Lands cover part of the Irish Hills, with rugged cliffs above sandy beaches and tide pools.
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Lands → cover → beaches
Some peaks rise to about 1,500 feet.
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peaks → rise → feet
The area also has native grasslands and oak and pine woodlands, but much of the landscape has remained inaccessible to the public.
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much → have → public
“We are excited about the opportunity to establish public access here.
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We → establish → access
This scenic access is what we call absolutely world class,” said Tim Duff, project manager at the Coastal Conservancy.
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Duff → call → Conservancy
The three major properties around Diablo Canyon could eventually form about 12,000 acres of preserved open space.
uncertain
properties → form → space
The area would extend from Montana De Oro State Park in the north to Avila Beach in the south and run along 14 miles of coastline.
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area → extend → coastline
Local residents and officials have pushed for decades to protect the lands around the nuclear plant and make them accessible to visitors.
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them → push → visitors
Wild Cherry Canyon is expected to be the first of three major properties to meet the state’s conservation and public-access requirements.
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Canyon → expect → requirements
Frazier Haney, executive director of the Wildlands Conservancy, said protecting Native American cultural sites would be among the organisation’s priorities.
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protecting → say → priorities
These include sites connected to the yak tityu tityu yak tiłhini Northern Chumash Tribe.
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These → include → Tribe
The plan is to build a five- to six-mile loop trail at Wild Cherry Canyon.
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plan → build → Canyon
“Once you get up on these hills, this is as beautiful as the California coast gets anywhere,” Haney said.
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Haney → get → hills
“You’ll be able to go for a hike, then end your hike by going out on the pier in Port San Luis, and get something to eat and drink.
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You → go → something
The conservation plan comes as the future of the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant remains under discussion.
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future → come → discussion
The facility had been scheduled to close in 2025, but Gov. Gavin Newsom and the California Legislature decided to extend its operation because of electricity demand.
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Newsom → schedule → demand
The plant is now scheduled to run until 2030, although another extension is under consideration.
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extension → schedule → consideration
As a condition for temporarily continuing nuclear operations, state officials required PG&E to help permanently protect the surrounding lands and eventually provide public access.
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officials → continue → access
Development plans delayed conservation
The acquisition follows nearly two decades of attempts to conserve Wild Cherry Canyon.
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acquisition → delay → Canyon
Disagreements over the price and competing plans for the property had delayed earlier efforts.
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Disagreements → compete → efforts
After the dispute was settled, the Wildlands Conservancy saw an opportunity to move forward.
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Conservancy → settle → opportunity
Under the agreement, nearly all of the $42 million will be used to buy out the lease.
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all → use → lease
That is expected to be completed later this year, while the remaining money will go towards the purchase of the property, anticipated next year.
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money → expect → property
“The community has been dedicated to making this happen.
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this → dedicate → ?
We just got thrown the ball in the fourth quarter of the game,” Haney said.
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Haney → throw → game
Decades-long effort reaches major step
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effort → reach → step
The effort to protect the lands around Diablo Canyon has involved conservation groups, local residents and state officials for decades.
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effort → protect → decades
Kaila Dettman, executive director of the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County, said the organisation had been working for decades to protect the properties and secure public access.
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organisation → say → access
“This is a really exciting vision, and we don’t want it to slip by,” Dettman said.
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Dettman → want → ?
…and 8 more, not listed.
The Aporia
