Over 400 Acres of Land Given to U.S. Forest Service
The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County hosted a “handing over the deed” ceremony Friday.
The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County purchased 462 acres from its long-time private owners the McCaslin family, last March.
The property includes all of Hot Springs Canyon, within the Los Padres National Forest boundary.
The ceremony comes after nineteen months of negotiation with government agencies, utility companies and nearby landowners.
A community fundraising campaign in 2011-12 succeeded in raising $7.9 million for the acquisition – all of it in private donations from individuals, families and foundations.
No government funds were involved in the purchase.
