John Muir Land Trust Launches Campaign to Protect Johnson Ranch
John Muir Land Trust (JMLT) has announced the Campaign to Save Johnson Ranch, a community-wide conservation effort aimed at protecting a remarkable 116-acre property in the hills between Berkeley and Orinda, California. The privately owned ranch represents an important opportunity to preserve open space, wildlife habitat, watershed resources and scenic landscapes in the East Bay.
Located within a broader network of thousands of acres of natural and publicly managed lands, Johnson Ranch is considered a critical missing link in a regional wildlife corridor. The property is currently under contract, and JMLT has until December 31, 2027, to raise $7 million needed to acquire the ranch and permanently protect it as natural open space.
Without conservation funding, the property could ultimately be developed for residential use because it is currently zoned for housing. JMLT’s campaign seeks to prevent that outcome while creating long-term environmental and recreational benefits for surrounding communities.
“This one is special,” said Linus Eukel, Executive Director of John Muir Land Trust. “Johnson Ranch checks all the conservation boxes. The land nurtures vital habitat and feeds clean water into our reservoirs. Protecting it mitigates the risk of wildfire in a very high severity zone. It offers spectacular new opportunities for outdoor recreation; even seasoned hikers will be taken aback by its incomparable views of the East Bay’s beautiful rolling hills and sparkling waters.”
A Critical Link in the East Bay Landscape
Johnson Ranch could significantly strengthen the connection between thousands of acres of public lands managed by the East Bay Regional Park District and East Bay Municipal Utility District. Its location next to Tilden Regional Park makes it particularly important for wildlife movement and ecological connectivity.
“Protecting Johnson Ranch significantly enhances connectivity between thousands of acres of public lands managed by both East Bay Regional Park District and East Bay Municipal Utility District,” said Max Korten, General Manager of the East Bay Regional Park District. “Adjacent to Tilden Regional Park and at risk for private development, Johnson Ranch is a vital link for wildlife movement and ecological resilience in the East Bay.”
Tilden Regional Park is one of the region’s oldest and most widely enjoyed parks, serving generations of East Bay residents. Conserving Johnson Ranch would effectively extend the protected landscape around the park and help maintain the open-space character of the surrounding hills.
The acquisition would also help preserve a continuous natural environment rather than allowing residential structures, roads, fences and other development to fragment habitat next to existing public lands.
Development Remains a Potential Threat
Despite its environmental significance, Johnson Ranch remains vulnerable because the property is zoned for residential development. If the land is not acquired for conservation, development remains a potential future use.
JMLT is seeking to build on a history of successful conservation projects in the surrounding area. Community support previously helped the organization protect several nearby properties, including Carr Ranch in 2016, Painted Rock in 2019 and Harvey Ranch in 2022.
The campaign for Johnson Ranch represents another opportunity for residents, conservation supporters and outdoor enthusiasts to contribute to the preservation of East Bay open space.
Diverse Ecosystems and Wildlife Habitat
Johnson Ranch contains a varied combination of habitats spread across steep, undeveloped terrain. The property includes approximately 58 acres of cismontane woodland, 30 acres of valley and foothill grassland, and 24 acres of coastal scrub and riparian woodland.
The landscape also contains springs, seeps and seasonal wetlands that contribute to its ecological diversity. According to JMLT, the property provides habitat for 15 special-status animal species and 13 special-status plant species.
Protecting these habitats would help maintain an interconnected natural landscape where native plants and wildlife can continue to thrive. Conservation of the property would also help prevent habitat fragmentation that can occur when undeveloped land is converted to residential development.
Protecting Regional Water Resources
Johnson Ranch also plays an important role in the region’s watershed system. Its network of perennial and seasonal streams and springs contributes to the Pinole Valley watershed basin.
Keeping the property in a natural condition could help protect water quality and preserve natural processes that support the East Bay’s water resources. The conservation effort therefore extends beyond wildlife and recreation to include watershed protection.
“Permanently protecting Johnson Ranch offers a unique opportunity to secure an important piece of the San Pablo Creek Watershed and ensure the continued health of the natural systems that support our region’s water supply,” said Clifford Chan, General Manager of East Bay Municipal Utility District.
Maintaining undeveloped land around waterways can provide important ecological benefits, including protection of natural drainage systems and habitat associated with streams and wetlands.
Supporting Wildfire Resilience
Wildfire protection is another major consideration in the campaign. Johnson Ranch is located within the North Orinda Shaded Fuel Break and falls within an area designated by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, as a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone.
Its location within the wildland-urban interface makes responsible land management particularly important. The property’s steep terrain and vegetation, combined with its proximity to established neighborhoods, create a need for long-term stewardship and vegetation management.
Jeff Isaacs, Fire Chief of the Moraga Orinda Fire District, emphasized the property’s role in regional wildfire planning.
“Lying within a critical wildland-urban interface area, Johnson Ranch’s steep terrain, vegetative cover, and proximity to surrounding neighborhoods make thoughtful land management especially important,” Isaacs said. “Long-term conservation of the property, combined with active vegetation management and ongoing maintenance, can help reduce wildfire risk and protect neighboring developed parcels.”
He added that the Moraga-Orinda Fire District supports JMLT’s acquisition of the property and continued management focused on wildfire resilience and community safety.
Natural and Historical Features
Johnson Ranch contains more than forests, grasslands and waterways. The property also features unusual geological and historical characteristics.
Springs and waterfalls add to the property’s natural appeal, while fossil beds have produced discoveries of scientific interest. Among them is a fossil described as the smallest mammalian fossil ever found in California, resembling a tiny horse.
The area’s volcanic muds have also attracted the attention of potters. Historic rock walls found throughout the property provide another connection to the region’s past. Some have been suggested as structures that may have been used by Basque shepherds to manage sheep, although their origins have also inspired stories and theories involving Native peoples and early settlers.
These features add cultural and scientific interest to a property already distinguished by its ecological importance.
Expansive East Bay Views
For visitors, one of Johnson Ranch’s most striking characteristics may be its scenery. The property’s elevated terrain provides sweeping views across the East Bay, including Mount Diablo, the East Bay Hills, San Pablo Reservoir and Briones Reservoir.
From certain locations, visitors can look across central Contra Costa County toward the Delta. On exceptionally clear days, distant snow-covered peaks may also be visible.
These views would provide new recreational and educational opportunities if the property is permanently protected and made available for appropriate public access.
A Conservation Opportunity for the Future
Johnson Ranch is among the remaining large undeveloped properties in the East Bay Hills. Its location at the meeting point of coastal and inland ecological systems gives it importance as both a wildlife habitat and a component of a broader regional open-space network.
“Johnson Ranch is one of the last large undeveloped properties in the East Bay Hills, set within a biologically rich zone where coastal and inland ecosystems meet,” Eukel said.
According to JMLT, protecting the property would help maintain regional wildlife habitat, safeguard watershed resources, support wildfire resilience and strengthen connections between existing public lands. It could also create new opportunities for recreation while preserving scenic landscapes and rare habitats.
The organization is seeking to raise $7 million by December 31, 2027, to complete the acquisition and ensure the property remains protected as natural open space.
The Campaign to Save Johnson Ranch therefore represents a long-term conservation effort centered on preserving one of the East Bay’s remaining undeveloped landscapes. Through the campaign, JMLT hopes to build on previous successful land-protection projects and bring together community members who value wildlife, open space, clean water, outdoor recreation and the preservation of natural landscapes for future generations.
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