Property milestone: Modini Preserve

Nestled in the Mayacamas northeast of Healdsburg, Modini Ranch is a 1,725-acre property made up of two  Ag + Open Space conserved properties – Modini Ranch and McCord Ranch North. The preserve was originally conserved through the efforts of former landowners Jim and Shirley Modini, who wanted to protect the stunning diversity of wildlife habitat found on the property. 

Upon their passing, and in an act of great generosity, the Modinis donated the property to conservation non-profit, All Hands Ecology (formerly Audubon Canyon Ranch), who now own and manage the property with careful focus on scientific studies and habitat restoration projects. 

Modini Preserve is within the ancestral territories of the Miwok, Southern Pomo, and Wappo peoples. Jim and Shirley lived on the ranch for the entirety of their marriage – 66 years in total! Prior, the property belonged to Jim’s aunt and uncle, Theresa and Timothy Ingalls, who homesteaded there in 1852. 

Modini Ranch and another protected land, McCord Ranch North, make up Modini Preserve and are part of a complex of contiguous protected land totaling over 12,600 acres, supporting a diversity of plant and animal species, including many native plant species.

In fact, there are over 400 plant species, eight of which are special status species (rare, threatened, or endangered species), and 144 recorded bird species. There are two perennial streams – McDonald and Ingalls – that are home to steelhead trout, California giant salamanders, western pond turtles, several newts, toads, and there’s even been a rogue river otter sighting! It’s also an important wildlife corridor for bears, mountain lions, and coyotes.

Since 2004, Modini Ranch has burned in both the Geysers and Kindcade fires. During the Geysers fire, an Ag + Open Space staffer, who knew the Modinis personally, helped protect and save their home on the property. After both fires, Ag + Open Space staff worked with the landowners to assess their recovery needs and help connect them to resources. Now, Modini is helping us to better understand the impacts of wildfires, and how they can benefit natural lands. 

Last year we took a video deep dive into the preserve, so click through to watch and see more about Modini and its importance for local mountain lion territories and so much more, watch here >>