A Bit of History: Father of Cuyamaca Rancho State Park

Leland Fetzer

Who’s the Father of Cuyamaca Rancho State Park? Most people, if pressed would say Ralph Dyar who sold Rancho Cuyamaca to the state at a bargain price in 1933. But I’d cast my vote for California Governor Robert Waterman, deeply involved in the Stonewall Mine and Rancho Cuyamaca from 1886 to his death in 1891. Buy why should he be granted the title of Father of CRSP?

Let me explain.  In 1846 when Agustin Alvarado claimed the rancho it included 35,501 acres, but Alvarado, who needed money to pay his lawyers, promptly began selling off rancho land, so that by 1869 it had four owners, each with a smaller holding. They in turn sold off parts of their holdings to others. The rancho, once an empire had become many petty kingdoms.  Confusion over the rancho’s ownership was so great that in 1879 the courts intervened, dividing the rancho into 14 lots lettered AN.  Now, Waterman had a great interest in ranching and dairying, owning considerable land in San Bernardino County (remember Waterman Canyon?), so that he decided to buy Cuyamaca land for agricultural purposes, in fact purchasing 6 lots, A-P, a total of 22, 852 acres. He, of course, did not know it, but he had laid the foundation for Cuyamaca Rancho State Park.

After his death, Sather Bank of San Francisco claimed Waterman’s land, selling it in 1917 to San Diego’s Adolphus Gustavus Gassen, and in 1923 his heirs sold it to the Dyar family.  After selling about 2,000 acres they disposed of it to the State of California in 1933, 20, 319 acres.  Cuyamaca Rancho State Park was bourn. But this could never have happened unless Governor Waterman had combined Lots A-P in 1886, caning himself the title Father of the Park.

Development Mitigation Land Opportunity for CRF

For decades, mitigation has helped communities lessen the adverse impact of development by requiring developers to set aside key portions of sensitive land. This mitigation can either take place on the site that the development is occurring or off-site. Off-site mitigation allows developers to contribute to a land bank or to acquire land to off set the impact of development, therefore protecting sensitive natural areas and wetlands in other parts of the community.

Acquiring land to expand the Cuyamaca Rancho State Park through mitigation is a viable option in the future. The opportunity is often the best option when development violations have already occurred on-site or when key natural areas are targeted for protection. It also offers local governments flexibility in their land use decisions and gives communities the ability to protect a single, larger area rather than smaller, scattered tracts of land. By doing so, mitigation provides the greatest value for people, wildlife, and ecosystems.

Although most people recognize it as a tool for wetlands and habitat protection, mitigation does have potential applications for redevelopment, and expanding existing state parks.

The San Diego County planning and use department often places mitigation land mandates on major developments. CRF is in a position to benefit from mitigation. CRF has been contacted by a developer and is currently conducting a specific land search for a minimum of 140 acre land parcel that is congruent with the Park or in close proximity.

If you have knowledge of an available section of land near Julian or Descanso please contact Lynda Sterns at info@cuyamacafoundation.org