Comeback of Cotoni Coast

By Brandon Koo Sep. 24 2025

Mingyue Xiao Art

Once considered for a nuclear power plant, Cotoni-Coast Dairies now offers a peaceful scene where waves crash against towering bluffs and coastal grasslands roll into marine terraces. Spanning 5,843 acres, the Dairies are five times the size of San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, and are open to the public for hiking and biking as a new onshore unit of the California Coastal National Monument.  

The name Cotoni-Coast Dairies comes from two distinct elements of the land's history: its ancient inhabitants and its modern agricultural use. “Cotoni” recognizes the Cotoni people, a small tribe of the Ohlone who lived in the area for thousands of years before European colonization. The second half of the name refers to the Coast Dairies & Land Company and the Swiss dairy farmers who owned and worked the land in the early 1900s. 

“As a cross country runner, I enjoy exercising in beautiful sceneries, so I am really excited for this new trail where I can hike with my family,” Sophomore Kyle Au said. 

Per the Santa Cruz Trails Organization, in the 1960s and 1970s, rumors spread that the Pacific Gas and Electric Company was secretly negotiating to purchase thousands of acres of the Coast Dairies & Land Company to build a nuclear power plant on its El Jarro Point. Vast public opposition ultimately terminated the alleged purchase in 1970. 

In the 1990s, a Nevada developer revealed plans to buy the property and divide it into 139 ranchettes to sell as luxury coastal homes, per the Santa Cruz Mountain Trail Stewardship (SCMTS). Taking notice, in 1998 the Trust for Public Land supported by a coalition of environmental organizations, including the Save the Redwoods League and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, gathered approximately 7,000 acres of land from the Coast Dairies & Land Company to preserve it for conservation and public use.  

In Jan. 2017, President Barack Obama added the Cotoni-Coast Dairies property to the California Coastal National Monument. In signing the monument proclamation, Obama endowed the landscape with special conservation status, which in turn brought recognition to its ecological and historical value. 

In Aug., SCMTS raised over $2 million to create a nine-mile trail network traversing Cotoni-Coast Dairies with the help of nearly 900 volunteers who contributed over ten thousand hours. Despite opposition from residents concerned about traffic and environmental disruption, SCMTS and the Bureau of Land Management followed through with the construction of the trail.  

While some view the trail as a way to connect communities with nature, others worry about the long-term environmental costs, which show the hidden complexity of balancing recreation and preservation. 

“Creating the public trail rather than keeping it as a federally protected land disrupts the natural habitats, whether through the deforestation during the construction or the littering and noise pollution as a result of frequent visits,” Senior Elijah Hoying said. 

Ultimately, Cotoni Coast Dairies embodies both rich history and natural beauty, now preserved for generations to come. Through the efforts of many organizations and communities, the area has been saved from possible reformation and now is open to all.

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About the Contributors

Brandon Koo

staff writer

Brandon Koo is a sophomore at Leland High School and a staff writer for The Charger Account. He can be found on the tennis courts practicing, working out, or listening to R&B in his room. Brandon also enjoys going on sunset walks or taking bike rides on the hills.

Mingyue Xiao

artist

Mingyue Xiao is a junior at Leland High School and an artist for The Charger Account. She keeps busy reading, dancing, and drawing designs for her art projects.