California hands Blues Beach to Pomo tribes in landmark transfer

California transfers 136 acres of Blues Beach from Caltrans to Kai Poma, a nonprofit formed by the Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians, Round Valley Indian Tribes and Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians, marking California’s first state land conveyance to tribal governments since a 2021 law change. Kai Poma will own and manage the site, protect cultural and natural resources, and keep public access from sunrise to sunset while prohibiting commercial activity, with cultural, archaeological and environmental surveys and a long-term resource-management plan to follow.