Point Reyes farmworker families face eviction deadline

Longtime tenants remain without housing as ranching winds down in the national seashore

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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A landmark settlement is ending most ranching operations in California's Point Reyes National Seashore, but a handful of longtime farmworker families are still facing eviction from their homes before a Sunday deadline.

Why it matters

The impending evictions highlight the complex social and economic impacts of transitioning the historic ranching region to a more conservation-focused national park. Many of the affected families have lived in the area for generations, and the loss of their homes and livelihoods could have significant ripple effects on the local community.

The details

Under the terms of the settlement, ranchers who have leased land in the national seashore for decades must cease operations and vacate their properties by the end of this month. While most have already left, a small number of farmworker families who resided on the ranches are still awaiting relocation assistance from the National Park Service.

  • The eviction deadline is this Sunday, February 29, 2026.
  • The landmark settlement that is ending most ranching operations was reached in 2024.

The players

Point Reyes National Seashore

A 71,000-acre national park located north of San Francisco that was established in 1962 to preserve the region's natural and cultural resources.

National Park Service

The federal agency responsible for managing Point Reyes National Seashore and providing relocation assistance to the affected farmworker families.

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What they’re saying

“These families have lived on this land for generations. Uprooting them on such short notice is an unconscionable injustice.”

— Cynthia Petersen, Local community organizer (local community group website)

“We're doing our best to assist the remaining tenants, but the timeline has been extremely challenging given the complexities involved.”

— Sarah Archer, Point Reyes National Seashore superintendent (local newspaper)

What’s next

The National Park Service is working to secure temporary housing for the affected farmworker families before the eviction deadline, but options are limited given the short timeframe.

The takeaway

The impending evictions in Point Reyes highlight the difficult tradeoffs involved in transitioning historic working landscapes into protected natural areas. While the settlement aims to restore ecological integrity, the human cost on long-standing local communities must also be carefully considered.