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When you think about it, our feet are pretty amazing. For most, they're an unfaltering foundation - two shock absorbers we rely on daily to hold our weight and propel us through life. Comprised of dozens of bones and hundreds of ligaments, muscles, and tendons, the average person's feet take a fair beating every day - on average, people stand for about four hours every day and take around 5K steps as well. Because your feet are smaller than most other parts of your body, they endure an enormous impact with each step, adding up to hundreds of tons of weight daily.
Strangely, when our feet, ankles, or toes begin to hurt, we do our best to ignore the pain and push through the day. We even give up sports and outdoor activities that we love. Unfortunately, ignoring pain and delaying treatment will further damage your feet and, by proxy, your whole body.
If you're living with foot and ankle pain or have given up on fun activities like hiking and jogging, it's time to change. Why sacrifice a life full of outdoor activities in our beautiful part of the world when you can visit an expert podiatrist in Carmel Valley, CA?
Welcome to North County Foot and Ankle - where men and women just like you get new leases on life through some of the most advanced podiatric treatments available in California. With more than 50 years of combined experience treating a wide range of foot and ankle problems, our pioneering doctors have helped hundreds of people reclaim their love of walking, jogging, and life in general.
What makes North County Foot and Ankle stand out from other foot and ankle doctors in Carmel Valley? Unlike some foot doctors, our podiatrists work with a client-first mentality. When you walk through our front doors, the time you spend in our office is all about you. We believe in a strong physician-patient relationship fortified by one-on-one attention and honest communication.
Before offering foot pain treatment options, we perform a thorough evaluation, taking into account your individual needs, goals, and preferences. Once that's done, we'll discuss your treatment options in detail and come to a mutual decision regarding the best treatment plan for you.
Whether you have a minor hangnail or need complex surgery, you will receive the same level of compassionate care from our medical team. As board-certified podiatrists in Carmel Valley, our doctors are proud to treat you. You can rest easy knowing they will take the time to explain what's causing your foot pain, what treatments are best suited to your problem, and what steps you should take after treatment.
And while our podiatrists are uniquely qualified to perform surgery, we often recommend non-surgical options, using treatments like orthotics to relieve foot, arch, and heel pain. From sports injuries and bunions to gout and blisters, we're here to help you live life to the fullest without nagging, debilitating foot pain.
Patients visit our foot clinic in Carmel Valley, CA, for many podiatric problems, including:
If you're dealing with chronic foot pain or are concerned about a long-lasting symptom that affects your daily life, we're here to help. Unsure if you need to call to make an appointment? These symptoms are often signs that you might need to visit our foot and ankle doctors:
Most people over 40 know that strange body aches and pains become more common with age. The same can be said with our feet. As we get older, our feet usually spread out and lose the fatty pads that help cushion our feet. If you're overweight, the ligaments and bones in your feet also take an extra beating. Also, with age, foot abnormalities that you were born with become more pronounced, as the joints in your feet lose flexibility and become rigid. To make matters worse, the skin covering your feet dries out, resulting in more cuts, scrapes, and infections.
It's clear that we endure more foot pain as we get older, but what kind of foot pain should we be most concerned about? It can be hard to tell - pain from what looks like normal bruising may actually be a sign that something more serious is occurring. That's why we're listing some of the most common symptoms of serious foot problems. That way, you're better educated and have a better shot at figuring out whether you need a simple bag of ice or a visit to your podiatrist in Carmel Valley, CA.
When you sprain your foot or ankle or suffer an acute injury, it's normal for your foot to swell up. This type of swelling typically goes down after 48 hours have passed. However, if you hurt your foot and the swelling is severe and doesn't go away after a couple of days, it's cause for concern. Persistent swelling often indicates an ankle or foot injury that needs podiatric care.
North County Foot and Ankle Pro Tip: If you notice persistent swelling of any kind on your body, it's wise to see a doctor. Ankle swelling, in particular, could be a warning sign that a blood clot or heart issue is present.
It's normal for your foot or ankle to "smart" after you stub your toe or twist your ankle. However, if you're experiencing ongoing ankle and foot pain, it's probably not normal. The pain doesn't have to be sharp, either - if you have dull pain, tenderness, or weakness that lasts more than two days, a trip to the foot doctor may be in order.
Minor ankle and foot injuries, like sprains, are quite common. When a sprain happens, it's normal to experience some instability or weakness afterward. Chronic instability, however, is a more serious problem. Long-term instability or weakness may signify torn ligaments or something worse. If you've had trouble standing or walking for a long time, it's best to make an appointment at a foot clinic in Carmel Valley.
North County Foot and Ankle Pro Tip: Podiatric experts like those at North County Foot and Ankle may have a long-term solution to help reclaim your mobility without surgery. Give our office call today to learn more!
Stiffness is a normal symptom that should be expected with sprains, plantar fasciitis, and arthritis. Often, you can alleviate such stiffness with rest, weight loss, stretching, or even new shoes. With that said, if you're experiencing ongoing stiffness, it could be a red flag that something more serious is going on.
When you've been sitting for a long time, you may have noticed a popping sound from your feet when you stand. That sound is perfectly normal. So long as it's painless, you've got nothing to worry about. However, if you feel pain when you hear a popping noise, it could indicate a subluxation or dislocation, which are conditions that require a podiatrist's attention.
If you're not sure whether you should be concerned about a painful foot or ankle symptom, give our clinic in Carmel Valley a call ASAP. Our helpful technicians can help answer your questions and set up a time for you to speak with one of our friendly podiatrists.
Here are just a few of the typical foot problems we treat daily.
Do you have intense heel pain that appears when you first stand up, only for it to disappear after a few steps? If so, you could be one of the millions of people in the U.S. suffering from plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is most often caused by an inflamed ligament covering bones on the bottom of your feet. Also called "Policeman's Heel," this painful condition is a common reason for heel pain, but it won't go away on its own.
Almost all cases of plantar fasciitis will get better with easy, non-surgical treatments and lifestyle changes. A good place to start is by refraining from activities or sports that cause pain, like jogging, hiking, running, or aerobic exercises.
Common treatment options at North County Foot and Ankle include:
Orthotic shoe inserts provide you with the arch support that your feet need, especially with shoes like women's flats that don't have much foot support. We also recommend wearing shoes that are appropriate for the activity you're enjoying, like hiking boots on your favorite trail and running shoes on the street or track.
Stretching regularly with gentle exercises can help prevent plantar fasciitis and stop flare-ups. Stretching your calves, specifically, reduces heel pain effectively. After you schedule an appointment at our foot clinic in Carmel Valley, one of our doctors can explain the proper exercises in more detail.
Wearing a brace or splint while you sleep will keep your plantar fascia stretched. That way, when you wake up and take your first steps of the day, you shouldn't have as much pain because your plantar fascia won't have a chance to tighten up overnight.
North County Foot and Ankle Pro Tip: If you're still struggling with plantar fasciitis after using orthotics, treatments like orthobiologics, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment, or extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) may be more effective.
Ingrown toenails are among the most common foot maladies in the United States. Though common, ingrown toenails can be painful, resulting in swelling, bleeding, pus, and more. Various factors cause ingrown toenails, such as heredity, trauma, hygiene, nail conditions, and improper trimming. Thankfully, with the help of an expert, most ingrown toenails can be treated at home or in a podiatrist's office.
Ingrown toenails happen when the corners and sides of your toenails grow and eventually dig into the flesh around your nail. Most often occurring on the big toe, ingrown toenails become a serious concern when they are left untreated or when an infection is involved. To determine whether your ingrown toenail needs an evaluation by a foot doctor in Carmel Valley, CA, keep an eye out for initial symptoms and infection symptoms:
To help prevent infection, try cutting your nails in a straight line, and don't cut them too short. Do not cut your nails to match the shape of your toe.
When your toenail becomes ingrown, you need doctors with real expertise in diagnosing and treating foot problems. At North County Foot and Ankle, our doctors are highly qualified to treat the underlying conditions causing your ingrown toenail. That way, you can enjoy long-term relief and also learn the ways to prevent ingrown toenails in the future.
If you have a bony bump near the bottom joint of your big toe, chances are it's a bunion. Bunions are deformities on your feet that are formed when your front foot bones become misaligned. When this happens, the misaligned bones cause the top half of your big toe to point inward toward your second toe. From there, your tendons will tighten, which pulls your toe even further inward. Once your toe is pulled more inward, the bottom joint of your big toe will bulge outward. The bulge you see is actually what we refer to as a bunion.
Without treatment, your toe pain can worsen, and the bunion can grow. Painful swelling in the balls of your feet can also cause hammertoe. Hammertoe happens your second toe is bent out of shape by your misaligned big toe.
Luckily, North County Foot and Ankle is California's go-to clinic for bunion treatment in Carmel Valley, CA. Our highly-trained doctors can stop these uncomfortable conditions from happening and help prevent worse conditions from developing.
Jason Morris, a board-certified podiatric foot surgeon in Carmel Valley, CA, is one of the top podiatrists in the greater San Diego area and has successfully treated patients with bunions for over ten years. He offers advanced treatments for bunion pain, such as:
Our hand-made orthotics, which are worn in your shoes, are molded to fit your foot exactly, correcting bone misalignments and relieving pain much better than cookie-cutter, store-bought options.
Drs. Morris and Redkar performs state-of-the-art triplanar correction surgery using 3-D digital imaging and a minimal incision approach. This procedure is very effective and works by rotating misaligned big toe bones back to the proper position. Once your toe bones are back in position, a metal plate is attached to your bones so that they remain aligned over long-term use.
Drs. Morris and Redkar may recommend both surgery and custom orthotics to keep your foot pain-free and your bunion from growing back.
Request ConsultationIf you’ve been enduring foot or ankle pain that affects your mobility and quality of life, why not make a change for the better? At North County Foot & Ankle Specialists, our podiatrists in Escondido help patients of all ages. Drs. Morris and Redkar take a patient-first approach with all of our podiatry services. Both are highly qualified and recipients of prestigious awards.
Featured in Los Angeles Magazine’s prestigious Top Doctors list of 2021, Dr. Avanti Redkar is a board-certified podiatrist that specializes in foot and ankle pathology. Dr. Redkar earned her undergrad degree in biology at the University of Scranton and her master’s degree in nutrition at SUNY Buffalo. She attended podiatry school at the New York College of Podiatric Medicine. Her three-year surgical residency at Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip, New York, included foot and rearfoot surgery, wound care, and hyperbaric medicine training. Dr. Redkar also completed a one-year fellowship in sports medicine and ankle reconstruction.
After a rigorous three-year residency at the University of Pittsburgh, Jason Morris, DPM, moved to sunny California to practice podiatric medicine. Once there, Dr. Morris worked as an attending physician at UCLA Medical Center and Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. Since relocating to the Escondido area, he has been a staff physician at Palomar Medical Center in Escondido and Poway. Dr. Morris is a podiatric foot and ankle specialist with board certification in rearfoot and forefoot reconstructive surgery. Dr. Morris has undergone extensive training in sports medicine, ankle trauma, diabetic limb salvage, and reconstructive surgery.
If you've been enduring foot or ankle pain that affects your mobility and quality of life, why not make a change for the better? At North County Foot & Ankle Specialists, our podiatrists in Carmel Valley help patients of all ages. Drs. Morris and Redkar take a patient-first approach with all of our podiatry services. From minor bunion treatments to complex issues like foot fractures, every treatment option we consider is chosen with your best interest in mind.
Our podiatrists are members of several professional organizations, including:
If more conservative treatments are better for your condition, non-surgical solutions like custom orthotics may be the best route. If you need ankle or foot surgery, our podiatrists will complete your procedure with time-tested skill and precision. Because, at the end of the day, our goal is to provide you with the most effective foot and ankle pain solutions with the quickest recovery options available.
Contact us online or via phone today to schedule an appointment at our Carmel Valley office. By tomorrow, you'll be one step closer to loving life without foot or ankle pain.
A hiker was bitten by a rattlesnake Wednesday in Carmel Valley.The victim was airlifted from a trail behind Ocean Air Elementary School and was later lowered to an ambulance that transported her to Scripps Memorial Hospital as a "code 10" patient, according the San Diego Fire-Rescue department spokesperson Monica Munoz.The department's operations manual list examples of other "code 10" transports as patients in acute status or "those with CPR, any major trauma, emergency cardioversion, anaphylaxis or ot...
A hiker was bitten by a rattlesnake Wednesday in Carmel Valley.
The victim was airlifted from a trail behind Ocean Air Elementary School and was later lowered to an ambulance that transported her to Scripps Memorial Hospital as a "code 10" patient, according the San Diego Fire-Rescue department spokesperson Monica Munoz.
The department's operations manual list examples of other "code 10" transports as patients in acute status or "those with CPR, any major trauma, emergency cardioversion, anaphylaxis or other shock states."
Snake wrangler Bruce Ireland used be part of the San Diego County Sheriff's Department’s search and rescue team. He would respond to these types of situations.
Rattlesnake bites are rare and dying from one is even more rare. Ireland said only four people die out of the 8,000 bites across the country every year.
“Time is tissue,” he said. “I always tell people, 'The longer you wait, the more damage could be done by that venom.'”
Ireland said California has 46 different types of snakes, but the only ones that are dangerous to humans are rattlesnakes.
Many locals know that San Diego County has rattlesnakes, but some visitors are not aware.
“Had I known that, we probably would not have come here today,” said Lisa Whittington, a visiting hiker. “I'm glad we found that out at the end of this excursion.”
Adults steering clear of snakes on trails is one thing. But staying aware with children and pets around too can easily become overwhelming.
Some tips include keeping children in sight and not letting them wander off the trail, watch where everyone steps and ditch the headphones to better hear the surroundings.
Lastly, never let a dog off his or her leash.
“Dogs are very curious animals,” Ireland said. “The first thing they do when they smell or sense something is they put their nose right up to it — and that snake doesn't know that. It's not trying to kill it, so its first instinct is going to be to bite your dog.”
If you do get bit, there are so many factors that weigh into how much time you have to get help. Your body weight, the location of your bite, and even how much venom that snake decided to release all play a part.
Ireland said one thing is always for sure — go to the hospital.
It's hot and rattlesnakes are looking out looking for relief, too — here's what you should know to keep yourself safe.
CARMEL – Taking a walk along the Cabrillo Highway Tuesday, D.L. Johnson watched crews tackle yet another lot of downed power lines in Carmel, toppled by a tree-turned-roadblock by high winds and saturated soil.Through the latest parade of storms, Johnson has considered himself lucky – he’s kept his power and avoided structural damage to his Carmel-by-the-Sea home from frequently fallen vegetation. But after weeks of high winds and repeated downpours, he’s wary of how long the storm upheaval is going to last, lo...
CARMEL – Taking a walk along the Cabrillo Highway Tuesday, D.L. Johnson watched crews tackle yet another lot of downed power lines in Carmel, toppled by a tree-turned-roadblock by high winds and saturated soil.
Through the latest parade of storms, Johnson has considered himself lucky – he’s kept his power and avoided structural damage to his Carmel-by-the-Sea home from frequently fallen vegetation. But after weeks of high winds and repeated downpours, he’s wary of how long the storm upheaval is going to last, locally and statewide.
“For most of us, it’s been scary,” he said. “The wind has been incredible. …I actually saw one of those trees fall down on a street nearby. I heard a big crack, looked up and there it went – right onto somebody’s home.”
Like much of California, Monterey County remained in the thick of not just storm recovery but consequences Tuesday and Wednesday, even as the heaviest showers that were forecasted for early in the week petered out of the region. Widespread road closures carried on around the county from flooding and debris, while wariness over flooding near a still-rising Salinas River prompted new evacuation orders and warnings for South Monterey County by the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office.
“This is the most extreme event I’ve seen in more than a decade,” said Kurt Going, who’s lived in Monterey County since 1994.
Also out surveying storm damages in Carmel Tuesday, Going drove down from his Carmel Highlands home to look at the rain’s aftermath near Carmel River State Beach. Going said the last time he experienced a storm similar to conditions of the last few weeks was in 1995 when flooding forced the Highway 1 bridge over the Carmel River to shut down, resulting in the complete elimination of access to portions of Carmel Valley, Carmel Highlands and Big Sur for days.
“I stopped by the Carmel River (Monday), and it was crazy,” said Going. “It was really rockin’ and rollin’. I’m not sure when it crested, but just seeing all the trees coming down (the river) was something I hadn’t seen before.”
Late Monday morning, the Carmel River at Robles del Rio rose rapidly to nearly surpass its major flood stage of 13 feet before beginning to recede through the afternoon. Monday’s peak – 12.69 feet – is the second-highest crest recorded for the river over the past three decades, according to historical data from the National Weather Service.
“I’m not in any danger where I am,” Going said, “but if I lived on the river lowlands, I’d be concerned.”
Rising above banks – and flood walls installed to keep the river contained – the engorged waterway flooded Carmel Valley, where overflow stretched onto not only roadways but into houses and backyards.
Evacuation orders issued Monday for low-lying areas near the Carmel River were still in effect as of Wednesday afternoon.
“The flooding was pretty extensive,” said Matthew Lumadue, a fire prevention specialist with the Monterey County Regional Fire District.
As part of the county’s storm response, the Monterey County Regional Fire District has been actively engaged in preparing, supporting and rescuing local residents heavily impacted by the storms, including those living near regional rivers and creeks that threatened to – and often did – flood this week. Lumadue said that in Carmel, the fire district supported sandbag operations, residential evacuations and rescues of residents caught in flooding.
“There were a few people that stayed behind during the evacuation orders. We were able to get in there and get them out safely,” said Lumadue.
Adding that the fire district is likewise retaining an active presence at the Pajaro and Salinas Rivers, where flooding concerns also prompted quick exit from people living closeby, Lumadue said “the agency is staying at the ready 24/7 so we can respond where and when we’re needed.”
Speaking to current conditions in Carmel, county spokeswoman Maia Carroll said emergency operations damage teams were out at the Carmel River evacuation areas Wednesday assessing risk to public health and safety should residents be allowed to return. Assessments, Carroll said, could take several days.
“It’s hard when you’re living in a zone that doesn’t look like it got much damage, but the Carmel River (flooding) was significant,” said Carroll. “We have to make sure that it’s safe for them to go back.”
An area of particular concern is Scenic Road, the main waterfront drive in Carmel. For days, Scenic has been closed to the public after a section of the roadway was undermined by high surf conditions.
“It’s precarious, to say the least,” said Barbara Buikema, general manager of the Carmel Area Wastewater District.
Apart from inciting closure, erosion under Scenic caused the Carmel Area Wastewater District to shut off water and sewage to six houses along the roadway to avoid a potential sewage spill onto Carmel River State Beach, Buikema said.
Jim Guyette, who lives in one of the six houses bordering Scenic now cut off from basic utilities, said Scenic “looks like it’s going to collapse.” Guyette has been staying with a friend in Pebble Beach while repairs are made, but he hopes a solution is on the horizon.
“Scenic is such an iconic spot,” he said. “To not have that around would be a huge detriment. And public access to Carmel River beach is really important. And it’s a safety issue.”
More recovery and cleanup
Around 28,000 residents were still under evacuation orders or warnings Wednesday, according to county estimates, from the Pajaro community down to San Ardo.
Flooding concerns Wednesday focused on the Salinas River, which was forecasted to surpass its minor flood stage Thursday afternoon and continue rising into moderate flood territory through Friday. Nicholas Pasculli, the county’s communication director, said flooding from the Salinas River had already started Tuesday south of King City and near Soledad.
“We’re actively watching and monitoring the river now,” Pasculli said. “Public safety is our number one concern. Evacuation orders are in effect (along the river) because we do anticipate some level of flooding from west of Highway 101 up to Spreckels.”
Meanwhile, up in North County, levees along the Pajaro River underwent minor repairs by the Monterey County Water Resources Agency, shoring up the levees’ integrity for storms going forward.
The long closure of Highway 1 in Big Sur down to San Luis Obispo County continued Wednesday – and likely will for a while – though a small portion of the state highway from Palo Colorado Road in Carmel to Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn reopened.
Caltrans spokesman Kevin Drabinski there is no estimate for reopening the rest.
“As long as we continue to see consecutive approaching storms, we’re going to continue our response efforts,” he said. “As that progresses, we may move into assessment mode and be able to identify specific areas of damage and how long repairs may entail.”
So, what’s next?
While locals might have seen some light rain peppering the Central Coast Wednesday, the region can expect a small period of dry skies Thursday. But then, all too familiar showers are posed to make a comeback.
Warren Blier, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Monterey, said California’s next storm system will begin rolling through Friday morning. Rain will persist into the weekend – with a possible break sometime Sunday – but extend through Monday, Blier said. The oncoming slate of weather systems could bring anywhere from 1.5 to 2 inches of rain to the Monterey Peninsula. In higher elevations, precipitation totals could reach 5 to 5.5 inches, according to Blier.
As has been the case through the onslaught of storms battering the state since late December, winds will accompany rainfall, though Blier said gusts this weekend “will not be to the level experienced recently.”
Since Sunday, the wettest spots in Monterey County – primarily over the Santa Lucia Mountains – have collected 4.5 to nearly 7 inches. The greatest precipitation total amassed over the last 72 hours was recorded at Mining Ridge, which clocked in 14.7 inches of rain. A station at Big Sur reported 5.68 inches of rain in three days, while the areas around the Peninsula recorded more than 1.5 inches.
From the start of the water year on October 1, Monterey Airport has accumulated 12.37 inches of rain, and Salinas Airport has collected 7.72 inches as of Tuesday.
Though seemingly relentless, Blier offered a possible end in sight to California’s torrent weather. Looking to next week, Blier said National Weather Service forecast models indicate storms to stop – for at least a few days, maybe a week – around Thursday, Jan. 19, or Friday, Jan. 20.
“It’s kind of hard to say how long that will last, but we’re kind of seeing an end in sight to all this wet weather we’re experiencing,” said Blier.
Karmina Beltran sits in her home along the Carmel River on Sunday evening, but instead of the sounds of birds and rustling leaves, all she can hear is the sound of the river outside her home."We just saw the water come up higher, and there were things floating down," Beltran said. "There were like children's toys and a table going down the river at one point." Karmina and her family did take precautions before the storm, including building a sandbag barrier outside their home. But when water began to rise, the barr...
Karmina Beltran sits in her home along the Carmel River on Sunday evening, but instead of the sounds of birds and rustling leaves, all she can hear is the sound of the river outside her home.
"We just saw the water come up higher, and there were things floating down," Beltran said. "There were like children's toys and a table going down the river at one point." Karmina and her family did take precautions before the storm, including building a sandbag barrier outside their home. But when water began to rise, the barriers didn't last long.
"It was very disheartening after so many days of work to see just those few sandbags come down," Beltran said.
Before the storm, Karmina and her family went through the painful process of sorting their belongings into piles of what to keep and what to let go of.
"Not everything is gone, but we're displaced," Beltran said. "The home you've been trying to build with your kids for so long, it's just very disheartening."
For Courtney Adamski, the river in her backyard is normally a place her children love to play. "They go up and down the river; they have so much fun out there," Adamski said.
That all changed last week when water levels rose, and the river grew to more than 30 feet wide. "Everything by the river was washed away: steps, boulders, landscaping, all of it. Trees are rushing by. It was wild, and it's roaring," Adamski said.
And that's when they were told to leave their home. "We received two evacuation orders. The first one was not mandatory," Adamski said. "And then we had a sheriff knock on our door. It was scary."
Adamski's home was spared from flooding, but some of her neighbors experienced significant damage.
"Their yards flooded pretty quickly. A couple of houses, I think, flooded up the road, and animals needed to be moved," Adamski said.
Beth Brookhouser works for the Monterey County SPCA and, as of Tuesday, said they were sheltering 15 animals, including a mix of "a mix of dogs, cats, and chickens, and we have also helped evacuate horses from flooded areas." Brookhouser says the shelter has been near capacity throughout the series of storms.
While in some disasters, there isn't time to prepare, Brookhouser says this storm was different, "People had time to prepare, and a lot of people were able to move their animals to safe places before the storms hit." Many residents affected by the storm went to a hotel and not a shelter.
Julia Newmen owns the Carmel Valley Lodge, just a short distance uphill from the Carmel river.
"We're doing the best we can to help the locals have a place to stay," Newman said.
On Tuesday, Newman's lodge didn't have power for 14 hours, so there wasn't much she could do for her guests besides keep them out of the rain.
And while her lodge has been safe from the flood waters, it still has damage from the excessive amount of rain. "So we have not had direct flood damage, but we are starting to sustain roof leak," Newman said.
Other damage to Newman's lodge includes a worsening crack in their swimming pool, which she says could cost $200,000 to repair.
Despite the damage, Newman remains optimistic. "We all prayed for rain, and I believe in prayer, and we got exactly what we prayed for," Newman said. "So we should have been more clear in our prayers." Newman says floods and fire are just part of living along the central coast and that for her, it's worth it.
The sprawling Rana Creek Ranch in Carmel Valley is being sold to The Wildlands Conservancy for $35 million, with the environmental group planning to turn the 14,000-acre property into a nature preserve.Former Apple chairman and CEO Mike Markkula, who acquired the working cattle ranch in the 1980s, has listed the property several times over the past decade – at one point asking $60 million and subsequently relisting it at lower prices, most recently for ...
The sprawling Rana Creek Ranch in Carmel Valley is being sold to The Wildlands Conservancy for $35 million, with the environmental group planning to turn the 14,000-acre property into a nature preserve.
Former Apple chairman and CEO Mike Markkula, who acquired the working cattle ranch in the 1980s, has listed the property several times over the past decade – at one point asking $60 million and subsequently relisting it at lower prices, most recently for $37.5 million in 2020.
But Markkula has now agreed to sell Rana Creek Ranch, considered the largest landholding in Carmel Valley, to the San Bernardino-based Wildlands Conservancy, which operates two dozen nature preserves spanning more than 200,000 acres across California and Oregon. The deal is set to close by the end of July.
The transaction is funded with significant contributions from the state government, including $24 million from California’s Wildlife Conservation Board and $2 million from the California Coastal Conservancy. The Wildlands Conservancy is contributing $2.5 million, while the remaining $6.5 million comes in the form of a loan provided by Markkula, according to Wildlands Conservancy Executive Director Frazier Haney.
The Wildlands Conservancy will open the ranch to the public free of charge, which Haney says could take three to five years to plan and organize in terms of staffing and infrastructure. The deal prevents what could have been an expansive residential redevelopment of the property under another owner given the site’s zoning.
“It could have been subdivided into at least 60 separate parcels [that] could have been built for residential purposes,” Haney says.
The acquisition includes a 9,000-square-foot conference center, built by Markkula, that will likely anchor The Wildlands Conservancy’s designs for a new “land stewardship institute” on the site, as well as outdoor education programs for children, Haney says. “The purpose is to call people back to land stewardship and a relationship with the land,” he notes. “All of our preserves are open to the public for free because we believe access to nature is a birthright.”
The ranch also comes with an estate home, two guest homes and other buildings that will be used for staff housing and potentially rented out for events, “as long as they don’t impact the resource,” according to Haney. It also includes a 2,900-foot paved airstrip and helipad, also built by Markkula. “We don’t have any jets, but what we’ve heard from the local community is that [the airstrip is] something they’d like to see maintained for fire protection purposes,” he says.
The Wildlands Conservancy is working closely with the Esselen Tribe of Monterey County, whose native lands include Rana Creek Ranch. The conservation group intends to permanently provide the tribe with some 1,800 acres of the property, either through a sale or donation “or a combination of both,” Haney says – adding that the two groups will work together in stewarding the land.
“The tribe’s knowledge of the land is immeasurable,” he says. “Their deep perspective is going to help inform our management.”
A picturesque ranch in Carmel Valley, owned by an early investor and CEO at Apple, is being purchased by a conservation group with the hope of turning it into a nature preserve.The Southern California-based Wildlands Conservancy announced this week that it had reached a deal with billionaire Mike Markkula to acquire his 14,100-acre holding in the Santa Lucia Mountains east of Monterey for $35 million. Escrow is scheduled to close by July 30.The Wildlands Conservancy plans to make repairs to the property, which includes several ...
A picturesque ranch in Carmel Valley, owned by an early investor and CEO at Apple, is being purchased by a conservation group with the hope of turning it into a nature preserve.
The Southern California-based Wildlands Conservancy announced this week that it had reached a deal with billionaire Mike Markkula to acquire his 14,100-acre holding in the Santa Lucia Mountains east of Monterey for $35 million. Escrow is scheduled to close by July 30.
The Wildlands Conservancy plans to make repairs to the property, which includes several ranch buildings spanning coastal hills and oak woodlands, then open the site to the public at no charge for hiking, horseback riding and other outdoor activities. An institute to advance land stewardship is also planned.
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“The property is the size and it has the grandeur of most of California’s beloved state parks,” said Frazier Haney, executive director of the Wildlands Conservancy. “It’s a huge landscape.”
Haney said his organization, which manages 22 preserves in California, pursued what’s known as Rana Creek Ranch largely for its scale and ecological value, including a roster of protected species such as red-legged frogs and tiger salamanders. He also cited the property’s accessible location and the group’s plan to create public entry from both the coast and Salinas Valley.
Before the announced sale, the ranch had been on the market, on and off, for the past decade. It was originally priced at over $50 million. It includes a large home, barns, a conference center and an air strip, which provided a getaway for Markkula, who helped fund Apple co-founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in the late 1970s and get the tech giant off the ground.
The Wildlands Conservancy is funding the purchase with a mix of private and public support, including $24 million from the California Wildlife Conservation Board and $2 million from the California State Coastal Conservancy. The state agencies commonly fund conservation and recreation initiatives.
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The ranch had historically been used to raise cattle, and before that was the site of a village of the Esselen Tribe. Tribal elders have been consulted about the pending sale and will be part of the planning effort for the land’s future, according to the Wildlands Conservancy.
Wildlands Conservancy staff say they expect to begin offering tours of the property shortly after the acquisition and move forward with a broader public opening in three to five years.
Reach Kurtis Alexander: kalexander@sfchronicle.com
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June 20, 2023|Updated June 20, 2023 4:57 p.m.
Kurtis Alexander is an enterprise reporter for The San Francisco Chronicle, with a focus on natural resources and the environment. He frequently writes about water, wildfire, climate and the American West. His recent work has examined the impacts of drought, threats to public lands and wildlife, and the nation’s widening rural-urban divide.
Before joining the Chronicle, Alexander worked as a freelance writer and as a staff reporter for several media organizations, including The Fresno Bee and Bay Area News Group, writing about government, politics and the environment.
He can be reached at kalexander@sfchronicle.com.
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