Pt. Reyes book capably chronicles park's creation

It's hard to imagine a more magisterial stretch of undeveloped coastline anywhere in the world than Marin County's own Point Reyes National Seashore.

Whether it's climbing Mount Wittenberg, relaxing on Drakes Beach, hiking out the Estero Trail or visiting the lighthouse, its 71,000 acres offer an incredible variety of trails, beaches, campgrounds, historic sites, forests and open hillsides.

With luck, experiences include glimpses of tule elk, deer, elephant seals and the occasional bobcat or mountain lion.

Creation of the park wasn't easy. The story is an inspiring tale of grassroots activism, newly chronicled by Marin native and University of Virginia professor Gerald Felix Warburg in his riveting and carefully researched new book “Saving Point Reyes: How an Epic Conservation Victory Became a Tipping Point for Environmental Policy Action.”

As Warburg relates, the proposed park was initially opposed by powerful ranchers, developers and even the Marin supervisors. Advocates succeeded in creating the seashore due to three factors: support of powerful politicians, including two presidents; overwhelming grassroots support and what Warburg calls “repeated streaks of good luck.”

There were actually two campaigns: first to establish it, then to fund it. Marin Rep. Clem Miller achieved the first goal when President John F. Kennedy signed legislation creating it in September 1962. Only eight years later, then President Richard Nixon provided funding to acquire seashore lands — thanks to a grassroots “Save Our Seashore” campaign led by Marin County Supervisor Peter Behr. Later, I served as chief of staff to Behr when he was elected to the state Senate.

Once established, it quickly became one of the National

Park Service's most popular parks. The campaign became a model for successful environmental battles nationwide. I suggest reading the book before your next visit to Point Reyes. You'll treasure the seashore even more, knowing the history of the brave men and women who made it possible.