Congressional probe threatens to unravel historic agreement on Point Reyes ranching

IN JANUARY, THE future of ranching in Point Reyes National Seashore was upended. A landmark legal settlement agreement between environmental groups and the National Park Service promised to phase out 80% of commercial cattle operations across the protected coastline.

After a decade of litigation, the deal marked a victory for conservationists and a crushing loss for ranching families who have worked the land for generations.