The Land Trust of Napa County is pleased to announce the permanent protection of 120 acres of undeveloped ridgeline property in the northern Napa Valley. The land has been in the Kent family for almost 60 years and has long been valued for its natural beauty, outdoor recreation opportunities, and scenic prominence.
The newly protected property lies along the dividing ridgeline between Dutch Henry and Pickett Canyons and directly borders the Land Trust’s 1,000-acre Duff Preserve. It is also located near other protected lands so that its protection further expands the network of protected habitats in the area.
The land features a remarkable diversity of vegetation, from steep grasslands and mixed chaparral near the Duff Preserve boundary, to regenerating hardwood–conifer forests on its north-facing slopes. Its high ridgeline position provides habitat benefits for both the Dutch Henry and Pickett Canyon watersheds and contributes to the scenic open space visible from parts of Calistoga and the broader Napa Valley.
The newly protected acreage will become part of the Land Trust’s Duff Preserve, expanding this protected landscape to ensure ongoing corridors for wildlife across this area of northern Napa County.
By permanently protecting the property, its second-generation owners—three brothers—wished to honor the environmental legacy of their father, Marshall Kent, who purchased the property in 1968 and cared deeply for its rugged beauty. Their decision to entrust its future to the Land Trust ensures that this landscape will remain protected for generations to come.
Michael and Joel Kent said, “Our parents loved and appreciated nature, sharing that love with our siblings and us. This land has been part of our family for more than fifty years. We’ve always appreciated its natural beauty, and it means a great deal to us to know it will remain protected and undeveloped in accordance with our parents’ wishes. We’re grateful to the Land Trust for ensuring it will stay this way for future generations.
Our father, Marshall Kent’s, deep interest in protecting the environment was also expressed in other ways. Notably, in the 1970s, he was an early advisory committee member of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, and before that was a campaign manager for a conservation-minded state assemblyman (John Dunlap) who was instrumental in the creation of the California Coastal Commission. The Land Trust’s future stewardship of his former land is a great fit for our father’s values.”
By protecting this property, the Land Trust safeguards critical habitat, supports watershed health, and preserves an iconic stretch of open space in northern Napa.
“This is a great addition to our protected lands,” said Doug Parker. “The property’s location—adjacent to our Duff Preserve and near other protected lands helps strengthen a large conservation block in a sensitive ecological area. Its protection supports wildlife, watershed function, and the scenic landscapes that define our County. And adding this property to the Preserve will allow us to appropriately manage the land as well.”
Lena Pollastro, Conservation Director for the Land Trust, surveys the latest addition to Duff Preserve.
See The Weekly Calistogan story here.
