2013 Acre by Acre Award

2013 Acre by Acre Award: Bruce and Martha Atwater, Francis Ford and Eleanor Coppola, David and Nancy Garden, Ted and Laddie Hall

Four families have collectively protected 1,588 acres of contiguous land in the eastern hills of the Mayacamas Range, west of Rutherford on the northern flanks of Mt. Saint John. Generously donating easements over this broad stretch of land, these forward thinking couples have protected the largest contiguous area of land along the western side of Napa Valley in perpetuity. This vast easement includes rolling open grasslands, mixed hardwood and conifer forests, waterfalls, view shed, agricultural lands and significant portions of the Bear Creek and Heath Creek watersheds, collectively representing much of the beauty within Napa County. The work of these individuals together has made a tremendous impact on the Napa Valley. They are:

• Bruce and Martha Atwater, who donated 263 acres of open space, plantable vineyard and forested watershed lands;
• Francis Ford and Eleanor Coppola (Neibaum-Coppola), who donated 382 acres of near-pristine, undeveloped forest lands and the Bear Creek watershed in the western hills near Rutherford;
• David and Nancy Garden, who donated 607 acres of forested hillsides and open grasslands in the Heath Creek watershed;
• Ted and Laddie Hall (Long Meadow Ranch), who donated 336 acres in three contiguous easements of forested hillside and agricultural open space, with organic vineyard and olive groves, above Rutherford.