200 years of intensive use and much of that evidence 

 potentially represents important cultural values. The 

 dynamic nature of many of these potential resources 

 presents a compelling reason not to delay their study. 

 Changes in agricultural practices in the Olema Valley 

 can rapidly begin to turn grasslands into shrublands. 



It is recommended that a Cultural Landscape Study (CLS) be undertaken 

 for the Olema Valley, using the information contained in this study as a 

 foundation which already provides evaluations of the historical significance and 

 historic integrity of the ranches. This is especially important as the significant 

 landscape features in the area disappear or are altered, such as fence lines, 

 abandoned historic roads, and structures undergoing change of use. Included in 

 the task directive for a CLS should be the preparation or modification of 

 National Register nominations to incorporate cultural landscape characteristics. 



It is also recommended that a series of Historic Structures Reports (HSR) 

 be undertaken for the ranches, and subsequent Historic Structure Preservation 

 Guides (HSPG) be prepared. These studies could be done efficiently by 

 grouping structure types, because of the similarity between ranches and their 

 structures; one HSPG for all the Point Reyes and Olema Valley ranches could 

 cover recommended treatments of a typical dairy house, hay barn, etc., after a 

 structure-by-structure evaluation of the individual ranches. This is especially 

 important as a means of education for the ranch lessee towards understanding 

 NFS preservation policy and guidelines. 



3. Interpretation 



Lying as it does along State Highway One and Sir Francis Drake 

 Highway, the Olema Valley area is lacking in interpretation programs directed 

 at the approximately two million visitors per year to the area. Currently there 

 are no wayside exhibits outside of the Bear Valley Visitor Center area, and a 

 small brochure available at Point Reyes National Seashore is inadequate. The 

 Park broadcasts a 1610 AM radio announcement giving general park 

 information with reference to the Olema Valley. 



The Interpretive Prospectus (1989) for Golden Gate National Recreation 

 Area's north district details a number of plans for interpretation in the Olema 

 Valley and Tocaloma area, including media at all trailheads (some of which have 



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