Cornerstones Community Partnerships

This Project Is to Continue Preservation Work on the Historic Rael Ranch Property and House With the Ultimate Goal of Opening the Property Up to the General Public Work Includes Maintaining Traditional Landscapes, Preserving Water Rights by Restoring the Rael Acequia, Stabilizing the Rael Ranch House and Associated Structures, and Eventual Restoration, Back to the Original Design of the Rael Ranch Home Coordination With BLM and the State Historic Preservation Officer Shpo Will Occur to Research the House and the Architectural Changes That Have Occurred Over the Past 50 Years, Including the Development of a Future Plan for Potential House Interpretation or Exhibits and Finalizing the National Register of Historic Places Registration Form Currently in Draft Form Also Included in the Agreement Is to Continue Volunteer Training in Traditional Skills, Particularly Adobe and Stone Masonry, in Order to Carry Out Actual Period Appropriate Restoration Work Knowledge Gained From Recipient S Research on the Structural Integrity of Assets at the Rael Property Will Inform the Recreation Management Plan and Environmental Assessment Decisions About the Extent of Future Public Use Hinge on the Feasibility of Restoration of the Rael House Which Will Be Assessed by Cornerstones Specialists the Manual for the Acequia Will Be Used as a Guide for Long Term Maintenance of the Ditch, Preserving Acquired BLM Water Rights and Supporting Planned Seed Bank Projects Volunteer Workshops Held Regularly Will Provide Instruction in Traditional Restoration Techniques to Interested Local Community Members Intern Architects and Apprentice Orchardists May Also Benefit From Unique Restoration Training Opportunities