Restoring Land with Keyline: Nicasio Native Grass Ranch
At Nicasio Native Grass Ranch in Marin County, innovative land stewardship has led to powerful insights into soil health, water management, and ecological restoration. Through their work preserving native grass species, ranchers John Wick and Peggy Rathmann uncovered the benefits of keyline design as a tool for improving both land productivity and environmental resilience.
Initially focused on restoring native grasses, the ranch’s work revealed how water movement plays a critical role in land health. By applying keyline principles, they began reshaping how water spreads across their landscape—slowing runoff, increasing infiltration, and supporting deeper soil moisture.
This shift has had lasting impacts.
Improved water retention has helped restore degraded soils while supporting the growth of diverse native grasses. These grasses, in turn, enhance soil structure, reduce erosion, and create more resilient grazing systems for livestock.
Keyline design also contributes to water harvesting, allowing the land to capture and store rainfall more effectively. Instead of losing water to runoff, the ranch uses natural contours to distribute it evenly, strengthening the entire ecosystem.
What makes Nicasio’s story especially compelling is how discovery came through experimentation. By observing the land closely and adapting their practices, they developed a system that works in harmony with natural processes.
Their work demonstrates a key principle of regenerative agriculture: when land is managed with intention and respect for its natural patterns, it can recover, regenerate, and thrive.
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