In a historic deal announced Wednesday, Point Reyes National Seashore will largely do away with ranching at the park, a tradition long etched into the identity of this rural stretch of Northern California coast but one that has been controversial with visitors and environmentalists.
The families running beef and dairy operations in the park under an unusual arrangement with the National Park Service have almost unanimously agreed to retire their leases in exchange for undisclosed payments.
The buyouts — on the order of $30 million total, according to sources familiar with the matter whom the Chronicle granted anonymity — are being coordinated by the Nature Conservancy in a bid to resolve years of litigation over the appropriateness of commercial ranches in a national park…