Granite’s Gardner Facility Wins Recognition for Mined-Land Reclamation

Granite’s Gardner Facility in Buellton, California, has received a Surface Mining and Reclamation Act (SMARA) at 50 Golden Anniversary Reclamation Award from the California Construction and Industrial Materials Association (CalCIMA), earning recognition in the Agricultural Reclamation category.
 

Granite has operated the Gardner surface mine and asphalt production plant since the early 1970s. While the site continues to supply materials that support regional infrastructure, it also reflects decades of planning under SMARA. Mining, processing, backfilling, and reclamation occur in defined phases, allowing portions of the site to be restored while operations continue elsewhere. Beyond reclamation, Gardner uses water recycling systems, stormwater management practices, and operational controls to protect surrounding resources. 
 

That facility proved to be an important community asset in 2018, when mudslides in Montecito left behind substantial volumes of debris that required safe management and disposal. Working with regulatory agencies, Granite helped create a solution: material from the recovery effort was transported to Gardner and used in the site’s reclamation program, restoring previously mined areas while supporting an important regional recovery effort.
 

Currently, the site’s approved reclamation goal is to return mined land to agriculture, keeping in character with the Santa Ynez Valley, and that work is well underway. So far, 75 acres have been reclaimed and are now leased for strawberries, yellow squash, zucchini, and cilantro.
 

“As the reclamation journey continues, Gardner further demonstrates how mining operations can balance production with environmental responsibility, while creating lasting community value in every phase,” said Patty Quan-Handley, Granite Regional Environmental Manager. “

The facility shows that reclamation is not simply about restoring land. It is about finding innovative ways to leave a positive legacy for the communities we serve.”
 

The Granite team received the award on November 5 at CalCIMA's 2026 Education Conference in Monterey, where the SMARA at 50 awards were presented in celebration of the act's 50th anniversary.