Reversal of Land Acquisition for Koi Nation Shiloh Site
Summary
The Bureau of Indian Affairs is reversing a January 2025 land acquisition decision following a September 30, 2025 court order. The 68.60-acre Shiloh Parcel in Sonoma County, California, is being removed from trust status and reconveyed to Sonoma Rose LLC in fee simple. The reversal stems from Federal District Court for the Northern District of California invalidating the original trust acquisition.
What changed
On September 30, 2025, U.S. District Court Judge Rita F. Lin ordered the Department of the Interior to reverse the land-into-trust transaction for the Shiloh Parcel following the case Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria v. United States Department of the Interior, et al., No. 3:24-cv-8582 (N.D. Cal. 2025). The 68.60-acre parcel in Sonoma County, California, previously acquired in trust for the Koi Nation of Northern California, is now being removed from trust status and reconveyed to Sonoma Rose LLC. The original trust acquisition was announced in 90 FR 5980 on January 17, 2025.
This notice does not require immediate action by regulated entities as it concerns the reversal of a prior administrative decision. Tribal nations and entities involved in trust land acquisitions should maintain awareness of this court precedent regarding the Bureau's authority under Section 5 of the Indian Reorganization Act (25 U.S.C. 5108) and Section 20 of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2719).
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Apr 2, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Notice
Reversal of Land Acquisition; Koi Nation of Northern California, Shiloh Site, Sonoma County, California
A Notice by the Indian Affairs Bureau on 04/02/2026
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- Public Inspection Published Document: 2026-06434 (91 FR 16721) Document Headings ###### Department of the Interior
Bureau of Indian Affairs
- [267A2100DD/AAKC001030/A0A501010.000000]
AGENCY:
Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.
ACTION:
Notice.
( printed page 16722)
SUMMARY:
On September 30, 2025, the United States District Court for the District of Northern California, declared the Department of the Interior's (Department) January 13, 2025, decision to acquire in trust 68.60 acres, more or less, of land known as the Shiloh Parcel in Sonoma County, California, for the Koi Nation of Northern California for gaming and other purposes, invalid and vacated the subsequent trust land acquisition announced in the Federal Register on January 17, 2025, 90 FR 5980. FINAL JUDGMENT, ECF No. 155, Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, v. United States Department of the Interior, et al. No. 3:24-cv-8582 (N.D. Cal 2025). Consistent with that order, the Department is removing the 68.60 acres, more or less, of land known as the Shiloh Parcel in Sonoma County, California, from trust status and reconveying all right, title and interest in the property back to Sonoma Rose LLC., in fee simple.
DATES:
This final determination was made on March 27, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Troy Woodward, Acting Director, Office of Indian Gaming, Office of the Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs, Washington, DC 20240, IndianGaming@bia.gov; (202) 219-4066.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
On January 13, 2025, the Director, Bureau of Indian Education, exercising authority by delegation of the Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs made a final agency determination to acquire the Shiloh Parcel, consisting of 68.60 acres, more or less, in trust for the Koi Nation of Northern California under section 5 of the Indian Reorganization Act, 25 U.S.C. 5108, and declared it eligible for gaming under the section 20 of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, 25 U.S.C. 2719 (b)(1)(B)(iii).
The Director, Bureau of Indian Education, exercising authority by delegation of the Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs, on behalf of the Secretary of the Interior, immediately acquired the title to the Shiloh Parcel in the name of the United States of America in trust for the Koi Nation of Northern California upon fulfillment of all Departmental requirements.
On September 30, 2025, United States District Court Judge, Rita F. Lin, ordered the Department to “reverse the land into trust transaction by taking the Shiloh Parcel out of trust.” Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, v. United States Department of the Interior, et al. No. 3:24-cv-8582 (N.D. Cal 2025). Consistent with that order, the Department is removing the 68.60 acres, more or less, of land known as the Shiloh Parcel in Sonoma County, California, from trust status and returning the property to Sonoma Rose LLC., in fee simple. The legal description for the Site is as follows:
For APN/Parcel ID(s): 059-300-003-000
The land referred to herein below is situated in the unincorporated area in county of Sonoma, State of California and is described as follows:
Being a tract of land in Section 20, Township 8 North, Range 8 West, M.D.B. and M. and beginning at an iron pin which marks the
1/4
section corner between Sections 19 and 20; thence East along the Northerly line of the Southwest
1/4
of said Section 20, a distance of 40.00 chains, more or less, to the center of Section 20; thence South, along the Easterly line of said Southwest
1/4
, 17.01 chains, more or less, to the Northeast corner of a tract of land conveyed by Elisha C. Mayo to Charles T. Mathisen and Cynthia E. Mathisen, his wife, by Deed dated January 28, 1905 in Book 216 of Deeds at Page 298, Sonoma County Records; thence South 76°15′ West, along the Northerly boundary of said tract of land conveyed to said Mathison, 25.69 chains, more or less, to the center of the State Highway leading from Santa Rosa to Healdsburg; thence Northwesterly along the center of said State Highway, 26.85 chains, more or less, to the section line between Section 19 and 20; thence North along said section line, 1.62 chains, more or less, to the point of beginning.
Excepting therefrom that portion thereof conveyed to the County of Sonoma by deed recorded April 25, 1950, in Book 955 at Page 376, Sonoma County Records.
Also excepting therefrom that portion conveyed to the County of Sonoma by Deed recorded October 27, 2006, as Instrument No. 2006132956, of Official Records.
Authority: This notice is published in the exercise of authority delegated by the Secretary of the Interior to the Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs by 209 Departmental Manual 8.1.
William Henry Kirkland III,
Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2026-06434 Filed 4-1-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4337-15-P
Published Document: 2026-06434 (91 FR 16721)
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