In 1960, when Marin Water, then the Marin Municipal Water District, constructed the Seeger Dam and Nicasio Reservoir, six flourishing dairy and beef ranches—the McIsaac, Farley, Tognalda, Garzoli, Tom Gallagher and Tomasini ranches—were flooded and forced completely out of business. Four more—the northern Gallagher, Dolcini, Lafranchi and Bill Hall ranches—were stunted by lost acreage. Longtime ranching families watched as their land was cleared, old oaks cut down, vegetation scraped off and homes, barns, outbuildings and…