Protected Lands

Archives for “News Articles”

Our Impact

  • Helping the land flourish at Hayfork Ranch

    May 15, 2023

    “In the springtime it’s so roaring that it can sound like someone with a power-saw, but it’s the birds chirping in masses,” says Alma O’Brien, owner of Hayfork Ranch just northeast of Santa Rosa.  Hayfork is a 216-acre ranch nestled …

  • Staff Spotlight: Kendall Gutt (she/her), Stewardship Technician

    April 27, 2023

    This month, we got a chance to check in with Kendall Gutt, one of our awesome new Stewardship Technicians. Prior to working with us, Kendall worked for both Regional Parks and Sonoma Land Trust, where she focused on land stewardship …

  • Balanced land management at Paula Lane Open Space Preserve

    April 27, 2023

    Paula Lane Open Space Preserve, an 11-acre grassland in northwestern Petaluma, and is one of several community open space preserves protected by Ag + Open Space through our Matching Grant Program. In 2012, we partnered with the City of Petaluma, …

  • Staff Spotlight: Lukas Steinrueck, Stewardship Technician

    March 30, 2023

    In this month’s staff spotlight we welcome Lukas Steinrueck (he/him), who recently joined our team as a Stewardship Technician. Lukas moved to Sonoma County after graduating from Humboldt State University with a degree in Wildlife Conservation. Since moving here, Lukas …

  • Staff Spotlight: Raquel Guevara-Bolanos, Stewardship Technician

    February 27, 2023

    In this month’s Staff Spotlight we welcome Raquel Guevara-Bolanos, who recently joined our team as a Stewardship Technician. Raquel most recently worked at Sonoma Water, where she led workshops on riparian habitat, salmon, and the role of land management.  She …

  • Staff Spotlight: Lauren Alpert, Community Relations Specialist

    January 26, 2023

    This month we’re hearing from Lauren Alpert, our Community Relations Specialist. Recently promoted from Community Relations Assistant, Lauren’s focus is on engaging Sonoma County community members in the work of Ag + Open Space and our land conservation community at-large. …

  • Sonoma Mag: Public Lands Preservationist, Misti Arias

    January 10, 2023

    Originally published in January 2023 print issue of Sonoma Magazine In 1996, fresh out of Sonoma State University with a degree in environmental studies, Misti Arias joined the relatively new Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District. Last May, …

  • Our accomplishments from 2022: A year in review

    December 20, 2022

    Over the last 30+ years, Ag + Open Space has conserved over 12% of our county’s natural and working lands. As we look back on 2022, we’re proud of the work we’ve done to increase the scale, pace, and equity …

  • Staff Spotlight: Pamela Swan, Grants Coordinator

    December 20, 2022

    In this month’s Staff Spotlight, we’re excited to welcome Pamela Swan as our Grants Coordinator – a new role that oversees our Matching Grant Program and coordinates our grant-seeking efforts. Pamela holds a Bachelor’s in Conservation and Resource Studies from …

  • A bounty for all at this Petaluma community farm

    November 17, 2022

    Petaluma Bounty, a community farm and program of Petaluma People Services Center, works to create a thriving local food system with healthy food for everyone through collaboration, education, and promoting self-reliance. As the COVID-19 pandemic began, we recognized there was …