Ag + Open Space developing Stewardship Assistance program in response to community need and shifting federal funding
In partnership with Sonoma and Gold Ridge Resource Conservation Districts, the program will focus on natural resource enhancement projects on Ag + Open Space conserved lands
SANTA ROSA, CA (May 12, 2026) – Sonoma County Ag + Open Space is proud to announce that today our Board of Directors approved contracts that will support the development of an innovative and timely Stewardship Assistance program focused on natural resource enhancement on privately-owned Ag + Open Space-conserved lands that support agriculture or forestry. This pilot program is borne out of feedback from landowners and broader communities that more support is needed for natural resource stewardship on protected lands. Ag + Open Space is stepping up to leverage local tax dollars and resources to meet local needs given the uncertainty and lack of federal funding resources.
“Local government should always be responsive to the needs of its communities,” said Ag + Open Space Board Chair Rebecca Hermosillo. “Our county is special, in part because of the work Ag + Open Space has done over the last 30 years to conserve natural and working lands. This is an important extension of that work, and we look forward to seeing how it develops.”
Ag + Open Space will partner with Sonoma and Gold Ridge Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs) to develop and pilot the program over the next three years. The RCDs are natural partners in this endeavor due to their local expertise in both natural resource management, and agricultural and forestry operations. RCD staff have positive working relationships with local landowners and consistently work to help the community learn better land management practices through broad outreach initiatives and technical service contracts. These contracts total $2M, with Gold Ridge RCD set to receive up to $670,000 and Sonoma RCD up to $1.33M.
“Developing a program like this has been a dream of ours for a while,” said Misti Arias, Ag + Open Space General Manager. “We know local landowners are excellent stewards of conserved lands, but we also know it’s a heavy lift and that more support is needed. We’re excited to have this opportunity to partner in new ways with landowners, with the shared goal of enhancing the natural resources that benefit us all.”
The current Ag + Open Space conserved lands portfolio consists of 350 easement ownerships, protecting 127,000 acres, and almost 80% of those protected lands are privately owned. Conservation of natural and working lands is a critical first step, but it takes consistent and long-term stewardship to ensure that the natural resources can continue to support viable agriculture, climate resilience, diverse and healthy ecosystems, and beyond. Conservation easements protect the natural resource values on easement properties by restricting land uses and improvements, but they generally do not require habitat restoration or enhancement.
This pilot program will capitalize on the opportunities presented by Ag + Open Space-conserved properties, focusing on lands that support agriculture and forestry, and that also support wetlands, riparian corridors, grasslands, forests, and other ecosystems. Access to funding and technical assistance can incentivize easement landowners to complete projects that enhance the natural resource values that the original conservation easement purchase was intended to protect.
“Healthy natural resources are vital to resilient working lands and thriving communities,” said Christine Kuehn, Executive Director of the Sonoma Resource Conservation District. “Through this exciting partnership, we’re working directly with landowners and land managers to advance stewardship on protected land improving soil and water health, enhancing biodiversity, and supporting productive agricultural and forestry operations. These investments benefit the entire community through cleaner water, healthier ecosystems, local food production, and more climate-resilient landscapes.”
Well-cared-for natural resources help to support agricultural values and productivity, enhance biodiversity, encourage healthy soils, and maintain groundwater levels on working lands. Those benefits ripple out into to our communities by providing fresh air, clean drinking water, land for food production, and so much more. Federal funds typically available for this type of assistance are currently limited or are no longer available.
“Land managers are facing a tough funding environment for land stewardship, just as a rapidly changing climate makes active management even more imperative,” said Noelle Johnson, Deputy Director of the Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District. “We look forward to the opportunities this program presents to help them enhance the resilience of these protected areas and the species they support.”
The program will be developed over the next several months. We anticipate discussing the program at one of our public Advisory Committee meetings this summer, and those interested in will be able to find meeting details closer to the meeting date at www.SonomaOpenSpace.org/public-meetings. We will also share meeting information and future program updates via our monthly eNews. You can sign up for our mailing list at www.SonomaOpenSpace/enews.
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