At the heart of all we do are our protected lands, or properties we’ve protected with conservation easements. From public parks to private properties in every corner of the county, our easements ensure that our natural resources will continue to thrive so they can continue to enrich our communities and …
An update from Monica Delmartini, Ag + Open Space Stewardship Specialist With spring officially just around the corner, we’re seeing some beautiful signs of post-fire renewal at our Saddle Mountain Open Space Preserve, which burned in the Glass Fire last September. The fire’s effects across the Preserve were patchy, with …
We thought it was well overdue to check in with our Stewardship staff, who work each day to care for our protected lands. From wildfire recovery to grazing, our Stewardship team has stayed busy the last several months. Wildfire recovery and adaptation For landowners who have experienced wildfires on their …
We access state and federal funding sources to stretch our sales tax dollars. Most recently, we’ve garnered funds from the following sources: Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) Through the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, we have brought in $11.5 million for agricultural conservation easements and conservation planning through the agency’s …
As we reflect on the last year we find ourselves full of gratitude for our amazing Sonoma County community. Every day, we strive to thank you all through our work – protecting the natural and working lands of Sonoma County. As 2021 begins, we took some time to reflect on …
After the 2017 Sonoma Complex Fires, Ag + Open Space led a study to evaluate how those wildfires impacted vegetation within burn zones. Since then, we’ve been honored to share the findings with local government agencies, land conservation organizations, and most recently in a California Department of Fish & Wildlife (CDFW) …
As wildfire season winds down and we transition to winter, we are reflecting on what we can learn from this year’s fires as we continue our preparedness and resiliency work. As with all of the fires in the last few years, the Walbridge Fire impacted several properties protected by Ag …
Greetings Ag + Open Space Community, On this my last day as General Manager, I want to take a few moments to reflect on my time at Ag + Open Space. When I started in July 2008 as Assistant General Manager, we had recently passed a new 20-year funding reauthorization, …
During the Glass Fire, which is now thankfully 100% contained, Saddle Mountain Open Space Preserve burned almost entirely. The Preserve is closed at present to volunteer patrollers as we assess and mitigate hazards so that community members can safely visit again. Our first priorities are to address bulldozer line and culvert repair, …
In response to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Sonoma County agricultural community, Sonoma County Ag + Open Space commissioned an economic study to examine the effects of the pandemic on food-producing businesses in Sonoma County from 2020 to 2023.