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.
Through our Public Outings and Youth Education program, we help support Sonoma Ecology Center’s EnviroLeaders program that provides Sonoma Valley teens with the opportunity to gain essential job and life skills through practical, environmentally-focused training. The semester-long, paid work experience focuses on sustainable agriculture, community building, and park stewardship. Through …
While some aspects of our work have been limited due to the COVID-19 emergency, we have continued to complete several stewardship projects on our fee lands, the properties that we own and manage. From general maintenance to prepping these lands for wildfire season, our staff has been hard at work. …
We’ve always known that our parks and open spaces provide significant mental and physical health benefits to our community, and the current COVID-19 crisis has only underscored the importance of these lands. That’s why we were thrilled to see the recent re-opening of all our local parks and open space …
Though many aspects of our lives feel as if they are on hold, our work to prepare our protected lands for the potential wildfire season ahead has continued over the last few months. From monitoring vegetation to conducting prescribed burns, our staff and local partners have been working diligently to …
One month into this Shelter in Place Order and our hearts continue to go out to everyone in our community during these uncertain and unprecedented times. Even under challenging circumstances, our staff continues to work diligently to achieve our community’s vision to conserve vital working and natural lands. While our …
The Healthy Lands & Healthy Economies initiative, led by Ag + Open Space, provides information about the multiple benefits of land conservation – including the substantial economic benefits that the Sonoma County community derives from its long term investments in protecting our natural and working lands. Working with respected natural …