News + Features

group of people hiking to the ocean

A year in review: Highlights from 2021

people looking at view from the top of a hill

We are grateful to be able to do the work of protecting our county’s natural and working lands. As we move into a new year, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on the work we’ve done with you, our Sonoma County community, over the last year. Even as …

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Staff Spotlight: Sara Ortiz, Administrative Aide

This month, we’re hearing from Sara Ortiz, one of our fantastic Administrative Aides, who works to make sure our agency runs smoothly. Our staff spotlights are a chance to learn more about the people who work to protect our natural and working lands, and also to hear about how they …

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Staff Spotlight: Stephanie Waite, GIS Analyst

This month we’d like to introduce you to our newest team member, Stephanie Waite, GIS Analyst. Read on to learn more about Stephanie, and join us in welcoming her to Ag + Open Space! Stephanie is part of our Geographic Information System (GIS) team, who help gather and analyze data …

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Board of Supervisors to protect Paulin Meadow in Santa Rosa as open space

Oak trees at Paulin Creek Open Space Preserve

Santa Rosa, CA – October 29, 2021 – The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors is expected next week to approve the transfer of Parcel J (Paulin Meadow), a 10.42-acre property that is part of a collection of publicly owned parcels adjacent to the County of Sonoma-owned Chanate campus, from the …

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Staff Spotlight: Kelsey Setliff, Stewardship Technician

At Ag + Open Space, we have an incredible team of talented and driven individuals working together to carry out the community’s vision of a beautiful, thriving, and resilient Sonoma County. We’re proud of our team, so we are going to be sharing more about the amazing people working behind …

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SRJC students join for workday at Haroutunian South

SRJC student looking at vernal pools at Haroutunian South.

Earlier this month, Taylor Acosta, one of our Stewardship Technicians, welcomed a biology class from Santa Rosa Junior College to Haroutunian South for a workday caring for and learning from the land. Haroutunian South is a 21-acre property in southwest Santa Rosa that we purchased in 1995 for its values …

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Forest health and resiliency work at Saddle Mountain

Healthy canopy at Saddle Mountain.

This fall, Ag + Open Space will begin implementation of a 60-acre understory thinning project and two shaded fuel breaks at Saddle Mountain Open Space Preserve. The Preserve was impacted at varying levels of severity by the 2020 Glass Fire, and in some areas where fire intensity was lower, the …

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Conservation work in progress

Oak tree in golden field at Hood Mountain Regional Park.

As you know, our mission is to permanently protect the diverse agricultural, natural resource, and scenic open space lands of Sonoma County for future generations. The act of “protecting” a piece of land is multi-faceted: it starts with careful planning, then moves to the actual conservation of the land, then …

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Grazing in Healdsburg for wildfire resiliency and biodiversity

Childred walking on trail that is lined with a fence, and goats on the other side of the fence.

Have you gone for a hike at Healdsburg Ridge Open Space Preserve recently? If so, you may havseen the sheep and goats working their way around the preserve to help create buffers between the preserve and the city of Healdsburg in preparation for the current and future wildfire seasons. The …

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Sonoma Magazine: Out and About with Misti Arias

A park expert’s fall favorites Originally published in September 2021 print issue of Sonoma Magazine Last May, Misti Arias, a 25-year veteran of the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District, was named the agency’s new general manager. Her favorite fall day trips focus on lands the group has …

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