News + Features

group of people hiking to the ocean

Post-fire renewal on Saddle Mountain Open Space Preserve

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 …

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Ag + Open Space Board Approves $5.8 Million for Community-Led Open Space Projects Countywide

Funding will go towards new and enhanced parks, trail connections, and increased accessibility SANTA ROSA, CA (March 23, 2021) – Today, the Board of Directors of the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District (Ag + Open Space) recommended funding for new recreational projects within or near urban areas …

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On-the-ground updates from our Stewardship team

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 …

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Leveraging outside funds for local farms

Black spotted dairy cows grazing in a green field with blue skies overhead

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 …

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A year in review: Highlights from 2020

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 …

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Ag + Open Space Board of Directors Approve “Vital Lands Initiative”

Long-range strategic plan will focus on climate change & social equity SANTA ROSA, CA (January 26, 2021) – Today the Board of Directors for the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District (Ag + Open Space) approved the final draft of the Vital Lands Initiative – a long-term strategic …

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Resilience lessons on our protected lands

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) …

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New Park + Open Space Preserve Coming to Sonoma Coast

Ag + Open Space Transfers 335 Acres of Protected Land to Regional Parks SANTA ROSA, CA (December 29, 2020) – Yesterday, the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District (Ag + Open Space), a special district dedicated to protecting our working and natural lands forever, transferred ownership of a …

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Pryor Ranch and the impacts of the Walbridge Fire

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 …

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A Farewell Message from General Manager Bill Keene

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, …

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