We care about local wildlife, both big and small! Ag + Open Space owns and protects several small greenbelt properties that help maintain urban boundaries, protect wildlife corridors, and can be utilized for grazing and other agricultural operations near our cities and towns. Greenbelts can also aid in managing fire …
Over the last several months we’ve welcomed two new staff to our team! Some of you may have already crossed paths with these great new additions, but we wanted to be sure to introduce them to all. Cieara McKetchnie-Stanley recently joined Ag + Open Space’s Administrative team. Her background is …
As 2020 gets underway, we wanted to reflect on 2019 – a year where our community once again experienced flood and wildfire. And once again, our staff supported the emergency response to both disasters, and will continue to work with landowners affected by the Kincade Fire to aid in their …
Long-range strategic plan will chart next 10 years of Ag + Open Space work SANTA ROSA, CA (December 11, 2019) – On Tuesday, December 17, the Board of Directors for the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District (Ag + Open Space) will consider an updated draft of the …
Long-time ranchers, Walter & Arleen Jacobsen, conserve 127-acre ranch SANTA ROSA, CA (December 10, 2019) – Today the Board of Directors for the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District (Ag + Open Space) approved up to $2.95 million in public funds to acquire a conservation easement over Jacobsen …
In 2003, Ag + Open Space acquired two properties for $7.6M along a prominent ridgeline on the northeastern side of Healdsburg to create the 153-acre Healdsburg Ridge Open Space Preserve. Since 2008, we’ve redesigned and constructed nearly 3.5 miles of public trails, while working with partners at the City of …
Ag + Open Space is happy to welcome our two new Advisory Committee Youth Members. Austin Maners and Alex Wood joined in September and we’re looking forward to the impact their perspectives will have on our work. Austin Maners is a senior at Analy High School in Sebastopol. Austin has …
Recently, Ag + Open Space’s Allison Schichtel and Karen Gaffney spoke with NASA for their “A Partnership Forged by Fire” story about our vegetation mapping efforts, and how the data are being used today to plan and prepare for the future. Well before the 2017 Sonoma Complex Fires, Ag + …
Several hundred sheep have arrived at our Calabazas Creek Open Space Preserve! Sheep from Sweetgrass Grazing Company will spend the next several weeks grazing about 50 acres of grassland near the Nun’s homestead, an area that was home to early settlers in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. The grazing …
We at Ag + Open Space were deeply saddened to hear of Ted Eliot’s passing earlier this month. Ted was an avid conservationist, whose tireless efforts over the last thirty years led to the preservation and protection of some of the most precious natural areas and open spaces throughout the …