News + Features

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Ag + Open Space Transfers 1,200 Acres to Regional Parks for Future Park & Open Space Preserve

SANTA ROSA, CA (December 5, 2018) – Today 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 nearly 1,200 acres of land purchased by the agency to Sonoma County Regional Parks (Regional Parks) …

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Beautiful 1,206-acre East Santa Rosa Ranch Protected Forever

Ag + Open Space and Sonoma Land Trust partner to conserve 1,206-acre ranch SANTA ROSA, CA (December 12, 2018) – Yesterday the Board of Directors for the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District (Ag + Open Space) approved up to $3.48 million in public funds to acquire two …

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Ag + Open Space Board Approves Over $3.6 Million for Urban Open Space throughout County

 Funds to go toward park additions, trail connections, new Russian River access SANTA ROSA, CA (November 15, 2018) – On Tuesday, the Board of Directors of the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District (Ag + Open Space) recommended funding for five projects within or near urban areas throughout …

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Ag + Open Space Conserves 1,600-acre Forest in Northwest Sonoma County

$5 million deal protects rare coast redwoods, includes future public trail SANTA ROSA, CA (October 8, 2018) – The Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District (Ag + Open Space), a special district of the County dedicated to protecting our working and natural lands forever, has acquired a conservation …

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The Pt. Reyes of Sonoma County: Jenner Headlands and Pole Mountain to Open September 7

(JENNER, CALIF., September 19, 2018) ­— The Wildlands Conservancy’s Gateway to the Jenner Headlands Preserve will enjoy its public opening September 7. Visitors to Sonoma County’s stunning coast will now have the opportunity to explore at their leisure and free of charge the trails of this spectacular 5,630-acre nature preserve …

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Nearly 1,000 acres of open space protected next to future Tolay Lake Regional Park

HANNAH BEAUSANG THE PRESS DEMOCRAT | September 10, 2018 Beneath a canopy of gnarled oaks that have grown for centuries on a hillside at the southern toe of the Sonoma Mountain, views of the Sonoma Valley and Skaggs Island sprawl endlessly across the horizon. The wind moved like waves through …

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Sprawling Jenner Headlands Preserve on Sonoma Coast opening to public

MARY CALLAHAN THE PRESS DEMOCRAT | September 5, 2018 Anyone who has ever driven past the hills that rise sharply here from the coast north of the Russian River outlet and wondered about the view from the top need wait little longer. On Friday, the gates to the Jenner Headlands …

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Ag + Open Space purchases 47-acre Mark West property as Part of Future Regional Park & Open Space Preserve

District spends $1.6 million to conserve land for natural resources, recreation SANTA ROSA, CA (August 14, 2018) – Yesterday the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District (Ag + Open Space) closed escrow on 47 acres of land owned by the Wendle family, paying $1,645,000 in public funds to …

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Keeping the land in “sheep” shape

Have you seen the flock of sheep grazing along the Laguna de Santa Rosa Trail this summer? Our partners at Sonoma County Regional Parks (Regional Parks) are working with Sweetgrass Grazing to graze a portion of the Laguna Trail, which runs through our Balletto Ranch Conservation Easement and City of …

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Post-fire cleanup of the Pelm House

When Ag + Open Space acquired 461 acres of land from John McCullough in 2009, it came with an interesting old building known as the Pelm House. This was the previous home of the Pelm family, who had moved here from Russia around 1945. At the end of World War …

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