News + Features

group of people hiking to the ocean

Sonoma County open space planners launch broadest, most extensive planning effort ever

J.D. Morris | The Press Democrat | March 6, 2017 Hoping to set a commanding agenda for conserving its landscapes, Sonoma County’s taxpayer-funded Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District is launching its broadest, most extensive planning effort ever to guide its work for the next 15 years. The open space …

Read more

Sonoma Land Trust donation doubles size of Tolay Lake Regional Park

Nick Rahaim | The Press Democrat | March 3, 2017 Tolay Lake Regional Park doubled in size Friday with the gift of an adjoining 1,665-acre protected ranch from the Sonoma Land Trust, a transfer envisioned for years and coming less than a year before the expansive, grass-covered preserve is set to …

Read more

Calabazas Preserve OK’d to be part of county parks system

Alec Peters | The Kenwood Press | March 1, 2017 In the maybe not so distant future, the public will have access to close to 1,300 stunning acres that make up the Calabazas Creek Open Space Preserve in the Mayacamas above Glen Ellen. At its Feb. 21 meeting the Sonoma …

Read more

The state of Sonoma County’s forests

Arthur Dawson | For the Press Democrat | March 1, 2017 Editor’s Note: This is part two of a series about the indigenous forests that blanket Sonoma County — their past, present and threats to their future. Our forests “are undergoing a sea change,” observes Mark Tukman, founder of Tukman …

Read more

Sonoma Coast’s Stewarts Point becomes part of historic agreement for coastal ranch

Derek Moore | The Press Democrat | February 23, 2017 Martina Morgan’s black hair whipped about as she gazed out from Stewarts Point in northwest Sonoma County this week at a stunning expanse of Pacific Ocean. Far below her, waves crashed on a rock-strewn beach where Morgan and her great-grandfather …

Read more

The history of Sonoma County’s woodlands

Arthur Dawson | For The Press Democrat | January 26, 2017 Editor’s Note: This is part one of a series about the indigenous forests that blanket Sonoma County — their past, present and threats to their future. Sonoma County’s early chronicles are full of praise for the trees and forests. …

Read more

Sonoma County takes another major step toward dream of a Mark West Creek park

Derek Moore | The Press Democrat | December 11, 2016 Plans for a regional park in the Mark West Creek area northeast of Santa Rosa received another major boost last week with county officials authorizing the $2.5 million purchase of forested property situated at the heart of the envisioned outdoor …

Read more

Grant floats dreams of Petaluma small boat dock

Eric Gneckow | Argus-Courier Staff | November 20, 2016 Plans to improve recreation and access along the Petaluma River took a step forward this month with a pledge of $100,000 toward construction of a new small-boat dock at Steamer Landing Park. The matching grant, by the Sonoma County Agricultural and …

Read more

Agricultural Preservation & Open Space District Board Approves $3.4 Million for Urban Open Space Projects throughout County

Pledged funds to go toward open space, restoration & recreation within or near cities SANTA ROSA, CA (October 25, 2016) – The Board of Directors of the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District (District) today accepted District Staff funding recommendations for seven projects in and near urban centers in …

Read more

Pole Mountain on Sonoma Coast set to open to public next year

Angela Hart | THE PRESS DEMOCRAT | September 13, 2016 Pole Mountain on Sonoma Coast set to open to public next year Come next year, the highest peak on Sonoma County’s coast will be open to hikers, offering the public a spectacular new outdoor destination with incomparable views, officials said …

Read more