News + Features

group of people hiking to the ocean

Lorri Duckworth remembered

Lorri Duckworth

We at Ag + Open Space are profoundly saddened by the recent passing of long-time farmer and community advocate, Lorri Duckworth. As some of our most well-known easement landowners, Lorri, her husband Oscar, and their children have been inspirational in their passion for agriculture and the importance of connecting our …

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Partnering for the Future: Our New Connections program pilot

Students kayaking at Riverfront Park

At the heart of Ag + Open Space’s commitment to both the land and the future are growing relationships with the communities and organizations who share a common mission. Ag + Open Space, in partnership with several local nonprofit partners, is not only dedicated to preserving the diverse agricultural, natural …

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Wildlife Cameras and the Importance of Wildlife Corridors

Bobcat in camera footage

Recently, we embarked on an exciting endeavor at our Saddle Mountain Open Space Preserve – to start gathering footage of our dedication to conservation with the installation of a wildlife camera. Positioned strategically within the preserve, our camera has become a silent sentinel, capturing the comings and goings of the …

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Staff spotlight: Catherine Iantosca, Senior Stewardship Specialist

Catherine and a man in front of water

Catherine grew up in Santa Rosa and studied environmental science at Sonoma State and UC Santa Barbara. She has worked with Ag + Open Space for 6 years, originally as a Stewardship Technician and currently as a Senior Stewardship Specialist. In her free time Catherine enjoys cooking, hiking and cycling, …

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Staff spotlight: Olivia Fiori (she/her), Acquisition Specialist

Photo of Olivia Fiori

Prior to working at Ag + Open Space, Olivia worked at The Conservation Fund for nearly 9 years, where she focused on sustainable timber harvesting, forest monitoring, wildlife management (including working with northern spotted owls), archaeological surveys, erosion control and maintenance, and more, including on one of our conservation easements …

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Stewarding the land with “good fire” at Haroutunian South

A pile of dry vegetation burns in the background

The Haroutunian South property is a greenbelt – an open space property that acts as community separator between Santa Rosa and Rohnert Park. Purchased by Ag + Open Space in 1995, the property is home to  an old orchard, vernal pools, California tiger salamander, as well as the endangered plants …

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Press Release: Ag + Open Space launching re-envisioned Matching Grant Program to increase access, equity, and transparency

Riverkeeper Park

SANTA ROSA, CA (March 5, 2024) – Today, the Ag + Open Space Board of Directors approved the re-envisioned Matching Grant Program, a two-year pilot including an updated application process and resources set to go live on March 25th.  Now known as the Community Spaces Matching Grant Program, applications during …

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Staff Spotlight: Jake Newell, Stewardship Supervisor

Jake with bulls in the background

Jake grew up on the urban edge of Red Bluff, CA on a small suburban street constructed in the dwindling expanse of valley oak savannah. He spent his playtime wandering the savannah, listening to birdsong, watching out for rattlesnakes and bulls, and playing with his brothers and friends. As the …

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Press release: Ag + Open Space and Regional Parks Welcome Visitors to Newest Regional Park & Open Space Preserve 

Hillside with vegetation

SANTA ROSA, CA (February 13, 2024) – Sonoma County Ag + Open Space is pleased to announce the purchase of Chanslor Ranch – a 378-acre property along Highway 1 near Bodega Bay, which is now the county’s newest regional park and open space preserve. Ag + Open Space entered into …

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Press release: Santa Rosa Southeast Greenway takes one big step forward with Ag + Open Space support

Greenway panorama

SANTA ROSA, CA (February 7, 2024) – Yesterday, the Sonoma County Ag + Open Space Board of Directors voted in favor of allocating up to $1 million, over half of the purchase price, in Matching Grant funds to support the acquisition of the 49-acre Santa Rosa Southeast Greenway. “We are …

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