How can we build stronger communities in Sonoma County? Tell us in the Climate Survey

We are creating a comprehensive action plan that will help the county better prepare for climate-related disruptions and recover from their impacts. The plan will be informed by input from county departments and agencies, government partners, nonprofits, residents and businesses. Outreach and engagement began last summer with a staff survey, individual interviews, and a Board of Supervisors workshop that included public input. We would like to continue hearing from community members about their experiences, interests and ideas to related to climate change in Sonoma County, and how we can support the development of strong communities. To participate in the survey scan the adjacent QR code or use this link.



We are actively seeking to partner with businesses and organizations willing to share the QR code/survey link in their digital media, physical locations, or other outlets. Reach out to us for more information. 

Mobilizing for Energy Efficiency & Climate Resilience

Sonoma County's cities are taking big steps to make their buildings and operations more energy efficient and climate resilient. Staff with the county’s Climate Action & Resiliency Divison helped the City of Petaluma access incentive funding for 21 new heat pump water heaters. In January, the Petaluma City Council approved the project, which will help the city achieve climate resilience goals for its operations. In February, the Windsor Town Council approved an agreement for seven new heat pump water heaters through the same incentive program. Windsor staff recently provided building energy use information so CARD staff can create an Energy Efficiency Roadmap for Windsor to plan future upgrades. CARD is also working with the City of Cotati on incentive funding for upgrading to new heat pump water heaters, as well as renewable energy installations with battery storage. The City of Cloverdale is installing more than $7 million in building and renewable energy upgrades using a combination of incentives and special financing - with expected annual savings of over 1.6 million kWh of electricity. That's enough electricity to power about 470 homes and will save water too!

Having approved energy and climate resilience upgrades to the Santa Rosa Veterans Memorial Building last August, the Board of Supervisors will soon consider recommendations for a suite of comprehensive energy upgrades to county facilities. On May 16, staff will present recommendations from rigorous, investment-grade energy audits of 66 county facilities that identified cost-effective energy upgrades and funding to implement them. Energy-efficient buildings use less energy, cause fewer emissions of climate pollutants, and are more resilient to the hazards of climate change. Energy upgrades like these at city and county facilities directly support the Regional Climate Protection Authority's Climate Mobilization Strategy. The authority, the county and cities are working to make Sonoma County carbon neutral and resilient by 2030.

County attends national USDA meeting to explore ways to support climate-smart commodities

In February, representatives from every state in the nation gathered in Houston, Texas to discuss progress on 141 projects aimed at expanding markets for America’s climate-smart commodities, leveraging the greenhouse gas benefits of climate-smart commodity production, and providing direct, meaningful benefits to production agriculture, including for small and underserved producers. The County of Sonoma represented the Sonoma-Marin Agriculture and County Climate Coalition, composed of 10 partners across Sonoma and Marin counties working to increase the pace and scale of climate-smart agricultural practices, planning and implementation in our region.



This meeting was one of four annual meetings hosted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and its Natural Resource Conservation Service to support the Partnerships in Climate Smart Commodities program. The meetings, which draw experts in agriculture and natural resource conservation, will help answer a critical question: “What is climate-smart agriculture?” The answers that follow are important steps in understanding agriculture as a climate solution. Conservation practices applied on working lands have the potential to make lands and surrounding communities more resilient to climate-related impacts such as flood, drought and wildfire. By creating sustainable markets for commodities that are grown using climate-smart practices, we can accelerate the adoption of these conservation-farming techniques and support agricultural producers in responding to new climactic challenges. To learn more about the Sonoma-Marin Agriculture and County Climate Coalition, visit Sonoma County’s landing page for the Partnerships in Climate Smart Commodities program and review a recent press release. To learn more about the national program, visit the Natural Resource Conservation Service’s project dashboard where you can explore all the projects happening throughout California and the nation.

Wastewater projects, studies and assistance

Russian River – Looking downstream from the bridge in Monte Rio.

In anticipation of new regulations on septic systems, the Climate Action & Resiliency Division continues to develop projects and studies to address the needs of residents with septic systems. CARD is also developing projects to assist people who likely will be affected by the anticipated state regulations aimed at keeping the Russian River safe for recreation.

In 2023 Sonoma County began a septic system mapping study and analysis and engaged a consultant to assist with the production of an interactive, web-based map as well as an analysis report. This project will examine the county’s septic system infrastructure and provide insight into related challenges and opportunities. Recently, CARD, county staff and partners beta tested the map, which is scheduled to be completed by mid-year, along with the report. This project will provide foundational data for subsequent studies and projects.

On Feb. 27, the Board of Supervisors accepted a $250,000 grant from the State Water Resources Control Board to conduct the Russian River Pathogen Reduction Planning Project. This project will evaluate solutions to four sources of pathogen pollution in the Russian River: septic systems, grazing animals, recreation, and homeless encampments. The county anticipates the project will commence later this with assistance from professional consultants.

The Monte Rio/Via Grande Wastewater Solutions Pilot Project is a more localized effort to develop feasible wastewater solutions and to help inform other communities facing similar challenges. CARD’s Clean Water Ombudsman is working with an interagency group, including the Lower Russian River Wastewater Citizen’s Advisory Group, on public engagement. As part of the project, a consultant was hired to conduct a wastewater alternatives feasibility study. At the end of last year a community meeting was held to discuss the project and the progress of the feasibility study. Another meeting is in the works for later this year to discuss further project progress, including the wastewater alternatives under consideration.

Last December CARD’s Clean Water Ombudsman Michael Makdisi began holding “office hours” at the Monte Rio Community Center. These office hours provide residents the opportunity to meet the ombudsman in person. Residents can ask questions, present their concerns, and learn more about the Monte Rio/Via Grande pilot project, about the regulations related to septic systems and the Russian River, and about how the project and regulations may impact their individual situations. If you would like to meet with the ombudsman, you can make an appointment with Michael by email (Michael.Makdisi@sonoma-county.org) or just walk in during office hours, from 2 to 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, through the end of June.

Sonoma County seeking to create equitable plan for electric vehicle chargers with the Regional Climate Protection Authority and Latino Service Providers 

The Climate Action & Resiliency Division, along with two partners, submitted a proposal to Caltrans for a grant to create an Equitable EV Charging Regional Plan for Sonoma County. The plan would provide an equitable approach to advance the adoption of electric vehicles throughout the county while supporting a variety of state and regional efforts to achieve California’s greenhouse gas reduction target of 85 percent by 2045. The Regional Climate Protection Authority and Latino Service Providers are partners in the proposal and will work with the county to implement the project, if awarded.

The primary deliverable of the project is the Equitable EV Charging Regional Plan for Sonoma County, which would feature a prioritized list of strategic locations for future EV chargers, an equity analysis and a comprehensive plan poised for adoption, implementation and funding by the county and local jurisdictions.

The project is necessary because there are many “charging deserts” throughout Sonoma County with limited access to electric vehicle chargers, limiting EV adoption and infrastructure support. In addition, there is no comprehensive plan for the county or its jurisdictions to strategically plan for siting, infrastructure or planning. Lastly, there have been no extensive or documented studies involving our Spanish‐speaking, Latinx or disadvantaged communities into the EV adoption/infrastructure conversation.

CARD would like to thank all of the parties who supported the grant application and we look forward to being considered for this award by Caltrans. Awardees will be announced this summer. 

As directed by the Strategic Plan, the county has been investing in its Clean Commute Program to promote our employees’ use of alternate modes of transportation, including bike and carpool incentives, and last-mile solutions connecting bus and train stations to county worksites. This quarter, county staff saved 105 metric tons of CO2 from being emitted into the atmosphere by clean commuting. Check out the impact of the Clean Commute Program below.

We've grown!

The Climate Action & Resiliency Division has grown! The team welcomed Rhianna Frank as the new Energy and Sustainability Division Manager in January, and Katharine Gabor as the new Climate Resilience Project Analyst in February.

Rhianna Frank assumed the role of Energy & Sustainability Manager at CARD. Before joining the county, she served as the Climate Action Manager at the City of Petaluma, overseeing diverse projects such as city-wide electrification, fleet management, and resource recovery. Rhianna holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and Planning from Sonoma State University and a master’s degree in Environmental Management from the University of San Francisco.

Outside of work, she enjoys spending quality time with her family and exploring various outdoor pursuits like camping, fly fishing, and kayaking. 

Katharine Gabor joined CARD as the Climate Resilience Project Analyst. Her background is in biological sciences, environmental toxicology and environmental science and engineering. In the first portion of her career, she worked as a pollution prevention engineer, then directed a group that carried out sustainability certifications based on life-cycle assessment. Before joining the CARD team she worked for Conservation Works and the Town of Windsor as a sustainability coordinator.

Katharine received her doctorate from UCLA and holds a master’s degree from UC Riverside. In her spare time, she loves to hike, camp, garden, cook and read.

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The Climate Action and Resiliency Division (CARD), within the County Administrator’s Office,

is dedicated to helping the County and the community address the climate crisis

and achieve its climate-related goals and objectives.