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Happy Love Day from the Gold Ridge RCD! We love and appreciate the community that makes West Sonoma County so special!

In 2019–2020, the Gold Ridge RCD worked with Dragonfly Stream Enhancement to construct the Dutch Bill Creek Winter Habitat Project. The project was intended to enhance salmon habitat with the specific goal of providing a low-velocity areas for juvenile coho and steelhead. It involved the construction of large and complex wood jams at eight locations along 750 feet of the creek.

The Dutch Bill project was constructed during a time of severe drought, and because of the lack of rain there had not been a period of sustained high flow since construction. This changed in early January 2023, when a number of sizable storms occurred back-to-back over two weeks. Gold Ridge RCD staff revisited the project site during the resulting high flows, and we are pleased to report that the large wood jams are functioning as designed, creating new habitat elements by deflecting flow, among them areas of calm, sheltered water around the wood jams and along the channel margins. This reach of creek, which previously had experienced high water velocities even in moderate flows, is now a much safer and more hospitable place for juvenile fish. Staff will continue to monitor the project site periodically during high flows, and we hope to replicate this approach at other locations.

You can read the full article on the Dutch Bill Creek Winter Habitat Project on our Medium page.

The Gold Ridge and Sonoma Resource Conservation Districts are happy to announce that new funding has become available to assist with the cost of compost application on agricultural lands in Sonoma County! This Carbon Sequestration Pilot Project aims to increase carbon sequestration through the application of compost on multiple properties in both agricultural and community settings throughout Sonoma County. We are accepting applications now and the deadline for applications is March 31st, 2023.

Funding granted supports compost projects for up to 85% or $25,000 towards compost and freight costs. Awarded applicants will be active agriculturists farming and ranching in Sonoma County. This includes operations for grazing, viticulture, orchards, and croplands, where income is generated from sales of farm or ranch products, and it is appropriate and beneficial to apply compost.

For more information and access to the application, read the full article on our Medium page!

Safer West County is a non-profit organization, connecting people and resources to build resilience in Western Sonoma County—in our forests, waterways, and communities. Safer West County (SWC) is a collaboration of communities focusing on reducing risks (to fire and other disasters) and improving our communities’ emergency preparedness. SWC stretches from the Russian River south to Bodega Highway and from west Sebastopol to the coast. Check out their website here and be sure to sign up for their newsletter to stay connected and keep up with community resources and projects!

Heavy rainfall in from the recent January storms caused floodwater challenges for many of us in California's agriculture community. The California Department of Food and Agriculture has provided a list of relief and support resources available from state and federal partners.

The Sonoma County Department of Agriculture/Weights & Measures (AWM) is conducting a preliminary data capture to evaluate potential damage and/or loss sustained during the December 2022 – January 2023 rain events in Sonoma County. AWM may contact the reporting party for additional information. All information is confidential. This information will be used to compile a damage assessment report for Sonoma County in order to qualify Sonoma County for possible federal assistance. Data collected is for AGRICULTURAL RELATED damage and/or loss only.

CAL FIRE has available funding for wildfire prevention projects and activities in and near fire threatened communities. Funded activities include hazardous fuels reduction, wildfire prevention planning, and wildfire prevention education with an emphasis on improving public health and safety while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. CAL FIRE is now accepting applications for their grant program until March 15th, 2023.

This free webinar and in-person ranch tour event is organized by DailyActs and sponsored by the Sonoma RCD.

In this fun and educational workshop, you’ll learn practical, low-tech/low-cost and nature-inspired solutions to improving horse health, site design, and increasing the value and functionality of your property while mitigating all forms of land degradation!

The webinar portion of the event will occur Saturday, March 4th, from 9am-1pm. The in-person portion of the event will occur Sunday, March 5th, at 11am in Petaluma.

The California Climate and Agriculture Network (CalCAN ) recently published an article on their blog highlighting the CalAgroClimate web-based support tool. The support system was developed by the USDA and University of California Cooperative Extension to aid growers and producers in risk management decisions by integrating historical weather data, forecast information and crop-specific information.

CDFA released an article on their Planting Seeds Blog to highlight their mental health resources for farmers and farm workers. Stress felt by farmers and farm workers is caused by a number of factors such as exhaustion, financial stress, natural disasters, and acts of violence. These resources are especially relevant after the mass shooting at two farm properties in Half Moon Bay on January 23rd, 2023. We stand with the agricultural community in San Mateo County as they heal from this tragedy.

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