- Welcome New Associate Board Directors
- North Bay Forest Improvement Program Back in Session
- Seeding the Future: Expanding Native Plant Genetic Diversity for Pollinators
- Curiosity, Connection & Conservation at the TOGETHER Bay Area Conference
- Building Stronger Communities Through Wildfire Awareness
- A Flock of Fun at Petaluma’s Transhumance Festival
- Introducing UCCE's New Water & Soil Advisor
- Wildfire and Earthquake Expo
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Welcome New Associate Board Directors
We are excited to welcome three new Associate Board Members to our team! Associate Directors are non-voting members of the Board who participate in meetings and committees, offering critical expertise and perspective to the RCD. These individuals are important members of the RCD Board as they actively support strategic planning efforts, participate with staff at events and workshops, and represent the RCD at a variety of functions or on technical advisories. Special projects based on experience and background that support the mission of the RCD in serving our community also arise. Read on to learn a little more about each of them.
Ally Souza (top photo) is a North Bay native. She grew up in Vacaville and attended Sonoma State University, where she studied Geography and Environmental Science. She currently works as a Fish and Wildlife Biologist with Sonoma County Water Agency, where she educates the local community and partners on the population and survival of endangered Coho salmon and steelhead trout.
Brynn O’Donnell (middle photo) brings a background in environmental science, watershed resiliency, and program management to her expertise as an associate board member. She has worked across philanthropies, nonprofits, and research institutions to support climate resilience and conservation initiatives. Brynn is currently a Senior Program Manager at Filecoin Foundation.
Rob Lawson (bottom photo) joined as an associate board member in March. He farms 10+ acres of grapes and olives in Dry Creek Valley. In his farming, Rob focuses on regenerative practices to cultivate biodiversity. He also leads partnerships and strategies for Planscape, a platform utilized throughout our region.
We’re grateful to have Ally, Brynn, and Rob share their time and expertise with us, and we look forward to the insights and energy they’ll bring to our work.
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North Bay Forest Improvement Program Back in Session
The North Bay Forest Improvement Program (NBFIP) is back—with new funding and an expanded partnership led by Conservation Works. Funded by a $3.5 million CAL FIRE Wildfire Resilience and Forestry Assistance Grant, the program offers financial and technical support to private, non-industrial landowners in Sonoma, Lake, Mendocino, and Napa counties to improve forest health and reduce wildfire risk.
Landowners can apply for funding to develop Forest Management Plans with a Registered Professional Forester or implement projects such as thinning, pruning, and fuels reduction. Special assistance is available for those in disadvantaged communities. Eligible properties must be between 5 and 500 acres and have not received certain state forestry funds since 2018. The next application period is expected to open this summer.
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Seeding the Future: Expanding Native Plant Genetic Diversity for Pollinators
We, alongside other Northern California RCDs, are partnering with Pollinator Partnership, the largest nonprofit dedicated exclusively to the protection and promotion of pollinators and their ecosystems, to continue our work of collecting local, native wildflower seeds.
Although many native plant species are available commercially in our area, they often share a very limited genetic source and have been bred for generations within a greenhouse or farm environment. This project seeks to increase the genetic diversity of the plants available for habitat restoration projects by carefully collecting a small percentage of seeds from wild populations across the county. Genetic diversity is important to increase the chance of survival once natives are planted, as well as to provide a more diverse blooming time for pollinators. All of the seeds we collect will be cleaned, inspected, and then given (as seed or grown plug plants) to habitat projects within their area of origin.
This project builds on our ongoing work to support native seed sources and pollinators. Past partners have included the Wildlife Conservation Board and the Monarch Joint Venture. In our current project, as part of the Project Wingspan Golden State, we are specifically seeking to increase monarch and other pollinator habitats by focusing on collecting and amplifying native milkweed and pollinator-friendly flower seeds. Project Wingspan efforts in the Midwest have been successful, and the Pollinator Partnership is excited to bring the project to California.
Sonoma RCD, along with other neighboring RCDs, collected a considerable number of native seeds from around the North Bay over the past two years, and Heritage Growers has been growing much of this seed to amplify at their seed farm, with over nine new species sown in their fields so far thanks to our efforts. Stay tuned next month to learn more about why milkweed is so important!
| | | Top and middle photo credit: TOGETHER Bay Area. | | |
Curiosity, Connection & Conservation at the Together Bay Area Conference
Earlier this month, Christine Kuehn, Executive Director and Anya Starovoytov, Agricultural Program Director, attended the annual TOGETHER Bay Area Conference, which proved to be an incredible opportunity to connect in person with regional partners and neighboring resource conservation districts throughout the Bay Area.
The conference centered on collaboration, with speakers highlighting how we can build deeper, more effective partnerships with tribal nations, local communities, and funders to advance shared conservation goals. The event opened with a powerful talk from an author who spoke about the role of curiosity—approaching people and challenges with openness rather than fear or judgment—as a pathway to healing, understanding, and meaningful action.
Anya shared, "It was inspiring to see how many of the conversations centered around personal growth, community engagement, and relationship-building as the foundation for stronger conservation outcomes. When we lead with curiosity and connection, we not only become better people—we become better stewards of the land."
The conference reminded us that successful conservation begins with people—and we’re committed to deepening relationships as we work to conserve and protect the landscapes we all depend on.
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Building Stronger Communities Through Wildfire Awareness
As the weather becomes warmer and vegetation begins to dry out, May has been designated as Wildfire Preparedness Month. During this month, our Forestry Team has been actively involved and leading conversations to help strengthen our community in preparation for wildfire season later this year. The month started with a workshop for the Upper Mark West Firesafe Council facilitated by our Community Engagement Specialist, Patti Aaron, to discuss their Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). During their time together, a total of 40 neighbors and 10 topic experts—including our very own Genevieve Tarino—identified the long-term projects to prioritize for funding.
To keep the good work going, our Forestry Program Manager Genevieve Tarino, presented at the Riebli-Wallace & Riebli-North Firewise groups. Her presentations provided an educational lens on the importance of vegetation management amongst roadsides and riparian corridors. Through these presentations, Genevieve was able to engage with members of our Santa Rosa community, becoming an educational resource for individuals interested in building a stronger community through wildfire awareness.
To wrap up the end of Wildfire Preparedness Month, Sonoma County will be hosting its annual Wildfire and Earthquake Expo. Whether you live in an urban area or a forested property, this expo is a great opportunity to prepare yourself and your family for any emergency. For more information on this expo, scroll down to our Events section below.
| | | Photo Credit to Paige Green. | | |
A Flock of Fun at Petaluma’s Transhumance Festival
Take a mid-morning walk down East D Street in Petaluma in April and you may just find yourself sharing the road with a herd of sheep on their way from the Fairgrounds to Steamers Landing. This annual sheep herding event is part of the Transhumance Festival, which the Sonoma RCD is proud to participate in more and more each year.
This year’s festival took place on Saturday, April 12. The day began at the Fairgrounds, where volunteers and community members gathered to learn the basics of herding sheep. Local grazing expert Sarah Kaiser educated the group on how to guide the flock calmly and effectively – like standing tall, staying calm, and facing the direction you want the sheep to go.
Delana Bradford from the City of Petaluma also spoke, highlighting the city’s growing use of targeted grazing as a fuels management tool, which is partially funded through the RCD’s LandSmart Grazing Program. Bradford highlighted Petaluma’s leadership in adopting grazing as a land management strategy and the city’s commitment to helping other local cities do the same.
Next, community members lined Payran and East D Street to herd the sheep along the path. Herders of all ages and backgrounds from throughout Sonoma County took part, creating a joyful and collaborative atmosphere. With a little patience and teamwork, the sheep were on their way by 10:30 am. They moved together in a fluffy procession that brought smiles to all bystanders along the route.
Once the sheep made it to Steamers Landing, they settled into a shaded corral to relax and graze. Meanwhile, the celebration continued with live music, local food and beverages, and educational booths - including one hosted by the RCD. Sophia Pruden, our Program Coordinator, connected with attendees to share information about local grazing projects and the long-term vision for ecological land management in Sonoma County.
At the end of the day, the sheep were herded onto a trailer and transported to their next grazing site. If you live in Petaluma or frequent local parks, keep an eye out – you may spot these cute, hardworking grazers out on the land, helping restore our ecosystems one bite at a time.
Stay tuned for updates on upcoming grazing projects across the county! And a big shoutout to Paige Green for capturing many incredible photos of the event—you can view them here.
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Introducing UCCE's New Water & Soil Advisor
We wanted to welcome and introduce you to UCCE's new Water & Soil Advisor Helaine Berris covering Sonoma, Napa, Marin, and Mendocino Counties. She recently attended our Board Meeting, and we are enthused to share her bio as well as some ways she is hoping to connect with local farmers to hear more about what they need.
From Helaine: I'm in the process of designing the Water & Soil Program to provide scientific education and research for on-farm water management and innovation in plant commodity cropping systems (vineyards, orchards, vegetables, fruit, flowers). The program will be shaped around practices that help improve farm-scale water efficiency while stewarding soil health, meet local regulations, and adapt to environmental extremes. This may include irrigation management, soil management to reduce erosion, research around soil-plant-water dynamics, policy and regulation education and so much more.
My primary goal during year 1 is to learn as much as possible about farmer/stakeholder challenges and barriers around water/soil. This information will help focus my work on issues that are needed in the community. I need your input to do this!
I’d love the opportunity to learn about your operation/work and hear about the challenges you face. Your insights will help shape my work to better support regional agriculture. Farmers, technical assistance professionals, and other stakeholders working in this space are encouraged to share.
There are a few ways you can contribute your thoughts with me, depending on what works best for you:
- Site visit to your farm – I’d be happy to come by and walk the land with you.
- Phone call or video chat – If an in-person visit isn’t feasible, we can set up a time to talk.
- Survey – If most convenient, you can share feedback below! It 7 questions ~ 5min
Please reach out to schedule visits or calls hmberris@ucanr.edu. I’d love the chance to connect in whatever way is easiest for you."
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Wildfire and Earthquake Expo
Sunday, June 1
10 am - 3 pm
FREE
Sonoma County Fairgrounds
1350 Bennet Valley Rd, Santa Rosa, CA 95405
Sonoma County will be hosting its annual Wildfire and Earthquake Expo. Whether you live in an urban area or in a forested property, this expo is a great opportunity to prepare yourself and your household for any rising emergency that may come our way. Join in on the family fun and hands-on learning for all ages!
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Exposición de Incendios y Terremotos
Domingo, Junio 1
10 am - 3 pm
GRATIS
Terrenos de la Feria del Condado de Sonoma
1350 Bennet Valley Rd, Santa Rosa, CA 95405
El Condado de Sonoma tendrá su exposición de incendios forestales y terremotos anuales este Domingo. Si vives en una area urbana o propiedad en las afueras de la ciudad, esta exposición es una gran oportunidad para prepararte y tu familia en caso de cualquier emergencia. ¡Únanse a la diversion y la educación para todas las edades!
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Conservation at Work with LandSmart®
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