- 2023 Sonoma County Crop Report Highlights RCD Efforts
- Exploring Erosion Control: Lessons from the Dirt Road Maintenance Workshop
- Welcome Board Director: Fred Euphrat
- Welcome GrizzlyCorps Fellow: James Gregory
- We are Recruiting Associate Directors
- RFQ for Contract Graziers - Get Access to $2,000 in Funding!
- Upcoming partner events, resources & activities
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2023 Sonoma County Crop Report Highlights RCD and Partner Efforts
The 2023 Sonoma Crop Report is now published for all to read! Annual county crop reports provide visibility for the agricultural sector and associated support agencies and organizations with county elected officials and state government officials and promote awareness of significant trends, risks, and innovation. Annual crop reports are used by a variety of stakeholders - by farmers and ranchers for comparison to other producers and in planning for future crop production, by financial institutions and businesses for decision-making, and by agricultural research and education agencies for planning programs and projecting trends. Critically, both state and local governments use data from county crop reports to inform planning and policy.
The climate-smart agriculture feature in the 2023 Marin and Sonoma Crop Reports is a result of partnerships and collaboration among agricultural support agencies and organizations. The inclusion of climate-smart agriculture efforts in the Marin and Sonoma report signals the growing trend of adoption of climate-smart land management strategies, underscores the key role of agriculture as a nature-based climate solution, and highlights areas for future investment. We want to thank both the Marin County Department of Agriculture, Weights & Measures, and the Sonoma County Department of Agriculture/Weights & Measures for featuring this important work and our regional partners who continue to be pioneers alongside the RCDs in this field.
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Exploring Erosion Control: Lessons from the Dirt Road Maintenance Workshop
Genevieve Tarino, Forestry Project Manager, attended the Dirt Road Maintenance and Repair Workshop in the Lagunitas Watershed (in Marin County) earlier this month. The event was organized as part of the Salmon Protection and Watershed Network (SPAWN), which is run by the Turtle Island Restoration Network, which focuses on coho salmon restoration efforts. Road repairs and maintenance are crucial to ensure a healthy habitat for these endangered salmonids. They also influence the use and longevity of the road.
The workshop started with a lecture from Pacific Watershed Associates (PWA) about road maintenance and erosion control, then participants traveled to a nearby ranch to watch the construction of a rolling dip. A rolling dip is an erosion control structure that diverts water off the road to minimize sediment delivery into nearby watercourses. It is one of several erosion control structures used on roads and is critical to the protection of salmonid habitat.
Genevieve shared some chronological photos and videos of the rolling dip construction. If you sort the files by name, you can watch the construction in order. Thank you, Genevieve, for attending and sharing with us what you learned!
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Supporting Landowner with Post-Fire Restoration
Jason Wells and Patti Aaron, from our Forestry Team, recently met with a landowner whose property was impacted by the 2019 Glass Fire to discuss fire recovery and future fire resilience strategies. In our continued efforts to help landowners adapt to changing fire conditions, the RCD can assist with implementing fire resilience projects designed to slow or reduce the intensity of a fire if one were to occur again in this area.
In addition to improving fire resilience, we’re also focusing on oak forest restoration. By collecting and planting acorns, we aim to help regenerate the native oak woodlands that are critical for local biodiversity, wildlife habitat, and ecosystem stability. Restoring these oak forests also contributes to long-term carbon sequestration, enhancing overall environmental resilience. This work will not only support the natural recovery of the land but also ensure the regeneration of a critical ecosystem that protects against erosion and sustains local wildlife.
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Welcome Board Director: Fred Euphrat
Please join us in welcoming Fred Euphrat as our newest Sonoma RCD Board Director! Fred Euphrat, Ph.D., has been a licensed forester since 1989 and started with the RCD as an Associate Director in 2022. He currently consults with local land management organizations like Pepperwood Preserve and the Jenner Headlands Preserve supporting their forest management goals. Fred has taught at UC Berkeley, Cal Poly Humboldt, SF State, and for the US BLM and is an adjunct professor at the Santa Rosa Junior College. His essays on nature are collected in "Sonoma Mandala," originally presented on KRCB, Santa Rosa.
Fred has owned a producing redwood forest on Mill Creek since 1960, which burned in the Walbridge Fire. Fred’s family has roots in Petaluma and Healdsburg. He is honored to be welcomed to the Sonoma RCD Board, as a landowner and forest producer. Thank you, Fred, for your contributions to our community and we look forward to further leveraging your expertise as a Board Director to drive forest health efforts locally.
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Welcome GrizzlyCorps Fellow: James Gregory to the RCD Team
We are ecstatic to be hosting James Gregory as our GrizzlyCorps Fellow for the 2024-25 year! James is joining our team to support the RCD's efforts in the world of sustainable groundwater management working alongside property owners, local water agencies, and the Sonoma RCD Water Resources Team.
James is a recent graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where he received his B.S. in Environmental Management and Protection with a minor in Land Rehabilitation and Restoration Ecology. "Go Mustangs," typically follows this achievement. James is passionate about the ideas of community-centered land management and processed-based restoration. In his free time, he enjoys surfing and running.
In the coming year, James hopes to, "work with our local GSAs to engage the community and steward our shared groundwater better, as well as develop a plan for process-based restoration at a site within the county. Most importantly, I am excited to meet and serve the people and places of Sonoma County. I'm very happy to be here and thank you for letting me be a part of your community!" Welcome James and we can't wait to see what this year's Fellowship has in store for you!
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Climate Ride Recap!
Last month, Jessica Pollitz, one of our Engineers, and Bruce Abelli-Amen, our Board Chairman, participated in the Climate Ride at Kendall Jackson Winery. Jessica biked in the 53-mile race, and Bruce biked the 35-mile one! As part of the Climate Ride, both of these incredible individuals trained, fundraised and shared with their friends and family the incredible work done by the RCD.
We also tabled at the event and were able to share with riders how our work advocates for a more climate-smart future, engages with families to share the importance of pollinators and connects with fellow non-profits to see how we can work collectively for a better future. We are so proud of our team members and are already looking forward to 2025!
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We are Recruiting Associate Directors!
We are recruiting to add Associate (non-voting) Directors to our Board to build a pipeline of Directors (voting) and diversify our Board to reflect the communities we serve. Volunteering as an Associate Director with the RCD is an opportunity to help make conservation happen on the ground by supporting an organization with a proven track record in the community.
You can view the Board of Directors Volunteer Position Description here. We encourage you to attend an RCD Board meeting to get to know us better. Meetings are generally held on the fourth Thursday of the month at 10:30 am, currently, Zoom attendance is an option, but in-person attendance is preferred for Associate Directors (voting Director’s must attend in person). Meeting information, including agenda and Zoom link, is posted on our website at least 72 hours prior to each meeting.
Download the Associate Director Application Form and submit it by email to ckuehn@sonomarcd.org or by mail to 1221 Farmers Lane, Suite F, Santa Rosa, CA 95405.
To be eligible to fill a future Director (voting) vacancy, applicants must (1) reside within the district and either own real property in the district or have served, under the district’s rules, for two years or more as an associate director providing advisory or other assistance to the board of directors, or (2) be a designated agent of a resident landowner within the district.
The Board anticipates reviewing Associate Director applicants at its November 21, 2024, board meeting, which will be held at 10:30 am. To ensure consideration at that meeting, interested applicants must apply by 11:59 pm on November 8, 2024. If you have questions, please contact Christine Kuehn, Executive Director at ckuehn@sonomarcd.org.
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RFQ for Contract Graziers - Get Access to $2,000 in Funding!
Gold Ridge and Sonoma Resource Conservation Districts are excited to continue the work of our LandSmart® Grazing Program for Community Resilience!
This initiative aims to reduce wildfire risks and enhance biodiversity through targeted livestock grazing. We invite you to complete our updated Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to help match grazers with land managers and private landowners interested in using grazing as a tool for vegetation management. If you submit the RFQ before Friday, October 11, you will receive a link to apply for up to $2,000 from a mini-grant. We do encourage applying ASAP because funds are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you have any questions, please reach out to Sophia Pruden, Program Assistant at spruden@sonomarcd.org.
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Sonoma County RCDs Accepting Applications to Fund Conservation Practices
Sonoma and Gold Ridge RCDs are accepting applications to fund conservation projects for local socially disadvantaged and historically underserved farmers and ranchers. Some project ideas include cover crops, grazing, compost application, hedgerow installation, and many more!
If you have any questions, please reach out to:
Sonoma RCD contact: Anya Starovoytov, Agricultural Program Director, astarovoytov@sonomarcd.org
Gold Ridge RCD contact: Emma Wood, Climate and Agriculture Resilience Fellow, emma@goldridgercd.org
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Support Mill Creek Flow Through Rainwater Catchment & Forbearance
We are excited to collaborate with landowners in the Mill Creek Watershed to implement rainwater storage systems. This initiative is made possible through funding from the Wildlife Conservation Board and in partnership with Trout Unlimited. Our objective is to capture rainwater during the wet season, store it, and utilize it during dry periods. This helps maintain essential water levels to support diverse aquatic life, including local salmonid populations! Mill Creek plays a vital role as a lifeline for these species.
To sign up or learn more, reach out to Colin Nicol, Water Resources Program Manager, at cnicol@sonomarcd.org.
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Prescribed Burns: What to Expect
Wildfires in California threaten our community's health and safety. Treating our forests with prescribed fire is a safe and critical tool for reducing the risk of destructive wildfires. It's
important to know why prescribed burns matter, and what to expect when a prescribed burn is happening near you.
Organizations like Sonoma Land Trust, CAL FIRE,
and The Nature Conservancy recognizes that returning good fire to the land is an essential tool for restoring balance and resilience in our forests. A couple of hours of smoke from a prescribed burn could reduce the risk of days and weeks of harmful smoke from a wildfire.
🎥 Watch the video below to hear from the experts.
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2024 Growing Success Webinar
Agricultural Institute of Marin and CAFF
Tuesday, Oct. 1st
3:30 - 5 pm
FREE to attend!
AIM and CAFF are cohosting a workshop focused on grants for producers, including the CAFF Farmer Funding Opportunities Database and the 2024 CUSP Drought Relief grant. Spanish translation are available!
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Sonoma Garden Park Harvest Festival
Sonoma Ecology Center
Saturday, Oct. 5th
FREE to attend!
19996 7th Street East, Sonoma, CA
Fall is upon us in Sonoma County, so what better way to celebrate than with attending local harvest festivals! Join Sonoma Ecology Center for a day full of family fun including but not limited to: straw bale structures, games, arts & crafts, pie contests, apple pressing, food and more!
El Otoño a regresado. ¿Qué mejor manera de celebrar que con un festival de cosecha? Únase con el Sonoma Ecology Center para un día lleno de diversion familiar. Habra estructuras de paja, juegos, artesanías, competencia de pie, comida y mucho mas!
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Irrigation Sensor Focus Group
UCCE, CAFF and Sonoma RCD
Wednesday, Oct. 9th
FREE to attend!
1720 Cooper Road, Sebastopol, CA
UCCE is hosting an in-person focus group on DIY water sensors for sustainable irrigation management. This hands-on event is tailored for small and mid-size specialty crop growers. Both we and CAFF will be there to share information about our programs, including the GSA well-monitoring initiative! Sign up here.
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Shone Farm Fall Festival 2024
SRJC Shone Farm, American Ag Credit
Saturday, October 12th
10 am - 3 pm
$10/car (online)
$15/car (at the gate)
7450 Steve Olson Lane, Forestville, CA
Shone Farm's annual fall festival is right around the corner! Experience a day out on the farm while also supporting our local junior college outdoor learning laboratory!
Meet the animals, pick Shone grown fall favorites, enjoy a hayride, slingshot some rotten fruit, and much more!
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California Native Plant Sale & Open House
Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation, CA Native Plant Society- Milo Baker Chapter
Saturday, October 12th
10 am - 1 pm
FREE to attend!
900 Sanford Road, Santa Rosa, CA
Planting season for California native plant gardens is here! Celebrate autumn at the Laguna Environmental Center (LEC) while learning about California native plants. Shop for new additions to your garden in the shared nursery of Laguna de Santa Rosa and the Milo Baker Chapter of the California Native Plant Society. A guided walk in Laguna's native plant demonstration garden will occur at 11:00 am or 12:00 pm. Take s troll down to Heron Hall to view the new art exhibit, “Flora of the Laguna” by a group of colored pencil artists.
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Conservation at Work with LandSmart®
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