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• Protecting our communities
• Grazing for wildfire resiliency
• Creating career pathways in conservation
• Welcome Fatima and Sophia!
• We're hiring
• Upcoming partner events

Protecting our communities and resources

Sonoma County like many California counties is annually threatened by catastrophic wildfire, particularly in the wildland-urban interface (WUI). With the potential for future catastrophic wildfires in our community, protecting local resources and communities is at the forefront of our work. Recently, the RCD completed the Trinity Ridgeline Fuel Break Project which implemented strategic fuel breaks along the ridgelines between Trinity Road and Nuns Canyon Road in the Sonoma Valley.

The completion of this project provides protection to the Oaks community, a 150+ house neighborhood. During the project’s implementation, the RCD and partners offered a series of webinars for landowners and landscapers focused on defensible space, fuel breaks, and home hardening. Additionally, we worked with Spye General Engineering to create a 4-mile shaded fuel break along access roads using heavy equipment and chainsaws. Shaded fuel breaks are important to reduce fire speed, severity, and to increase the potential for successful containment of a wildfire. This project was possible with the funding from the Sonoma County Vegetation Management Grant Program. If you are interested in learning more about what you can do on your property check out the fuel reduction guide here. If you would like to schedule a technical assistance site visit to discuss forest management and or fire fuels on your property, please connect with us via info@sonomarcd.org or visit our resources page below.

Grazing for wildfire resiliency program celebrates year three

We are thrilled that the LandSmart® Grazing Program has accumulated a lot of interest from the local community! During Phase III of this program, Sonoma RCD has awarded 6 projects, all of which are on multi-properties with at least 8 acres of grazing access. We are currently working with the awarded applicants to develop project scopes and connect them with contract grazers. The projects will be competed in the spring, summer and fall seasons of this year. Stay tuned for updates on the progress of project completion as the year goes by. If you are interested in this program for your own property or haven’t received funding yet due to popular demand, Sonoma RCD in partnership with Gold Ridge RCD continue to work together to secure funding resources for this important program.

Creating career pathways in conservation

After a short hiatus due to COVID, our FARMS Advanced Leadership Program is back! The FARMS Advanced program is the RCD’s conservation and agricultural career pathway program launched in 2018 in partnership with the Center for Land-Based Learning. Select alumni from FARMS Leadership Year One participate in an additional semester of programming supporting their career pathway, building upon their leadership skills, and expanding their network of opportunities within the environmental and agricultural fields. This year’s cohort is composed of five students from Casa Grande High School, Pivot Charter, and North Bay Met Academy.

Earlier this month we had our first trip of the spring semester in which students had the opportunity to receive an overview of the agricultural industry from both the local government side as well as the producer side. To begin the day, we met with the Sonoma County Department of Agriculture & Weights and Measures. Students learned about all the regulations and requirements the department must abide by and keep in order at the county level for proper producer-to-consumer relations. From there we went behind the scenes at the Clover Sonoma plant in Petaluma with Mike Benedetti, Senior Director of Sustainability, Regulatory and Quality, followed by a presentation and discussion with their marketing and sales departments as well as CEO Ken Gott. The students had such a wonderful time exploring what makes Sonoma County agriculture so special, we can’t wait for the rest of the semester! Thank you to our industry partners and dedicated land stewards for your support of both the FARMS Leadership programs, we could not offer these impactful programs without you.

Welcome to our new Program Assistants!

We are elated to announce and welcome our two newest staff members of the RCD team.

Community Engagement Specialist

Help us spread the word on this exciting new position!

The Sonoma Resource Conservation District (SRCD) is hiring a permanent, full-time Community Engagement Specialist. The Community Engagement Specialist will lead the coordination of multi-stakeholder watershed planning efforts and forest health partner collaborations throughout the District. The position will convene partners and members of the community to drive landscape-scale fire resilience through active forest and rangeland management. The Community Engagement Specialist will also assist with planning and implementation of wildland fuels reduction by relaying and disseminating information between technical environmental staff and landowners. This position will play a vital role in supporting community relations, working to understand and integrate the diverse perspectives, motivations, and values of partners, government agencies, and landowners. It will involve meeting constituents where they are, and progressively evolving community and outreach initiatives based on current needs.

Laguna de Santa Rosa Restoration Plan Community Open House

Event hosted by the Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation

Come join us for an insightful public open house event to delve into the much-anticipated Laguna de Santa Rosa Restoration Plan! This plan, developed in tandem with San Francisco Estuary Institute, Sonoma Water, and California Department of Fish and Wildlife, provides a comprehensive strategy for rejuvenating habitats along the Laguna's 22-mile span.

The Community Open House will be a great opportunity to learn more about the Restoration Plan for the Laguna de Santa Rosa, completed in August 2023, and interact with folks who are committed to putting the plan into action.

Gain valuable insights into how this initiative aims to recreate diverse ecosystems, improve water quality, and safeguard native species. This event offers a unique opportunity to deepen your understanding of the plan's goals, methods, and the critical role it will play in restoring the Laguna's ecological balance. Engage in discussions that shed light on this significant restoration effort while considering the community's needs. Your presence and understanding are integral in shaping the future health of the Laguna de Santa Rosa!

The Sonoma RCD was grateful to participate in this planning process as a member of the Management Advisory Committee.

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