Press
The Sonoma RCD and partners are invested in supporting land managers and our community to build landscape scale resiliency. The projects accepted by this round of funding will build on countless hours of dedicated efforts such as prescribed grazing through our LandSmart program, establishment of shaded fuel breaks, forest thinning and the removal of ladder fuels, among other community-led vegetation management work happening on the ground. These projects are important for forest resiliency, habitat improvement, watershed health, and community protection.
Led by Sonoma County’s two Resource Conservation Districts, the School Garden Network, Conservation Works, and school district partners, this project is the culmination of years of research, experience, and conversation with dozens of schools, businesses, farmers, parents, students, teachers, non-profits, and local governments to define the most needed actions to support Farm to School programs in Sonoma County. We believe that the combination of implementation and planning to support Farm to School programs will make farm to lunch programs the norm instead of the exception and will have long lasting effects by building capacity for school districts to continue programming without grant support. This project will advance child well-being, economic growth, environmental resilience, and racial equity through farm to school systems that connect children to locally sourced whole foods and produce in cafeterias, classrooms, and gardens.
“Carbon farming is one of our best opportunities to achieve our climate goals in this county. Farmers and ranchers are already being part of the solution, and that’s only going to increase,” said local ag expert Valerie Quinto. Leaders in this Sonoma County effort are two 80-year-old organizations that grew out of a national movement to help farmers during the desperate years of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression.
Archive
Petaluma River Watershed: A Slough of Change
PRESS RELEASE – April 10, 2018: View & Download PDF
Sonoma County’s FARMS Leadership Program
Edible Magazine Marin and Wine Country
By Kirsten Jones Neff / Photography By Christine Kuehn & Courtney Avvampato
Capturing Rainwater for Household Use
Russian River Watershed Association
By RCD Project Manager, Justin Bodell
Sonoma County on path to regulating groundwater supplies
Press Democrat: March 24, 2017
By Derek Moore
Baby salmon trickle back to Russian River waterways after a long absence
Press Democrat: March 15, 2017
By Steven Nett
Young coho salmon arrive at new home in Porter Creek
Press Democrat: November 22, 2016
By Guy Kovner
Sonoma Creek watershed conservation grants ease vineyard erosion
Press Democrat: June 20, 2016
By Guy Kovner
On-The-Ground Water Quality Improvements Funded for Sonoma Creek Vineyards by LandSmart® Program
PRESS RELEASE – June 1, 2016: View & Download PDF
Sonoma County snares $8 million to fight drought and climate change
Press Democrat: May 6, 2016
By Guy Kovner
Farming for the Future: Stories of Agriculture, Environment and Community
North Bay Business Journal Special Promotion: April 24, 2016
Sonoma County coalition awarded $8 million grant for water conservation work
Press Democrat: February 12, 2016
By Mary Callahan
Sonoma County Partners Secure $8 Million USDA Grant to Build Drought, Climate Change Resiliency
PRESS RELEASE – February 12, 2016: View & Download PDF
Rooftop rain collection helps rural Sonoma County residents and salmon
Press Democrat: December 28, 2015
By Guy Kovner
A Taste of Agricultural History for Sonoma County Youth
PRESS RELEASE – October 29, 2015: View & Download PDF
Sonoma RCD Accelerates Water Storage Projects in Critical Coho Salmon Watersheds
PRESS RELEASE – September 24, 2015: View & Download PDF
Sonoma – Marin Farm News
Monthly our staff submit articles to the Sonoma Marin Farm News about the latest innovations in natural resource conservation, funding and partnership opportunities with the local RCDs, and local project successes.