Ranch at 2,463-foot summit of Sonoma Mountain to be protected
Sonoma Land Trust, Open Space District, Coastal Conservancy partner to purchase 283-acre Sonoma Mountain Ranch for $9,950,000
Acquisition offers trails, scenic views, diverse habitats, watershed protection
(SANTA ROSA, CALIF., December 9, 2008) — The Sonoma Land Trust and Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District have signed an agreement to purchase the 283-acre Sonoma Mountain Ranch at the summit of Sonoma Mountain for $9,950,000 by the end of the year. Nestled in the middle of a complex of protected lands, and buttressed by Jack London State Historic Park to the east and Fairfield Osborn Preserve to the west, this acquisition is key to creating a long-awaited public trail across the top of the mountain.
“We are fortunate to have the opportunity to purchase this significant property and create an unbroken band of 5,500 acres of publicly protected land on Sonoma Mountain,” said Supervisor Valerie Brown, whose district includes the property.
Sonoma Mountain is the signature mountain of Sonoma County, providing the scenic backdrop for the Sonoma Valley, Petaluma Valley and Santa Rosa. Sonoma Mountain can be seen from almost everywhere in the county and the sweeping vistas from this 2,463-foot mountain extend to the Pacific Ocean, San Francisco Bay and, on clear days, even the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
“The public should have access to every peak ringing San Francisco Bay,” said Wendy Eliot, Land Trust conservation director. “People can hike to the tops of Mount Tamalpais, Mount St. Helena, Mount Diablo and San Bruno Mountain, and now they’ll be able to hike to the top of Sonoma Mountain, too.”
Sonoma Mountain Ranch, also known as the Walsh Property, contains important ecological resources, including oak woodlands, grasslands, wetlands and the headwaters of stream corridors that, historically, have been home to spawning steelhead. “This acquisition is important to protecting connected wildlife habitat on Sonoma Mountain and is one of the most critical land preservation efforts to date,” said Andrea Mackenzie, District general manager.
Forging trails across Sonoma Mountain
Jack London is known to have traipsed from his Beauty Ranch over to Sonoma Mountain Ranch to find inspiration for some of his writings at Graham Creek, then known as Wild Water Creek. Following in his footsteps has not been possible for many years, but that will likely change as a result of this acquisition. Protecting Sonoma Mountain Ranch will allow hikers at Jack London State Historic Park and on the proposed North Slope Trail to access the top of Sonoma Mountain.
The District and Sonoma Land Trust join forces
This project allowed the District and the Sonoma Land Trust to partner again to protect significant open space for the benefit of present and future generations. The Land Trust took the lead on negotiating the purchase and provided $125,000 to secure the contract. Today, the Board of Supervisors approved the District’s contribution of $8,450,000 toward the purchase, with the California Coastal Conservancy providing the remaining $1.5 million.
“If the Land Trust couldn’t have put the money down quickly, we’d have lost this project, and if the District couldn’t provide the major funding, we’d have lost this project,” said Ralph Benson, executive director of the Sonoma Land Trust. “Sonoma County is very lucky to have both a nonprofit land trust and a voter-supported open space district partnering toward the same goals.
Protecting additional land on Sonoma Mountain
To replenish its Land Protection Fund, the Sonoma Land Trust is seeking to raise $250,000 so that it can move just as quickly and effectively to secure future projects in the Sonoma Mountain area. For more information please call (707) 526-6930 x108 or click here to make a donation.
About the Sonoma Land Trust
The Sonoma Land Trust preserves scenic, natural, agricultural and open land for future generations. Since 1976, the Sonoma Land Trust has protected nearly 20,000 acres of beautiful, productive and environmentally significant land. For more information about the Sonoma Land Trust, please visit www.sonomalandtrust.org.
