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Sonoma Land Trust donates 1,665-acre ranch to Regional Parks
Doubles size of Tolay Lake Regional Park

March 3, 2017 ­— In November of 2007, Sonoma Land Trust purchased a 1,665-acre property in southern Sonoma County at risk of subdivision and vineyard development and named it Tolay Creek Ranch. The acquisition of Tolay Creek Ranch also completed the protection of a 7,500-acre wildlife corridor extending from the foothills of Sonoma Mountain to the bay. With sweeping views of San Francisco Bay, dazzling wildflower displays and plenty of space for hiking, the ranch was well suited to becoming a park — particularly since it is situated adjacent to 1,737-acre Tolay Lake Regional Park. Today, after nearly 10 years of resource assessments, habitat enhancement and creek restoration activities, Sonoma Land Trust has donated Tolay Creek Ranch to Sonoma County Regional Parks, a move that will double the size of Tolay Lake park.

Read Press Democrat story
Read press release

Towering old-growth forest … protected forever

Old-growth redwoods at Howlett Ranch.

April 19, 2017 — The project has been completed. Howlett Ranch is now protected for all time!

February 21, 2017 ­— Back in 2014, Sonoma Land Trust began working to help a family on the North Coast protect their 1,380-acre property that includes one of the last remaining intact old-growth forests in Sonoma County. The property is also adjacent to Buckeye Forest, the former Preservation Ranch, and so provides desirable habitat connectivity. Thanks to the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Sonoma Land Trust provided the landowners with a loan that enabled them to keep their forest intact until they could complete the sale of a conservation easement to our partner, the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District. In the meanwhile, our acquisitions staff also secured additional funding from the Moore Foundation ($1.28 million) and The San Francisco Foundation ($50,000) toward the $6.13 million easement cost. Today, we’re excited to announce that the Open Space District received approval this week from its Board of Directors (the Board of Supervisors) to purchase the conservation easement over Howlett Ranch. “Projects like this one are important because it takes generations to restore old-growth redwood habitat — so we need to protect what remains now while we have the chance,” says land acquisition project manager Ariel Patashnik.

Read press release

Celebrating 40 Years of Land Protection!

We've acquired a 162-acre property in the wildlife corridor

Wendy Eliot, Sonoma Land Trust’s conservation director, takes in the peaceful surroundings of Santa Rosa Creek near its headwaters in the Mayacamas Mountains. Photo by Kent Porter/Press Democrat.

June 30, 2016 — Sonoma Land Trust has purchased a stunning property in the Mayacamas to add to Hood Mountain Regional Park.

Read more here

It was a glorious opening of the new Bay Trail at Sears Point!

Hundreds of people enjoyed walking along the new Bay Trail on May 15. Photo by Beth Schlanker/Press Democrat.

Read all about it:
Press Democrat
Marin IJ
Sonoma Index-Tribune

Download brochure
with map of the new Bay Trail!

DONE DEAL! Estero Ranch has been protected forever

On December 24, we closed on 547-acre Estero Ranch, offering both Estero Americano frontage and Pacific coastline from which one can see Point Reyes, Bodega Head and Doran Beach. Read more here

Read January 7, 2016 Press Democrat article

Read October 29, 2015 Press Democrat article

View aerial video (4 min.)

Breaching the Sears Point levee to restore 1,000 acres of tidal marsh (Oct. 2015)

Astonishing two-minute video of the breach

Key press coverage
Santa Rosa Press Democrat
San Francisco Chronicle
KPIX-TV Channel 5
Marin IJ
Valley of the Moon Magazine
Fun Twitter compilation by SF Bay Tide

Video about the restoration with Julian Meisler (5 min.)