Blog
August 2024 eNews
Top Story – Transitioning a Family’s Ranch to a public park
In December, we proudly announced the acquisition of the 654-acre McCormick Ranch, marking a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to preserving the natural and productive lands around us. Amidst the cheers and congratulations that followed, a common question emerged – would the public have access to this natural treasure? The unequivocal answer is “Yes!” And the journey to make this happen is a tale worth telling.
Through thick and thin
While the announcement and subsequent transfer of the property may seem like swift actions, they represent the culmination of over 25 years of unwavering dedication and focused commitment to land conservation. This journey included appraisals spanning two counties, weathering two major wildfires, navigating updated post-fire appraisals, and persevering through a global pandemic. The cycle of progress and setbacks was not enough to deter the tenacity and commitment of our staff, board, and partners. Their efforts, sustained by the support of our members and funders, secured the legacy of a history-rich property, honoring the centuries of people who have carefully stewarded this land, which will soon be available for all of us to enjoy in perpetuity.
Expanding Recreation
A glance at the map reveals the strategic significance of this parcel. It completes the vision of an interconnected trail system, uniting over 13,810 acres of conserved or in-process land. Nestled between Hood Mountain Regional Park and Open Space Preserve and Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, it creates an opportunity for new trail connections between the two parks, filling in gaps of the Bay Area Ridge Trail, and offering visitors breathtaking 360-degree views of Mount St. Helena, the Napa and Sonoma Valleys, Sonoma Mountain, the Sonoma Coast, and San Francisco Bay.
Climate Resiliency
Beyond the scenic beauty and recreational opportunities that large, intact landscapes like McCormick Ranch offer, their preservation plays a pivotal role in improving climate resiliency. Continued stewardship of this property enhances fire safety, exemplified during the Nuns Fire, where the property’s 2,500-foot-high summit served as a critical fire break and staging area for CAL FIRE, preventing the wildfire from crossing back into Napa County. Continuing to nurture this land through forest management practices that include prescribed fire will improve ecosystem health, the well-being of our habitats, and community safety.
Biodiversity
In preserving McCormick Ranch, we safeguard not just a parcel of land, but an essential wildlife corridor and open space for a diverse range of species to live, and a crucial water resource for Napa and Sonoma counties. McCormick Ranch’s unique location in the Mayacamas mountains frequently receives three times as much rainfall as Santa Rosa and the adjacent valleys. Serving as an important contribution to water absorption and storage in our underground aquifers that benefit Sonoma County residents.
People protect mountains
The preservation of McCormick Ranch stands as a testament to the power of collaboration, perseverance, and the enduring commitment to the well-being of our communities and the environment. It also reflects the impact you can make when you invest in what is important to you. Jeff and Laurie Ubben stepped in with their financial support at a critical moment in the acquisition process, and their contribution is a gift for today and countless tomorrows.
Former landowner Jim Perry and his sons have passed on their family’s legacy through the preservation of the land that held their beloved ranch. This conservation achievement is shared by the entire community, local wildlife, and generations to come.
Our Land Acquisition Director John McCaull said it best, “From scenic vistas to new hiking opportunities, clean water, climate adaptation, and managing land to reduce wildfire risks, McCormick Ranch has it all.” This is a milestone moment and a big win for our community, and we can’t wait to see the benefits of this special landscape in the coming years when it will become open to public recreation and exploration.
Top Post – The Western Fence Lizard’s Superpower
Have you ever seen a lizard doing push-ups? According to California Naturalist Sarah Reid, a male Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis) or “Blue-Belly” uses this push-up movement to attract a mate. Extraordinary fact: these unassuming reptiles carry an enzyme that kills Lyme disease in Lyme-carrying ticks. After biting the lizard, the tick no longer has the bacteria that transmit Lyme!
Top Video – Little Eyes and Little Smiles
A sweet collection of intimate moments with some of the newest Sonoma residents as seen through the camera lens of nature photographer Benedicta Justine.
Top Reel – What would you call a baby quail?
If baby swans are cygnets and baby hawks are called eyas, then perhaps it is time to give baby quails a name too!
What would you call a baby quail? Drop ideas in the thread below, and maybe you will start a new trend in the bird world.
Quail babies, currently known as chicks, hatch from their eggs and can leave the nest to follow their parents in just one day. They primarily eat seeds and leaves, but also enjoy acorns, berries, bulbs, and insects.
Our state bird is showing off their newest family members at our Live Oaks Ranch in Knights Valley.
Top Webinar – Raptors in the Skies
California Certified Naturalist Larry Broderick takes us on an enlightening tour of the diversity of raptors that migrate down the Sonoma Coast each fall. Enjoy a stunning visual display of close-up photographs, learn how to spot the birds in the skies, and get an insider’s view into this fascinating world of flight.
Top Webpage – Activities for Kids
A lifelong love of the outdoors starts in childhood! From backyard bingo to coloring pages to a wildflower guide, enjoy this collection of free, fun for all ages activities that help your family learn about nature in Sonoma County. Games and activities are available in both English and Spanish.
A Force for Nature: Dianne Brinson
Dianne Brinson and her husband Mark Radcliffe moved to Santa Rosa in 2020, but their sights had been set on Sonoma County as a retirement destination for decades. Originally from the South, Dianne moved to the San Francisco Peninsula from Georgia in 1990 after she and Mark were married – both lawyers, the pair met at a computer law conference in San Francisco. Throughout the 30+ years Dianne and Mark worked in Silicon Valley, they would spend weekends and vacations in Sonoma County, where they found a deep connection with the natural beauty of the area. When it came time to retire, there was no question about where they would be moving.
As residents, Dianne and Mark take full advantage of what Sonoma County has to offer – they love hiking, taking their rescue dogs to local parks, cycling for Mark, wine tasting at small, family-owned wineries, and trying out our robust restaurant scene. In addition, Dianne shares that they’ve met so many nice people since moving, and the community they’ve been able to build here is just another reason they love living in Sonoma County.
Dianne has been a Sonoma Land Trust board member since 2021, but she was first introduced to the organization in the late 1990s by her late friend and “second mom” Dr. Rae Hudspeth, a Sea Ranch resident who cared deeply about the land and environment. Rae asked Dianne to be the executor of her will, and upon her passing Dianne shares that the only bright spot of settling her estate was writing a check to Sonoma Land Trust.
As a lawyer, Dianne was no stranger to estate planning, but seeing the long-term impact that this type of gift could have in bolstering the Land Trust’s mission of conserving land, preserving the natural beauty of the county, and combating climate change was a catalyst for her own advocacy for legacy giving. Dianne shares that one unique and fulfilling aspect of legacy giving is that even those who don’t have the current ability to make major contributions can have a significant impact in the future. These gifts don’t hamper your current cash flow or lifestyle, but they ensure that future generations can enjoy the benefits of a healthy, thriving environment.
Dianne and Mark envision their own legacy gift contributing to slowing the impacts of climate change, making the outdoors accessible to everyone, mitigating pollution in the air and water, and keeping Sonoma County beautiful. The original home they purchased for retirement burned down in the Nun’s fire in 2017, so they’re passionate advocates for wildfire resilience and have a vision for nature-based solutions that reduce the risk of fires and provide cool, shaded areas for everyone to enjoy.
Dianne is confident Sonoma Land Trust has the tools to accomplish these goals, naming the staff, board, and organization’s reputation as reasons why she’s a passionate supporter, sharing “I love the way we all work together to do the right thing for the county. . . we’re the good guys!” The Jenner Headlands, with its sweeping vistas of the Sonoma Coast, is one of Dianne’s favorite acquisitions, and she says that each time she takes her dogs to Sonoma Valley Regional Park she smiles when she sees Sonoma Land Trust on the sign as a participant in the park’s expansion funding. She’s been especially excited about the acquisition of McCormick Ranch, which will expand Hood Mountain Regional Park and Open Space Preserve, as her house is nearby and she loves climbing the trail up to the picnic tables. The role Sonoma Land Trust plays in facilitating access to nature and open space for the community drives home for Dianne and Mark their personal “why” for becoming members.
August is National Make a Will Month, and Dianne and Mark are generously putting forward a matching gift to donate $1,000 for each new donor who names Sonoma Land Trust as a beneficiary of their estate, up to $30,000! Dianne understands that it can be difficult to think about estate planning and that it can feel like a chore, but in her experience, it can be as simple as adding a clause to your will stating you’d like to leave an explicit amount or percentage of your estate to Sonoma Land Trust.
Whether you’ve already decided to put Sonoma Land Trust in your will, or this is a new idea for you, Dianne hopes this matching gift challenge encourages you to contact Sonoma Land Trust and complete the process. Help her meet her goal of 30 new Legacy League members!
Land Trust Legacy Challenge
August is Make a Will Month, and when you leave a bequest to Sonoma Land Trust in your will or trust, make a beneficiary designation, or any other planned gift it will spark an immediate gift to support our mission. Generous Legacy League members Dianne Brinson and Mark Radcliffe will donate $1,000 for every new legacy commitment, up to $30,000. It’s a wonderful opportunity to sustain our work for decades to come while also making a difference right now.
To learn more, please email Camille Matson at camille@sonomalandtrust.org
Member Appreciation Day 2024
Member’s Day has sold out. We are overwhelmed with the show of support for this event. Our waitlist is also full, so if you have signed up and can no longer attend, please let us know by contacting Philanthropy Event Coordinator Grace Martino at grace@sonomalandtrust.org or (707) 526-6930 x 840
Welcoming new staff
Carl Gboney – Operations Project Manager
Please join us in welcoming our new Operations Project Manager, Carl Gboney! Carl brings a solutions-oriented approach and nearly a decade of experience leading cross-functional projects and programs to his role at Sonoma Land Trust. He is a Certified ScrumMaster® and excels at collaborating with a wide variety of internal and external partners. Originally from Ghana, Carl moved to the U.S. for college and lived in several states across the country before moving to the Bay Area and then Napa with his wife. Outside of work, you can find Carl in a Pilates studio, hiking our local trails, wine tasting, or catching a movie at a local theater.
Ellen Velazquez Muralles – Operations Manager
Please join us in welcoming our new Operations Manager, Ellen Velázquez Muralles! Ellen joins Sonoma Land Trust with a passion for efficiency, a desire to contribute to a collaborative work environment, and an investment in the continued success and growth of the organization. She brings extensive event planning experience and comprehensive organizational and communication skills to her role on the operations team. She is driven by the desire to work with and for her community, with previous roles at Los Cien Sonoma County and Legal Aid of Sonoma County. Outside of work, you can find Ellen immersed in a good book, enjoying the warmth of the Sonoma County sun, and exploring the outdoors with her beagle.
Thank you for being a voice for nature!
Sonoma Land Trust is committed to bringing nature’s voice to the Capitol, and we are celebrating two exciting policy wins for climate change and conservation:
- Thanks to your advocacy and support, the latest California budget deal preserves funding for the Habitat Conservation Fund, which has protected nearly a million acres in the last 34 years. This decision will have tremendous benefits for habitat protection and climate change for years to come.
- As the state budget was being finalized, it was clear that more action and funding was needed to meet our 30×30 goals, and a Climate Bond would provide consistent funding for projects across the state addressing biodiversity loss and climate change. In collaboration with our partners, we asked lawmakers and the governor to pass legislation to include the biggest climate investment in the state’s history. On July 3, Prop 4 was approved for voters to choose on their November ballot. Stay tuned for more closer to November’s election.
News
Ariana Rickard speaks on the benefits of Prop 4
The state’s largest single investment in climate change is coming up for a vote this election. Hear why it matters in this short interview with our public policy manager, Ariana Rickard.
Another 100 acres conserved!
Sonoma Land Trust and our partners secured funding to purchase a future linkage between Hood Mountain Regional Park and Open Space Preserve and Saddle Mountain Open Space Preserve, together comprising a network of conserved lands covering more than 11,000 acres or 17 square miles.
Free outings
Join us out in nature this month! We’re hosting a series of urban creek walks and sunset hikes, as well as our monthly bilingual Familias al Aire Libre/Families Outdoors outing. Learn more and register on our website.
Many of these hikes are in partnership with Sonoma County Ag + Open Space.
Staff recommendation
Riley Scaff, Stewardship Project Manager
Gathering Moss by Robin Wall Kimmerer is about the whole universe of mosses and bryophytes beneath our feet. Fun fact: mosses slow the air currents around them to keep their environment cool and humid. When it’s hot out I like to imagine laying on a bed of cool moss in the forest (I won’t though, because mosses are fragile!)
