Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District

Join us for the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) Community Workshop for the Fifth District tonight, 5/6, at 6PM . The workshop will provide the opportu...nity to learn about wildfire preparedness as well as for The County to gather information from local residents about wildfire risks in their communities. You can view the entire schedule and register here:: tinyurl.com/WildfirePlan See more

Happening soon!

Making nature observations is fun and can benefit science! By observing nature we learn to better understand our ecosystems and recognize when something changes. You can use these three prompts the next time something catches your eye outside: 1) I notice... 2) I wonder...... 3) It reminds me of... Community science is a way for all of us to record our nature observations and help scientists keep an eye on biodiversity and climate change. Share your observations on apps like iNaturalist, Nature’s Notebook, or ISeeChange to contribute meaningful data! #CommunityScience #NatureObservation #Naturalist #ScientificJournal #Biodiversity #ClimateChange #GRRCD #RCD #Conservation #Environment #SonomaCounty #Education

Sonoma, Marin Water Utilities Seek 20 Percent Voluntary Water Use Reduction We request all water users of the Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership voluntarily reduce water use by 20 percent immediately due to the drought, said Susan Harvey, chair of the WAC and Cotati City Council Member. Reducing water use by 20 percent can be achieved by implementing some quick water saving tips, such as reducing outdoor water use and fixing leaks. We encourage our community to contact their water provider to learn more about water saving rebate programs and tips. https://sonomacounty.ca.gov//Sonoma--Marin-Water-Utilitie/

First compost tea application of the Spring season here at @gabrielfarmsebastopol! We’re loving those blossoming asian pear trees! #composttea #orchard #asianpears #organic Find out more about RCD programs and projects at our website: goldridgercd.org #rcd #grrcd #conservation #sustainability #soilhealth #healthysoils #sonomacounty #sfsu #environment #climateaction #climateadaptation

Wildflower Wednesday! [Image Description: yellow flower spikes against a background of a grassy hillside and cloudy sky] These yellow spires of pea-like flowers belong to the False Lupin! False Lupin blooms for a couple weeks in spring and then develops brown seedpods nestled in the grayish-green foliage. These wildflowers enjoy full sun and are drought-tolerant and deer-resistant (can you ask for more?) ... According to @calscapecnps, the appearance of these plants depends on wildfire activity - false lupin tend to spring up from dormant seed banks after fire. The specimen pictured above was found in an area that had experienced a prescribed burn the year before #FlowersAfterFire #FalseLupin #WildflowerWednesday #SonomaCountyWildflowers #Wildflowers #SonomaCounty #GRRCD

Reminder: This Thursday is the fourth Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) Community Workshop for those who live in District #5. You can register at the f...ollowing link: tinyurl.com/WildfirePlan ----- Recordatorio: Este jueves es el cuarto reunión de la comunidad del Plan Comunitario de Protección contra Incendios Forestales (CWPP) para aquellos que viven en el Distrito #5. Puede registrarse en el siguiente enlace: tinyurl.com/WildfirePlan See more

Common Waterfowl of the West (17 species!) Identification guide for our most common pond and lake denizens. (Ducks, Geese & friends)

Wildflower Wednesday! This sweet woodland flower is a Pacific Trillium (Trillium ovatum). Trilliums occur in parts of the western United States and western Canada, often occurring under firs and redwoods in California. There are over 40 species of trillium known worldwide, but the Pacific trillium or Western Trillium is the most widespread in the U.S. The flowers can be white or purple in color, and are often associated with other understory plants such as swordfern, violet...s, and redwood sorrel. As their name suggests, Trilliums can be easily identified by their sets of three (3 petals, 3 sepals). According to the U.S. Forest Service, trillium flowers produce no true leaves or stems above ground - the above ground plant is *technically* a flowering scape, and the leaf-like structures (also in whorls of 3!) are bracts extending under the flower. Despite their morphological origins, the bracts have external and internal structures like a leaf, function in photosynthesis, and most authors refer to them as leaves. #wildflower #wildflowerwednesday #wildflowers #california #sonomacounty #rcd #grrcd #conservation #sustainability #westcounty #nativeplants

It’s looking like late summer already in our creeks. As it’s never too early to save water, we’re thinking about putting up signs like these. Do you think they’d help? #grrcd #rcd #resourceconservationdistrict #conservation #sonomacounty #westcounty #naturalresources

Another beautiful day digging in the soil! #soilsampling #rcd #grrcd #healthysoils #sonomacounty #vineyards #soco #grapegrowers

RSVP for this "Farming During Drought: Sonoma County" Webinar ft speakers from the Gold Ridge RCD and Sonoma RCD!

Yesterday we watched Democracy. Today we must particate in it. Farmers, please take a moment right now to read (and hopefully sign onto) CAFF's letter urging ou...r state reps to back the Gov's budget, which includes funding for a number of incredibly important programs aimed at helping family farms during the pandemic, advancing social equity in agriculture, and promoting climate smart farming. See more

The Press Democrat published an article on the RCD's Sonoma Coast Monarch Project, check it out below! https://www.pressdemocrat.com//numbers-of-monarch-butter/

*Environmental Justice* workshop for teens! Hosted by the California State Parks Office of Community Involvement, Napa RCD, & Napa Youth Stewardship Council. https://naparcd.org/mlk-day-environmental-justice-workshop/

New Years Count finds continued decline of western monarchs. "Of the 117 overwintering sites that were monitored by volunteers during both Thanksgiving and New Year’s, 56 sites' populations declined, 25 sites' populations increased (11 of these increased from zero butterflies during the Thanksgiving count to hosting at least one butterfly during the New Year’s count), one site remained unchanged, and 35 sites hosted zero butterflies during both counts. In total, these overwintering sites witnessed a drop from 21,944 to 11,970 butterflies over the winter (Figure 1)an average decline of 46%. This is a slightly greater decline than the 38% observed last year (winter 20182019), but similar to the previous two years (Figure 2)." https://xerces.org//new-years-count-finds-continued-declin

Carbon Farming for Pollinators! Check it out :)

We are hiring! The North Coast Soil Hub is seeking a full-time Regional Coordinator to accelerate producer adoption of carbon farming practices, assist with cli...mate-friendly plan development, and serve as an educational resource to a range of stakeholders. The Regional Coordinator will engage in cutting-edge projects, research, and education with the goal of creating a Carbon Farming Network that improves the quality and effectiveness of carbon farm planning and implementation activities in the region which includes Marin, Sonoma, Napa, Lake, and Mendocino Counties. Visit the Marin RCD website for more information: https://www.marinrcd.org/about/staff/employment/ See more