North Sonoma Mountain Park and Open Space Preserve Master Plan

North Sonoma Mountain Park & Open Space Preserve Master Plan Project

Community Meeting #1 Bennett Valley Guild April 27, 2017 Sonoma County Regional Parks Department Meeting Purpose Share information about the Park with the community Obtain ideas from the public for development of the Master Plan Meeting Outline

1. Introduction

2. Site Description

3. Conservation Easement Summary

4. Assets and Considerations

4. Project Goals

5. Group Exercise

6. Wrap Up Park Information

• Comprised of six properties: Jacobs Ranch, Cooper’s Grove, Sonoma Mountain Woodland, Wilroth, Skiles and Walsh Ranch.

• Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District (District) purchased five of the properties and transferred them to Regional Parks in September 2014.

• District retained a Conservation Easement to preserve and protect forever the conservation values of the five properties.

• Sonoma Mountain Woodlands property was deeded to Regional Parks in 1995 as part of the subdivision improvement agreement for the Sonoma Mountain Woodlands Subdivision. Park Information

• A portion of the Park and Preserve was open to the public in February 2015.

• Approximately 820 acres and shares a boundary with Jack London State Historic Park.

• Connectivity with other protected wildlands provides important expansive habitat for a variety of native wildlife.

• Park and Preserve contains oak woodlands, grasslands, bay forest, redwood, riparian, chaparral, and wetlands.

• Prominent ridgeline with scenic vistas.

• Sensitive habitat types.

Attachment 2 l

~~ Skiles Conservation Easement I I \

( Figure 1: North Slope Sonoma Mountain Ridge Trail Project Map

Natural Features Construction Features Trail & Road Network ,. Pote ntial Raptor Nest Construction Staging Area Bay Area Ridge Trail Bridge Project Proposed Trail Spur 0 Stream Crossing Trail Realignment Disabled Parking Perennial Stream Cooper's Grove Trail Spur Parking & Trailhead 200 Foot Contour Existing Road Fairfield Osborn Preserve 40 Foot Contour \ (Sonn= S">e / ~~ Bunch grass Uoi~;cy) 0 250 500 1,000 N Wetland ~~ ~. 1•c:i•m::m••• Feet Redwood Grove Map Prepared by: Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space Dis trict , Ju~26, 20 12 A MapSoorces Aerial PMto: AirP hoto USA, SCA PO SD ThismGp is foril ustrativepurposeson!yandis rot Parcel Unes&Roads: County ofSoooma ~ r i1tended to beused asdefinitin! propert,'descrflh;ins ~ Existing Park & Preserve Final Approved Trail Plan North Sonoma Mountain i.~~ ~ IOH O M A CO UNT Y Coastal Regional Park Br Open Space Preserve AGRICULTUML rRLSCRVATION <$ ( .onscrv.nity ANO OPIN SPACE DISTRICT ii~ ' 8 ~ ·-

~ BAY AREA RIDGE TRAIL PARKING 0 DOGS AUOWED m ON LEASH - MULTIUSE FIRE ROAO () FEE STATION NO DOGS -- MULTIUSE TRAIL D TRAILHEAD 0 • • • HIKING/EQUESTRIAN TRAIL RESTROOMS • NO POTABLE WATER ..,.., HIKING ONLYTRAIL rilil AVAILABLE IN PARK EQUESTRIAN STAGING - ADA-ACCESSIBLE TRAIL G:I ROAD Q PICNIC AREA - UTILITY LINES PARKING FOR ADA· ., '-' ..... -BRIDGE mACCESSIBLE TRAIL .... ~ VISTA POINT Odi O DISTANCE IN MILES .... GATE ~i~ P'roperty _ _ .... D SONOMA COUNTY ) REGIONAL PARK •TRAILS ARE OPEN TO HIKERS. .... D STATE PARK BICYCLISTS AND EQUESTRIANS I '""' EXCEPT AS NOTED \ 1 '1'l"ntain I- \ '911 I .... 9 ,.,.... ~ ...~Ji., I 0.1' ~l ... ~/ L .... '-- ~· -....! ,..,, ~-- ,, l.. - eJ.'?!!~ Jack London North Sonoma Mountain Regional Park offers gorgeous Sor.oma Mountain contains some of the richest ~'?~-l'&.,.W-.1'"\~/'j~ .., State Historic Park views of the Santa Rosa Plain and surrounding peaks, biodiversity inSonoma County.For example,justwithin ,,.. \,.. . -!: protects diverse plant and wildlife systems, and connects the Ridge Trail corridor, you will see coast live oak, I ______~ O l to the neighboring trail network at Jack London State valley oak, black oak, Coastal redwood, California r: Closed toPublic ) Historic Park. buckeye, California bay, Douglas fir, madrone, flowering ff '""' \ Sonoma Mountain is a defining geographic feature of currant, and twinberry, just to name a few tree spedes. I ,.,. FUture €J Sonoma County, and this park expands public access Thisland also is home to deer, mountain lions, bobcats, 1 'Regional Park ' golden eagles, quail, turkeys and other wildlife. to and understanding of the iconic mountain. The pa rk Expansion contains a 3.7-mile section of the Bay Area Ridge Trail, While on the trail, please be considerate of fellow trail ,... which winds up the mountain's northern slope. users and follow all park rules.

,...,.. LS l.5 15 ___... __..5 ....,OM.le ______0 0.25 o.,s MILE ILEVATION"'°''Lt (klcrtJ - !alMtlrnN~ ~olchlr:Jll I toJidiLon~on Contou-r Interval 20 feet Sbt@ P3tk - Sonoma I /V'- CD -- entnoce/. ::::::1_..,t - Mileage· Prom North Sonom• Mounlain ParkTrallhead I Mountain Talhna ~~ 2.l Miles ta BennettValley Overlook I .2463' 1,500' South }='=~ry ,...,.. 3.7 Mil.,tohcl< London St.it• HutonePark boundary 1,200' ""'' 4.2 Miks toHayfields T'mljunction 8.0 Ml.Its to hck London Stite Htnonc Park Entrilnct I M;i.. Biotic Resources & Plant Communities

Sensitive and Unique Plant Communities • Redwood Forest • Native Grassland • Wetlands, Marshes and Vernal Pools • Oak Woodlands • California bay forest Redwood Native Grasslands Forest

Riparian Oak Woodland Animal SpeciesSpecies

Table 3. Special-Status Animals Likely or Known to Occur on the North Slope Sonoma Mountain Regional Park and Open Space Preserve

Common Name Scientific Name western pond turtle Emys marmorata Ca lifornia red-legged frog* Rana draytonii tricolored blackbi rd Agelaius tricolor grasshopper sparrow• Ammodromus savonnarum golden eagle• Aquila chrysaetos burrowing owl Athene cunicularia white-tailed kite Elanus leucurus Bryant's savannah sparrow• Posserculus sandwichensis olaudinus northern spotted owl Strix occidentalis caurina pallid bat Antrozous pal/idus *Known to occu r on the preserve. Western Pond Turtle CalifoCaliforniarnia RedRed LegLeggedged FrogFrog

Pallid Bat Golden Eagle Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District Conservation Easement Summary

Properties Include – Jacobs Ranch, Cooper’s Grove, Skiles, Wilroth, and Walsh Conservation Values include • Scenic – size and stature make it a primary scenic resource in the region. • Natural – mosaic of plant communities providing habitat for a wealth of species, connectivity for wildlife movement, and a variety of habitats; redwood grove, oak woodland, grasslands, wetlands, and riparian. • Recreational and Education – provides opportunities for residents and visitors to experience the natural environment and spectacular views. • Agricultural – historically grazed since the 1950’s provides open grassland for grazing and includes existing ranch infrastructure. Conservation Purpose • Protect forever the Conservation Values of the Property. • Prohibit and prevent any use of the Property that will materially impair or interfere with the Conservation Values of the Property. • Preserved and protected in perpetuity. • Conservation priority – preservation and protection of scenic resources, then natural resources, then recreational and educational resources, then agricultural resources. Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District Conservation Easement Summary

Properties Include – Jacobs Ranch, Cooper’s Grove, Skiles, Wilroth, and Walsh Protection of Conservation Values • No activity, use or improvement on the Property shall be designed or undertaken in a manner that causes or results in significant adverse impact on o Native Plant and Animal Species o Sensitive Habitat o Habitat Connectivity o Soil and Water o Scenic Values o Public Outdoor Recreation Development Envelopes • Uses, activities, structures, and improvements are restricted to designated envelopes on the properties. Easement Development Envelopes

Primary Building and Walsh Building Envelopes • May be used to develop or improve existing structures such as educational centers, barns, storage structures, camping, staging, up to three residences, trail and other public events. • Current structures • Jacobs Ranch: two houses, two horse barns, a large storage shed, a small woodshed, and an older barn. • Special events – only within the Primary and Walsh Building Envelope or on trails constructed in accordance with the Easement except as follows: • Walsh Ranch summit knoll – up to 4 daytime events/year no more than 150 people in attendance (not including event staff and service personnel) • Walsh Building envelope no more than 60 people in attendance (not including event staff). Environmental Camping Envelopes • May be used to develop hike-in camping, group campsites, picnic areas, or other camping related recreation. Cell Tower Site Envelope • Includes the existing cell tower for use by Sonoma County, PG&E, and AT&T. • No further development is to occur within this envelope. Existing Proposed Trail Existing Staging, Trailhead and Restroom Approved with the original Trail Plan Existing Ranch Buildings ...... Easement Access - no trail crossing Existing Ranger Residence ii....~ Park & Preserve Boundary Existing Park & Preserve Road Jacobs Property Existing Easement Road c::J Existing Ranch Road Primary Bu ilding Envelope

Existing Remnant Road Environmental Camping Envelope

Existing Park & Preserve Trail Residence EExisxistingting TTrailsrails Entry Road

Ranch Infrastructure Habitat

Fairfield Osborn Preserve

JACK LONDON HISTORIC STATE PARK

Views

Existing Easement Road Existing Ranch Road Existing Remnant Road ...... Existing Park & Preserve Trail ii ....~ Park & Preserve Boundary c:J Sonoma Mountain Ranch Property D Cell Tower Site Envelope Walsh Building Envelope

Environmental Camping Envelope

Q Summit Knoll

m::mcm--c::=:::::11--Feet 145 290 580 870 1,160 March 20017 Potential Activities

• Hiking • Natural Resource Education • Mountain Biking • Historical Site Interpretation • Horseback Riding • Group Camping • Picnicking • Nature Observation and • Hike-in Camping • Photography Staging Area & Restroom Preserve Scenic Vistas and Wildlands

Ranch Infrastructure Roads & Trails Assets Sensitive Resources Steep Terrain

Considerations

Developmental Envelopes Project Goals

• Develop facilities sensitive to the unique environment • Develop a Master Plan that provides o A range of recreational opportunities in the natural environment o Balances natural resource protection with recreation o Protect unique natural and cultural resources o Encourages public education and interpretation • Accessible facilities and trails for all users • Develop Resource Management Plan o Management strategy to preserve conservation values o Identify restoration opportunities to support conservation values o Inclusive of rangeland grazing management o Monitoring and analysis of data to adaptively manage the Park & Preserve North Sonoma Mountain Park & Preserve Jacobs, Coopers, Sonoma MnL Woodl

'Tll i1 mapi1 lorillu1t111tiv1purposttonlyandis not inttndecltobea dt fin rtivt pr~rtydHtription.

Improvements

Fa irfield OSborn Preserve

Coosiderations

Uses

JACK LC H ISTC STATE

Improvements

Considerations

Existing Easement Roaa LJ Cert Tower Site Envelope North Sonoma Mounta Existing Ranch Park Maint. Road Park & Preserve \IVa lsh Building Envelope Existing Remnant Road Wilroth, Skiles, Walsh This map is for illustrative purposes only and is Existing Park & Preserve Trail D Environmental Camping Envelope not intended to be a definitive property descripti Pffilate Access Gate .,; 10' Contour ...... 0 Summit Kno ll Group Exercise i . ... ~ Approx. Park & Preserve Boundary + o!""~?"""!~===,C>..ooo~--·,"!.~. et M< Project Schedule

Community Workshop #1

Park Open

SPRING SUMMER FALL Spring SUMMER 2015 2017 2017 2017 2018 2018 Project Contact

Karen Davis-Brown, Park Planner II 707 565-1359 [email protected]