Since 1990, we’ve worked to increase appreciation and stewardship of Sonoma Valley’s natural heritage and create measurable benefits in areas of land, water, climate change and biodiversity. Supporting our work enables us to move us all towards a better future.
Who We Are
Sonoma Ecology Center works to address challenges related to water supply and quality, open space, rural character, biodiversity, energy, climate change, and a better quality of life for all residents.
Vision
We envision a future where people, land, water, and wildlife thrive.
Mission
Our mission is to work with our community to identify and lead actions that achieve and sustain ecological health in Sonoma Valley.
How can people, land, water, and wildlife thrive in a fire-adapted landscape?
Watch this video on how we keep people safer while supporting our environment.
Notice of Bid Solicitation
Sonoma Ecology Center is soliciting bids for construction of a floodplain restoration project on Sonoma Creek in Glen Ellen, CA. Minimum qualifications of past related experience are required, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation is encouraged in bid scoring criteria. The bidding period is from March 25, 2024 to April 26, 2024. Bid Documents may be requested via email to Steven Lee at steve@sonomaecologycenter.org, with cc to mattie@sonomaecologycenter.org
Upcoming Events
CA Naturalist Carolyn Greene leads this wildflower hike along Lower Bald Mountain Trail through mixed evergreen forest and chaparral. Enjoy the warming spring sun, the variety of colors, shapes, scents, and arrangements peeking through the vegetation, as well as the added bonus of whatever birds cross our path.
Tickets are $5-$10 sliding scale for adults and free for children under 18. Meet at the White Barn. Wear hiking shoes, layers appropriate for weather, bring at least a quart of water, sun protection, a camera, and a wildflower guide if you have it. Parking fees apply. Heavy rain cancels.
The 2024 City Nature Challenge runs from April 26 to 29. It’s a bioblitz-style friendly competition where cities are in a contest against each other to see who can make the most observations of nature, who can find the most species, and who can engage the most people. Learn more about City Nature Challenge or view the Sugarloaf Project here!
Participants of any level of experience can help find, photograph, record, and/or identify life in the park. Smartphones with the iNaturalist app will be our main tool, but those lacking phones are also welcome to participate. If you haven’t used iNaturalist, or haven’t made an observation for a while, this is your chance – just make sure to load the iNaturalist app on your phone before you arrive. This event is part of the Challenge along with other events scheduled from April 26-29. View the rest of our City Nature Challenge activities here!
Ease of access: The main parking lot has one van-accessible parking space and an accessible vault toilet. There is no running water in this area. The Lower Bald Mountain trailhead beginning from the main parking lot is a single-track dirt and gravel trail of approximately one mile in length and 500 ft of elevation gain. It has narrow sections with steps and switchbacks, as well as some wider sections in full sun exposure. Stern Trail is a roughly-paved fireroad with a few steep areas of loose gravel. It is about a mile in length, with the second half of the mile being flatter and sunny.
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For more events at Sugarloaf, visit our calendar of events.
Explore the different plant communities in Montini Open Space Preserve with us on Friday, April 26, 10:00 am-12:30 pm. This walk will be led by retired field botanist Greg Perrier.
The Montini Open Space Preserve was protected by Sonoma County Ag + Open Space in December 2005 for recreation and preservation of its natural and rich historic significance has been a working ranch since the time of General Vallejo. The preserve, which encompasses 152 acres, is in and adjacent to the City of Sonoma. With oak woodland, large rock outcroppings, and open grassland, the property offers beautiful views of San Francisco and San Pablo Bays.
Due to occasionally steep trails and uneven footing, the hike is rated intermediate; however, frequent pauses will allow hikers to catch their breath. There is no charge for the outing, which is made possible by the voters of Sonoma County who fund the work of Ag + Open Space with a quarter-cent sales tax.
Meet at Preserve entry: 4th Street West and Haraszthy Drive, Sonoma, 95476. Heavy rain will reschedule the event! For questions, email Tony at tony@sonomaecologycenter.org or Greg Perrier at gperrier@nvcc.edu.
More details on this walk will be available closer to the walk date. For a previous description of the walk, CLICK HERE.
Sign up for our emailing list to stay updated on future events: sonomaecologycenter.org/newsletters-sign-up.
Community scientists John Hibbard and Alex Weishaar set up a butterfly display in the greenhouse at the White Barn parking lot for you to you to enjoy during the 2024 City Nature Challenge. Free event; no RSVP required. Stay until noon on Saturday, April 27 or Sunday, April 28 for a guided butterfly walk.
View the rest of our City Nature Challenge activities here!
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We are selling a variety of California native plants to the public every Friday from 12:00-3:00 pm to help local gardeners create and maintain drought-tolerant and pollinator-friendly gardens and landscapes. Simply drop into our Native Plant Nursery. For questions, email our Native Plant Nursery Manager at hannah@sonomaecologycenter.org.
Our weekly plant sales will be cancelled October 6, 13, and 20, and November 24, 2023.
Sign up for our emailing list to stay updated on future events: sonomaecologycenter.org/newsletters-sign-up.
Venderemos una variedad de plantas nativas Californianas al público cada viernes de 12:00 a 3:00 pm para ayudar a jardineros locales a crear y mantener jardines y paisajes resistentes a la sequía y amigables a polinizadores. Simplemente acude a nuestro vivero de plantas nativas (ubicado dentro de Sonoma Garden Park). Si tienes preguntas, manda un email a nuestra gerente del vivero de plantas nativas por hannah@sonomaecologycenter.org.
Nuestra venta de plantas semanal en octubre 6, 13, y 20 se ha cancelado para prepararnos para nuestra venta estacional el 21 de octubre.
Inscríbete a nuestro boletín de noticias electrónico para estar al tanto de nuestros eventos futuros: sonomaecologycenter.org/newsletters-sign-up.
Join Sonoma Ecology Center naturalists at Van Hoosear Wildflower Preserve for one of the most spectacular wildflower displays in all of Sonoma County. Experience a pristine spring grassland with numerous species in full bloom. The 162-acre property in the foothills of Sonoma Mountain is protected by a conservation easement made possible by Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District (Ag + Open Space) and the California Wildlife Conservation Board. The property is managed under a partnership with the landowner and Sonoma Ecology Center to protect the Preserve’s unique plants, thriving streams, and wildlife habitat.
This outing is a beginning-level walk over a gently sloped land. Most of the walk is through grassland, generally not on trails, so the footing can be uneven. The walk crosses a few small creek channels, which sometimes have shallow water with stepping stones.
The dates for the Van Hoosear Wildflower Preserve Walks 2024 are:
- Saturday, April 6, 10:00 am-12:30 pm (English)
- Saturday, April 13, 9:45 am-12:30 pm (Spanish) – Regístrate aquí para la caminata en español/register here for Spanish walk.
- Saturday, April 13, 9:30 am-12:00 pm (English)
- Friday, April 19, 5:30-7:30 pm (English)
- Friday, April 26, 2:00-4:30 pm (English)
EACH WALK’S REGISTRATION WILL OPEN 10 DAYS PRIOR TO THE EVENT TIME. THERE IS A LIMIT OF 2 TICKETS PER ORDER. You will be able to find when your desired walk will open registration by clicking “Get Tickets” at the bottom of this page.
Please note that these popular walks fill to capacity on a first-come, first-served basis every year, so early registration is encouraged! Walks will go on in light rain, but heavy rains will cancel the walk.
Registration is required. Directions and day-of-contact information will be emailed upon registration. For additional information or questions about the outing, please contact Tony Passantino at 707.996.0712 ext. 124, or tony@sonomaecologycenter.org.
There is no charge for this outing, which is made possible by the voters of Sonoma County who fund the work of Ag + Open Space with a quarter-cent sales tax.
2023 Impact Report
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New Accessible Ramp Installed at Sugarloaf’s Community Science Office
This Spring, we finished the installation of a new accessible ramp at the Community Science office at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, which our Senderos Naturales staff and volunteers use for their work. We were able to complete this ramp installation using a grant from the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF).
Advancing Environmental Education with Free UC CalNat Course for Local Teachers
In our mission to bring high quality environmental education to all students in Sonoma Valley, Sonoma Ecology Center hosted a UC California Naturalist for Teachers (CalNat) course last Fall to support our Valley’s educators in their environmental education programs. Teachers are now sharing ways that they have been able to use the learnings from the course to improve their environmental instruction.
Propelling the biochar movement forward: A Conversation with SEC’s Biochar Program Manager, Raymond Baltar
Today, we sat down with Raymond Baltar, SEC’s Biochar Program Manager, to better understand how biochar is produced and used in our region and beyond, and what the potential is for more widespread biochar usage.
Hannah’s Garden Picks from the Spring Native Plant Sale
Hannah Aclufi, our Native Plant Nursery manager, is excited to share with you her top native plant picks for your garden this Spring. All of these species will be sold at our Spring Native Plant Sale.