To: Board of Directors of the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District
Staff Name and Phone Number: Misti Arias, General Manager, 565-7264; Leslie Lew, Natural Resources Specialist, 565-7367
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Fifth District
Title:
Title
Wright Hill Ranch Transfer-Related Infrastructure Contract (Property No. 0280)
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Authorize the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District’s General Manager to execute a funding agreement with Sonoma County Regional Parks to complete fence construction on Wright Hill Ranch Open Space Preserve.
(Fifth District)
end
Executive Summary:
The Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District (Ag + Open Space) transferred the Wright Hill Ranch Regional Park and Open Space Preserve (Preserve) to Sonoma County Regional Parks (Regional Parks) and retained a conservation easement and recreation covenant over the 1,236-acre Preserve on June 2, 2021. At the time of transfer, Ag + Open Space agreed to provide $175,840 to Regional Parks for completion of livestock watering infrastructure and fence repairs that were already in progress under Ag + Open Space’s ownership. This funding agreement expired on May 2, 2026. Regional Parks is requesting a new contract to use the remaining $29,724 of the original $175,840 to complete the project by September 15, 2029.
Discussion:
Ag+ Open Space purchased the Wright Hill Ranch Regional Park and Open Space Preserve (Preserve) in 2007 for $5.6 million. The Preserve consists of approximately 1,236 acres east of Sonoma Coast State Park (Red Hill) and Highway One, north of Bodega Bay. The Preserve is visible from Highway One, which is a designated Scenic Corridor, and from other protected lands throughout the region, including the Sonoma Coast State Park, Willow Creek Addition, and Jenner Headlands Preserve. The parcel borders Sonoma Coast State Park on its entire northern and western boundaries. The Preserve is also bounded on the southeast by the Colliss property, which is also protected by an Ag + Open Space conservation easement. The Preserve is characterized by varied topography, rising to a high point of 1,190 feet in elevation at the top of Wright Hill.
The Preserve has a diversity of natural habitats, including coastal prairie, coastal scrub, freshwater wetlands distinguished by native sedges and rushes, rock outcrops, riparian forests, bay-madrone forests, oak woodlands, and redwood-fir forests. Special status species, such as the Townsend's big-eared bat, Harlequin lotus, western dog violet (larval host for Myrtle's silverspot butterfly), and American badger have been identified on the Preserve. The Preserve also has the potential to provide significant public recreational opportunities. The Preserve is primarily open grassland, which affords spectacular views of the ocean and the coastal mountains to the east. In addition, the Preserve will provide opportunities to connect to the California Coastal Trail and has the potential to link to other public lands.
The Preserve’s Coastal Prairie provides grazing land for cattle. Wildlife-friendly fencing is needed to prevent livestock from straying off-property, to manage grazing, and to protect sensitive habitat areas, such as springs and riparian areas.
Ag + Open Space transferred the Preserve to Regional Parks and retained conservation easement over the 1,236-acre Preserve on June 2, 2021. At the time of transfer, Ag + Open Space agreed to provide $175,840 to Regional Parks for completion of livestock watering infrastructure and fencing repairs that were already in progress by Ag + Open Space. The funding agreement for the fencing and watering systems expired on May 2, 2026.
The agreement funded construction of approximately 1900’ linear feet of fencing described as Fence BU-1 (See Attachment 2) and conduct a reassessment of and improvements to water infrastructure as described in the 2017 Ag + Open Space Wright Hill Open Space Preserve Management Plan (See Attachment 3).
On April 10, 2024, the 2021 scope of work was amended to prioritize different fencing for active grazing operations. The fencing installed was needed to effectively manage livestock that were grazing the Preserve for agricultural and habitat management purposes. This amendment also extended the term of the agreement to May 2, 2026.
In March 2026, Regional Parks completed the water infrastructure improvements and fencing contemplated by the 2024 amendment to the funding agreement. A surplus of $29,724 remained in the agreement budget. Regional Parks is asking Ag + Open Space to make that funding available to complete other fencing projects identified in the 2017 Ag + Open Space Wright Hill Open Space Preserve Management Plan. Parks also requested additional time to complete this scope.
Staff are recommending approval of the attached agreement to authorize the requested funding to Regional Parks. Funding will be disbursed as a lump sum upon completion of the fencing project.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
N/A
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No.
Prior Board Actions:
May 11, 2021 Resolution #21-0183: Transfer to Regional Parks and IPAOM and Transfer-Related Infrastructure funding
February 21, 2017 Resolution # 17-0096: Approval of Management Plans for Wright Hill Ranch and Calabazas Creek Open Space Preserves
August 28, 2007 Resolution #07-0736: Fee Acquisition of Wright Hill Ranch
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY 26-27 Adopted |
FY 27-28 Projected |
FY 28-29 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$29,724 |
|
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$29,724 |
|
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
$29,724 |
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$29,724 |
|
|
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Adequate appropriations exist in the FY 26-27 budget. The Ag + Open Space Board of Directors approved Transfer-Related Infrastructure funding on 5/11/2021. Funds have already been encumbered and no additional allocation or adjustment is needed.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
1. Funding Agreement
2. Map of Fence BU-1
3. 2017 Ag + Open Space Wright Hill Open Space Preserve Management Plan
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
N/A