County hosting workshop on Conservation Sonoma to improve endangered species protection, streamline permitting

Permit Sonoma is hosting a public workshop to discuss an endangered species habitat conservation plan known as Conservation Sonoma, a multijurisdictional effort to improve endangered species protection and recovery and streamline permitting.

Conservation Sonoma Workshop

• Date: Wednesday, October 30, 2024
• Time: 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
• Location: Permit Sonoma, Hearing Room, 2550 Ventura Avenue, Santa Rosa
• Info: Refreshments served, free parking in visitors’ spaces

Permit Sonoma is working to develop a conservation plan in collaboration with other interested local governments and state and federal resource agencies.

The Conservation Sonoma plan will complete long-term planning for endangered species and develop standards for protection and mitigation for willing landowners to use to conduct a covered activity that could impact an endangered species. The plan will provide local control of the endangered species permitting process through long-term permits issued by state and federal wildlife agencies, allowing landowners to seek endangered species coverage from the County or other participating local governments. This will provide increased certainty of project timelines and associated costs while ensuring species protection and recovery.

“Conservation Sonoma will result in a large, interconnected reserve system that is protected in perpetuity, composed of populations of the covered species, their habitats, and the county’s diversity of natural resources,” said Supervisor David Rabbitt, chair of the Board of Supervisors. “Ultimately, creation and management of the reserve system will be funded through fees to mitigate the impact on the environment as well as grants.”

The plan will also benefit the environment by establishing measures that compensate for impacts on covered species and their habitats and establishing a mitigation program to fully offset any remaining impacts.

To stay informed about the development of the conservation plan, visit the website and sign up for emailed updates here.

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Media Contact:
Matt Brown, Communications Specialist
publicaffairs@sonoma-county.org
(707) 565-3040
575 Administration Drive, Suite 104A
Santa Rosa, CA 95403