Each year, Gold Ridge RCD hosts an Annual Board Tour to reflect on the work completed throughout the year. At the end of the year, we invite our board members, partners, and community to join us in visiting major projects that took place across our district in the West Sonoma County region. The tour gives everyone a chance to see the work firsthand and recognize the partnerships that make this work possible.

We began our 2025 Board Tour at Sonoma County Regional Parks’ Ragle Ranch, where cold weather did little to slow us down as we toured a fire resiliency project implemented through the LandSmart Grazing Program and explored our forestry conservation initiates. During this stop, we recognized Hattie Brown and Lulu Waks for their leadership in advancing collaborative grazing partnerships on public lands that reduce wildfire risk and strengthen long-term landscape resilience.

From there, the tour continued to Iron Horse Vineyards, where participants visited a segment of the Lower Russian River Watershed Coho Habitat Restoration Project. On site, we recognized Iron Horse Vineyards’ owners and staff for their partnership, dedication, and ongoing support of watershed and salmonid restoration efforts. We also honored Joe Pecharich of the NOAA Restoration Center for his long-standing commitment to advising and supporting Gold Ridge RCD through project development and technical expertise that continues to strengthen effective salmonid restoration across our district.

We concluded the day back at Ragle Ranch with a shared lunch and conversation, reflecting on the progress made over the past year and the work still ahead. The Annual Board Tour is a reminder that conservation is built through time, collaboration, and shared commitment.