Stewardship Assistance Program

The Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District has established the Stewardship Assistance Program to provide 2,000,000 dollars in grant funding over a four year period to the Gold Ridge and Sonoma Resource Conservation Districts. This funding is dedicated to the implementation of small natural resource enhancement projects on protected agricultural and forested working lands located within Sonoma County, California. The program is managed by Sheri Emerson, who serves as the Stewardship Manager. This initiative is classified as a categorical exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act, specifically pursuant to California Code of Regulations Title 14, Section 15378(b)(4). This exemption is granted because the program constitutes a government funding mechanism and fiscal activity that does not commit to specific projects resulting in potentially significant physical impacts on the environment. The program was formally authorized via a Notice of Exemption signed on May 13, 2026.