Contact SMP

By mail at:

SMP
5850 Grove St.
Sonoma, CA 95476

SMP Officers
elected June, 2007
and their contact
information are
as follows:

Helen Bates
President
707) 578-5853

Margaret Spaulding
Vice President

Nancy Peterson
Treasurer
(707) 938-0651

Pat Eliot
Secretary
(707) 935-3410

Sonoma Mountain
Preservation (formerly
called "The Sonoma
Mountain Preservation
Group") is a 501(c)(3)
tax-exempt nonprofit.
SMP's IRS-issued
Employer Identification
Number is 68-0428234

About SMP

Mission Statement

The mission of Sonoma Mountain Preservation (formerly called "The Sonoma Mountain Preservation Group") is to preserve the scenic, agricultural and natural resources of Sonoma Mountain, to expand recreational opportunities on the Mountain, and to provide a forum for constructive discussion of issues relating to Sonoma Mountain, and to represent the interests of Sonoma Mountain Preservation before public and private agencies or organizations.

Purposes and Objectives

1. To establish a group of concerned individuals that would become educated about options for open space preservation and would speak informally with land owners about these options.

2. To provide local community support for the efforts of agencies and organizations -- Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District (SCAPOSD), Sonoma Land Trust, Sonoma County Regional Parks, Bay Area Ridge Trail Council, Nature Conservancy, State Coastal Conservancy, and California State Parks -- that already have some interest in the preservation of portions of the Mountain.  The group also stays in regular contact with representatives of these agencies and organizations.

Sonoma Mountain Preservation is a citizen's organization dedicated to preserving the natural and scenic beauty of the mountain. The purpose of SMP is to stimulate a similar interest among like-minded citizens and property owners.  SMP starts from the premise that whether one is driving north on Hwy. 101, Lakeville Highway, or Hwy 121, coming into Petaluma from the west on D or Washington Street, or coming west from Napa on Trinity or Napa Road, the view is dominated by the mountain's magnificent ridge.  It is SMP's hope that this view can be preserved into the future.

The Group will at all times respect the property rights of all landowners on the mountain; each property owner will have to decide what, if any, steps might be taken to keep this/her property in open space.

Activities

The Group publishes its newsletter quarterly, presenting issues relating to our mission to the property owners on the Mountain, and to other interested parties.  It holds monthly meetings of its Board, to discuss and decide on actions relating to developments existing or proposed on Sonoma Mountain.  It has held public meetings to discuss issues before public agencies make decisions on a variety of matters affecting the Mountain.

Because of our activities, some 865 acres on the east side of the Mountain are now under the permanent protection of an SCAPOSD easement. Several landowners on the western flank are in the process of applying for a District easement for a total of more than an additional 1200 acres.  Some 600 acres above the old orchards on the Sonoma Developmental Center has been added to adjacent Jack London State Historic Park, nearly doubling the size of that park. A 4 mile public trail is being built along the ridge line to connect with other trail easements.  An ordinance was passed by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors that will help prevent the proliferation of architectural visual "statements" on the Mountain.