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Coastal Conservancy Projects in Sonoma County
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- Sonoma: County established and named as one of original twenty seven in 1850; Indian origin of name uncertain.
- Sea Ranch: Planned second home community occasion for historic environmental battle for coastal access in 1963 leading to 1972 passage of Coastal Initiative. Part of Rancho German.
- Black Point/Beach: Near south border of Sea Ranch, one of court mandated access points, site of major Pomo settlement, later town and lumber mill.
- Richardson Ranch: Private ranch in long time family ranching ownership.
- Stewarts Point: 1857 dog hole port founded by A.L. Fisk; settlement a county Historic District with school and general store from 1860's.
- Fisk Mill Cove: Visible ring attached to rock typical of many previously existing along coast for mooring schooners in coves. Fisk family cemetery just off trail typical of private graveyards in isolated locations.
- Salt Point State Park: Summer grounds for both Kashia Pomo and Coast Yuki who, in addition to marine life, collected salt from cliffs and crevices of ro cky cliffs. Visible remains of 1870's town of Louisville and sandstone rock cutting for shipment to San Francisco.
- Gerstle Cove: Visitor Center highlights historic and natural diversity.
- Stillwater Cove: 1885 Fort Ross schoolhouse removed to this spot and restored.
- Timber Cove: Dog hole port for loading lumber; at lodge is Beniamino Bufano 1960 statue "Peace", his last finished work.
- Fort Ross State Park: Largest Russian settlement on Pacific Coast, 1812-1841, significant remaining buildings restored. Earlier summering site for Indians, later trade with settlers. Sold to John Sutter, and in 1873 to George Call for ranching and active schooner trade to San Francisco. Visitors center interprets all aspects of its history.
- Russian Gulch: Site of Russian vineyards. Promontory south contains visible signs of dog hole port for lumber including ties of train track and ring attached to rock to hold cables.
- Sonoma Coast State Beaches: Sequence of coves, beaches, bluffs and headlands from Russian Gulch to Bodega Head.
- Muniz Ranch: Subdivision name reflects historic Rancho Muniz.
- Russian River: Called Shabaikai (long snake) by Kashia Pomo and Slavianka (beautiful Slavic woman) by Russians, the 110 mile river was focal point of extensive lumbering and farming, later tourism, accessible by network of railroads.
- Penny Island at mouth saved from gravel mining plan 1970's.
- (Nearby) Duncan's Mills: Upstream historic town restored with railroad museum, site of 1877 Alexander Duncan mill.
- Bridge Haven: Site of Duncan's 1860 mill; roadbed of horse drawn rail route to Duncan's Landing visible in some places.
- Goat Rock: Remains of headland quarried in 1920's for Russian River jetty.
- Kortum Trail: Goat Rock to Wright's Beach, named for Sonoma County activist Bill Kortum for work for coastal access. See this site also.
- Duncan's Landing: Iron rings also visible here where schooners loaded lumber brought from Duncan's Beach Haven Mill.
- Salmon Creek: Upstream is site of Russian farming settlement to supply Fort Ross. After Russians left in 1841, Stephen Smith established first steam operated saw mill.
- Bodega Head: Proposed site for 1960's atomic plant; "hole in the head" visible on south side is remnant of construction before the plan was halted. Historically and geologically part of Point Reyes, separated from mainland plate by San Andreas Fault.
- Bodega Bay/Bodega Harbor/Town of Bodega Bay: Named for 1775 Spanish explorer Juan Bodega y Quadra. Settled 1870's as fishing port which exists with tourism; many 1900's architectural examples. Map
- (Nearby) Town of Bodega: Inland, settled 1853, a State Historic Landmark with buildings from 1859 still used.
- Valley Ford: Name refers to site of ford used by Indians and later settlers to cross Estero de Americano which separates Sonoma and Marin counties. Town dates from 1852 and older buildings remain. Steel pole identifies site of artist Christo's 1976 "running fence" and is a County Historic Landmark.