SONOMA COUNTY SUPERVISOR MIKE KERNS ANNOUNCES $2 MILLION DOLLARS IN SUPPORT FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME FOR ACQUISITION OF TOLAY LAKE REGIONAL PARK (CARDOZA RANCH)

New Funds Drive Campaign Toward Goal

Community Support Urgently Needed to Meet Late April Deadline for Purchase of Property

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MONDAY 2/28/05

Contact: Renee Tolliver

Office: 707-568-3257

Cell: 707-486-1767

E-mail: r_tolliver@comcast.net

Supervisor Mike Kerns announced today that Sonoma County’s acquisition of Cardoza Ranch received another boost as the California Department of Fish and Game directed $2 million in mitigation funds toward purchase of the property. The announcement follows on the heels of last week’s announcement by the California Wildlife Conservation Board of a $1 million grant for the project.

The county has convened a strong public/private partnership as it wages an aggressive campaign to secure the $18 million asking price for the property. Following acquisition, Tolay Lake Regional Park will provide 1,737 acres for recreational, cultural, agricultural, and environmental education activities.

Leading the campaign effort, the Sonoma County Agricultural and Open Space Preservation District has pledged $9 million for the purchase of the property. An additional $4 million has been secured from various private, state, and county funds, including those announced today from the Department of Fish and Game and approved last week by the Wildlife Conservation Board. The balance of the needed funds, $5 million, is expected from grant proposals pending with the State Coastal Conservancy and several private foundations as well as a capital campaign focusing on potential corporate and individual donors in Sonoma and Marin Counties.

In announcing the new funds, Supervisor Mike Kerns praised campaign achievements thus far and called on local businesses and residents for an energized effort in the crucial coming weeks. He cited the importance of meeting the campaign goal prior to the expiration of the County’s option on the property in late April. “We don’t want to lose this tremendous opportunity for the public to enjoy this amazing property,” he said.

The Tolay Lake ranch complex encompasses wetlands, riparian and upland habitat, ponds, freshwater marshes, unique grasslands and oak woodland. Several high points on the land present views of the Petaluma River Basin, Mt. Tamalpais, Mt. Diablo and the Bay Area. A new regional park would restore historic Tolay Lake and secure the protection of irreplaceable ecological habitat.

For information regarding the Campaign for Tolay Lake Regional Park, contact Renee Tolliver at 707- 486-1767. For information regarding the Department of Fish and Game’s support for the acquisition of this property, contact Senior Wildlife Biologist Terry Palmisano at 831-649-2890.

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