Tolay Lake Regional Park Master Plan

Background

The Sonoma County Regional Parks Department acknowledges and thanks all the group and individual contributors and supporters that made this outstanding acquisition possible.

The acquisition of Tolay Lake Ranch establishes a long-awaited regional park in the southern portion of Sonoma County, easily accessible to northern Marin, southern Napa, and Solano Counties. There are opportunities to establish multi-use trails for cycling, hiking and equestrian use. The site also offers opportunities for bird-watching, picnicking, and interpretation of natural and cultural resources. There are several high points on the site that provide spectacular views of the Petaluma River basin, Mt. Tamalpais, San Francisco, Oakland, Mt. Diablo, Mt. St. Helena, as well as other landmarks in the six adjacent counties.

The Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation & Open Space District and the Sonoma County Regional Parks Department have worked together to purchase and preserve Tolay Lake Ranch. In April 2005, all their hard work paid off when the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to purchase the land. Now the land’s rich historic and prehistoric past, including vast cultural resources, will be preserved forever.

Restoration of historic Tolay Lake will occur in coordination with interested resource agencies and local partners and neighbors. There will be many opportunities for public input during the park planning process. The development of the site into a Regional Park, including the restoration of Tolay Lake and any restoration of existing structures, requires preparation of a Park Master Plan and environmental document pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

Help Us Plan Tolay Lake Regional Park

Sonoma County Regional Parks invites all interested individuals, groups, neighbors, non-profits and other agencies to participate in the development of a Master Plan. There will continue to be a series of public meetings and workshops to provide valuable input into what should and shouldn’t be included in the Master Plan. The plan will be subject to the California Environmental Quality Act and the conservation easements held by the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation & Open Space District, State Coastal Conservancy, and Wildlife Conservation Board.

A disabled-accessible interpretive center, featuring the rich cultural, agricultural and natural history of this site and region will be a likely feature of the park. Restoration of Tolay Lake will occur to ensure natural and cultural resource protection with compatible public access, consistent with the conservation easements. Tolay Lake will not be restored to its full historic size due to the impacts on adjacent properties.

Master Plan Request for Proposals

(Submission deadline ended 2/29/2012)

Request for Proposals (1.33 MB)

Supporting Documents

1. Biological Resources Study – Tolay Lake Regional Park (5.94 MB)
   Prepared by LSA Associates, Inc., April 2009  
2. Biological Resources Study – Tolay Creek Ranch (5.95 MB)
   Prepared by LSA Associates, Inc., May 20, 2009  
3. Tolay Lake Regional Park Rangeland Resources Study (6.08 MB)
   Prepared by LSA Associates, Inc., March 13, 2009  
4. Baseline Geomorphic Assessment of Tolay Creek (1.22 MB)
   Prepared by Joan Florsheim, Geology Department, University of California, Davis, June 2009  
5. Hydrologic Feasibility Analysis for the Tolay Lake Ranch Property (8.78 MB)
   Prepared by Kamman Hydrology & Engineering, Inc., December 2003  
6. Deed and Agreement by and between County of Sonoma and The Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District – Tolay Lake Ranch Conservation Easement (1.78 MB)
   Executed September 27, 2005  
7. Conservation Easement Deed – Wildlife Conservation Board (1.33 MB)
   Executed September 23, 2005  
8. Report of Investigation – Tolay Lake Ranch(11.81 MB)
   Prepared by EBA Engineering, September 8, 2004  
9. Feasibility Analysis for the Restoration of Tolay Lake – Final Report (6.16 MB)
   Prepared by Ducks Unlimited, Inc., March 2005  
10. Tolay Lake Regional Park Interim Access & Resource Management Plan – Initial Study (40.91 MB)
    Prepared by Sonoma County Regional Parks, August 2008  
11. Tolay Lake Regional Park Initial Study – Conceptual Master Plan & Water-Right Application (34.42 MB)
    Prepared by Sonoma County Regional Parks, September 05, 2006  
12. Tolay Creek Riparian Enhancement Plan (60.18 MB)
    Developed by West Coast Watershed with assistance from Rob Evans & Associates, November 2009  
13. Building Inspection Report - 5869 Cannon Lane, Petaluma, California 94954 (643 kB)
    Prepared by American Home Inspection, May 24, 2004 Inspection Date  
14. Roche Ranch Conservation Easement Baseline Documentation (19.85 MB)
    Prepared by Circuit Rider Productions, Inc., December 2007  
1. Exhibits 1-7 (13 MB)
2. Attachments (19.85 MB)
15. Petition to Amend Water Right Application – September 21, 2006 (2.47 MB)
16. Notice of Petition for Change in Points of Diversion, Points of Rediversion, Purpose of Use and Place of Use (86 kB)
    Petition Filed September 25, 2006  
17. Water Availability Analysis Appropriative Application 30558) (7.58 MB)
    Prepared by Napa Valley Vineyard Engineering, April 1, 2008; Revised February 18, 2009  
18. Tolay Lake Regional Park Baseline Documentation (46.37 MB)
    Prepared by Circuit Rider Productions, Inc., June 2006  
19. Tolay Lake Regional Park Grazing Plan (96 kB)
    Prepared by Stephanie Larson, Ph.D., UC Cooperative Extension, Sonoma County  
20. Guidelines for Traffic Studies (1.02 MB)
    Prepared by the County of Sonoma, Permit and Resource Management Department and the Department of Transportation and Public Works  

Interim Access with the Day Use Permit Program

Sonoma County Regional Parks is pleased to offer expanded public access at Tolay Lake Regional Park with the Interim Plan (IP) Day-Use Permit Program.

The IP Day-Use Permit Program allows the public to visit the park during posted hours once they’ve completed an hour-long orientation and obtained a permit. Regional Parks is offering these mandatory one-hour orientations, free of charge, which cover permit procedures, and rules & regulations. After the orientation, participants receive Tolay IP Day-Use Permits, along with maps, park rules & regulations, and gate access cards. Permit holders may use the park for a variety of activities, including hiking, bicycling, picnicking, or horseback riding. April through September permit holders may access the park on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 8am to sunset. October through March, permit holders may access the park from 8am to sunset on Saturday and Sunday. Regular day-use parking fees apply.

Funding

The Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation & Open Space District provided more than half of the $18 million needed for the acquisition of Tolay Lake. These funds are from the ¼ cent sales tax approved by voters in 1990. The remaining $6.8 million for the purchase included grants from the Department of Fish and Game, Wildlife Conservation Board, State Coastal Conservancy, Land and Water Conservation Fund, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, State Proposition 12 Funds, and private foundations, businesses, and individual donors. 

Partner Agencies and Organizations