Depot Park Museum exhibit celebrates Ecology Center

An exhibit on “Environmental Awakening: Preserving Sonoma Valley and its Marshes,” opens today, Friday, March 27, at the Depot Park Museum, 270 First St. W., Sonoma.

The exhibit celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Sonoma Ecology Center, highlighting its environmental and educational programs, its successes in preservation, and its partnerships.

Historical Ecologist Angela Nardo-Morgan said, “The land in Sonoma Valley has undergone vast changes since the middle of the 1800’s. We no longer see grizzlies fishing for salmon, or herds of Tule elk and antelope grazing in the tall grass. Square miles of forest and grasslands were converted into orchards, dairies, vineyards and housing tracks.”

There is not a marsh, forest, creek, hillside, grove, or savannah that has not been altered by human intervention. What people see in the Valley today is not how it was when the first native peoples arrived. Over thousands of years, these early residents learned how to alter the landscape to meet their needs. More change came with the Spanish missions, then with the Mexicans and their cattle.

With the arrival of the Americans, things changed exponentially with the expansion of farms, ranches, industry and development. Animals that once thrived for thousands of years became extinct within less than a century. The same with various species of plants and fish. Over time, chemicals were sprayed in the fields, creeks were altered, marshland was filled and forests were logged.

While providing an historical context on the negative impacts of human intervention, the exhibit shares what is being done to protect and preserve the Sonoma Valley Watershed. Today, the watershed is being recognized for its unique and beneficial contributions to the Valley’s ecological health. Vast tracks of land are being preserved for future generations. Individuals and organizations are making strides in repairing the natural ecosystems of the Valley’s streams and grasslands.

The museum is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. For details, call 938-1762 or see depotparkmuseum.org.