Sonoma Ecology Center named ‘nonprofit of the year’ by Dodd

Sonoma Ecology Center has been named Nonprofit of the Year by 3rd District state Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa.

The Sonoma Valley nonprofit has a nearly 30-year history of environmental stewardship and preservation, and most recently has taken leadership roles in regional wildfire recovery and the transition of Sonoma Developmental Center to local control, according to Dodd’s office.

“We’ve worked for decades to engage our community on critical issues, like the future of the Sonoma Developmental Center campus, and to bring people together to find the best solutions,” said Richard Dale, executive director of the Ecology Center, in a press release announcing the honor.

The Ecology Center was founded in 1990 and focuses on addressing challenges to key resources such as water, open space, wildlife and maintaining the area’s rural character. It has worked to preserve and enhance such places as Sugarloaf Ridge State Park while fostering K-6 education programs, restoration projects and research into issues like watershed management and stream flow.

Recently, the Sonoma Ecology Center hosted public walks through wildfire-charred parts of the Sonoma Valley and Sugarloaf to study recovery. It also produced extensive wildfire destruction mapping to aid in cleanup of contaminants that could wash into creeks. The nonprofit is headquartered on the grounds of Sonoma Developmental Center and has been closely involved in community discussions about protecting the facility’s open spaces.

“I am constantly amazed at the impact Richard Dale and his group have had on our community,” Dodd said. “They’ve shown time and again their commitment to environmental stewardship while keeping the best interests of the public in mind. They are a model for others to follow. We’re fortunate to have them in our Valley.”

Dodd represents California’s 3rd Senate District, which includes all or portions of Sonoma, Napa, Solano, Yolo, Sacramento, and Contra Costa counties.