"The acquisition of the Willow Creek Conservation Lands will link over 13,600 acres of protected land in Sonoma County, safeguarding an important wildlife corridor in this resource-rich area," Assemblymember Patty Berg (D-Eureka) said.

Senator Wesley Chesbro (D-Arcata) praised the Board’s action. “The people of Sonoma County have worked long and hard to see their magnificent coastline protected. The Willow Creek property will expand the Sonoma Coast State Beach Park, providing both resource protection and important public recreation opportunities. This has been a great collaboration.”

The property contains the remaining privately owned portion of the Willow Creek watershed, and nearly the entire Freezeout Creek watershed. The State purchased the lower Willow Creek watershed in 1978 for inclusion in the Sonoma Coast State Beach. Willow Creek and Freezeout Creek are both tributaries of the lower Russian River and flow into the Sonoma Coast’s largest freshwater marsh.

Acquiring the property will protect close to 30 threatened or endangered species of special concern in the Willow Creek and Freezeout Creek watersheds. Freezeout and Willow creeks support critical habitats for the endangered and threatened coho salmon and steelhead trout. The Willow Creek watershed has been considered excellent spawning and nursery area for salmon and trout. Willow Creek comprises approximately three miles of fish-bearing stream on the conservation property, a majority of which lies within the fee portion.

"The Willow Creek property has important recreational values and is a biologically rich resource that deserves public protection," Berg said.

The $4,250,000 is allocated from the voter-approved bond – The Water Security, Clean Drinking Water, Coastal and Beach Protection Fund of 2002 (Prop. 50).