The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria are committed to environmental protection and preservation and have take meaningful steps towards long-term ecological sustainability in the Sonoma County region. The Tribe has established a remarkable track record of working to preserve open space and to restore native habitat in Sonoma County. By donating its option to purchase nearly 1.700 acres of pristine land to a local land trust, working in partnership with state and federal agencies on critical restoration projec

ts,identifying land for its reservation which is consistant with local land use planning, and engaging the public in the environmental review process, the Tribe has been a key participant in the County's effort to protect the surrounding natural environment.
Land Donations
Sears Point Baylands
The Tribe played an instrumental role in the aquisition by the Sonoma Land Trust of 2,327 acres of scenic property located on the edge of the San Pablo Bay between the mouth of the Petaluma River and the Tolay Creek.

The following events culminated in the purchase and protection of this environmentally and culturally significant property in 2005.

  • November 2003 - The Tribe donates its purchase option worth $4.2 million to acquire the bulk property - 1,679 acres - to the Sonoma Land Trust.

  • December 2003 - The Tribe donates $75,000 to the Sonoma Land Trust to establish a fundraising campaign to purchase the 1,679 acres and an adjacent ranch.

  • Winter 2005 - The momentum generated by the Tribe's donations results in a successful campaign and the purchase of 2,327 acres.

Additional Open Space

Once the Tribe's development project is under construction, the Tribe has agreed to donate the following:

  • An additional 321 acres of Sears Point Baylands - valued at $4.5 million - to the Sonoma Land Trust.

  • $2.7 million to the City of Rohnert Park for the purchase of open space.

A Commitment of Sustainable Development

The Tribe's commitment to the environment includes efforts to establish its proposed resort and casino as a model of environmentally sustainable development. The resort will be built using green building techniques, with an emphasis on water conservation and reclamation.

  • The Tribe will implement the recommended measures in the EIS to ensure that its project has the least possible impact on local water supplies such as double-plumbing the facility for reclaimed water use. The Tribe will also pay for additional measures to study, improve and restore local water resources.

  • The Tribe has hired a green building team to integrate sustainable design elements into the project and to support the design and construction of an environmentally responsive facility built in accordance with LEED level environmental standards.

  • In many cases the mitigation measures the Tribe has committed to will not only address project impacts but also improve the environment and provide net benefits to the community.

Environmental Stewardship through Local Partnerships

The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria has formed close partnerships with several leading environmental groups in Sonoma County:

  • The Tribe donated 22,500 daffodil bulbs as a cost of $8,000 to be planted by over 100 residents, business owners and local organizations in a variety of public areas in Rohnert Park.

  • The Tribe is a major stakeholder with the Sonoma Land Trust in the Sears Point Baylands Restoration Project to restore tidal, seasonal, and riparian wetlands, streams, and upland habitats, to protect open space, and develop public access and educational opportunities, The Tribe is also partnering with the Coastal Conservancy, California Department of Fish and Game, Ducks Unlimited, The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on the restoration plan.

  • The Tribe donated $110,000 to the Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation to help protect the largest freshwater wetland complex in coastal Northern California and to help establish the Laguna Learning Center. Several tribal council members serve on the Foundation's committees and boards.

  • The Tribe has pledged to donate $2 million to develop and sustain and organic community gardens program in Rohnert Park neighborhoods in partnership with the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center. (OAEC)

  • The Tribe is serving on the Technical Advisiory Committee for the Tolay Lake Project, which is an unprecedented opportunity to restore and enhance over 1,700 acres of land around the lake. The project will help protect a diverse ecosystem including an open water lake and ponds, freshwater marshes, seasonal wetlands, riparian and upland habitats.

  • the Tribe is working in partnership with the Sonoma County Regional Parks District and has developed a cooperative agreement with the Point Reyes National Seashore.

  • With the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center the Tribe has developed annual workshops to train Graton Rancheria tribal members in the art of environmental sustainability, including the restoration in indigenous plant species and sustainable gardening and agriculture.

  • The Tribe will finance the planning of a sustainable community garden on the neighboring reservation of the Kashaya Pomo Tribe, providing a model for Indian reservations throught California and the country.

  • The Tribe is planting a roof-top garden on the third story deck of the building that it rents from Codding Enterprises.



The Environmental Programs Office is dedicated to improving and protecting the environmental and cultural resources of the tribe through collaboration and cooperation with local tribal, state, and federal agencies. 

Keeping this mission in mind, the FIGREPD office    performs the following functions:

a)Identify and research topics and concerns of interest to the tribal community;

b)Preliminarily ranking of issues based on their potential effect to human health or ecosystem health;

c)Engage the Tribal Council in discussion to help finalize rankings and priorities;

d)Develop general strategies for obtaining funds, interagency coordination, technical assistance, community assistance, or other tools necessary to reduce threats to human health, and that of the environment.

FIGREPD will deal with issues and projects pertaining to the water, wastewater, air, solid waste, cultural resources, natural resources, and other potential hazards that may affect the tribal land.  Other duties will be assigned to FIGREPD as the Tribal Council or Tribal Administrator determine necessary for maintaining a strong tribal environmental program.
Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT
ABOUT US
The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria Environmental Protection Department (EDP) was established on October of 2001. We continue to interact with the tribal community by incorporating environmenal education into every program.
E
nvironmental
Protection
has allowed the department to coordinate and collaborate with federal, state, and local agencies as well as the regional community. This allows the department to develop programs to address the complex environmental issues facing the tribe. Some of the programs the EDP has been involved in with are:
O
ur
Mission
M
anagement
of the tribe's aboriginal territory
In Traditional Environmental Knowledge (TEK), Members learned about landscape restorations, watershed management, native plant identification and cultural interactions.

T
raditional 
Environmental Knowledge
Sustainable Community Gardens ~ Members learned about the processes involved in creating sustainable gardens. Through garden design, composting, soil management, seed saving and how the environment plays a roll in garden management.


S
ustainable 
Community Gardens
Watershed Restoration ~ Working with other agencies to address watersheds that cross city and county areas.
W
atershed
Restoration
GIS mapping ~ The tribe has worked to establish mapping to identify areas of importance within the their aboriginal territory. This information is useful in cultural resource and historical information management.

GIS
Mapping
Environmental Justice ~ The EPD has also been working to address issues of concern such as Sudden Oak Death and the Marine Life Protection Act. This along with issues with water quality, air quality, global warming and hazardous waste.

E
Justice
nvironmental
D
Projects
epartment
Bioneers Conference
October 2008
Bioneers is inspiring a shift to live on Earth in ways that honor the web of life, each other and future generations. Founded in 1990, Bioneers promotes practical environmental solutions and innovative social strategies for restoring Earth’s imperiled ecosystems and healing the human communities.

The FIGR Environmental Protection Department was there this is year to participate and do our part for the environment.
West Coast Green Conference
September 2008
At West Coast Green you’ll find over 380 exhibitors showcasing the latest in resource-efficiency among a stunning array of green and healthy building products.
OAEC Workshop 2
September 2008
The second of a two-part course which was an exploration of the relationship between the health of the soil, the plants that nourish us, the food we eat, and the vitality they offer to each of us, our families, the Tribe, and the Earth.
OAEC Workshop 1
April 2008
This first of a two-part course was an exploration of the relationship between the health of the soil, the plants that nourish us, the food we eat, and the vitality they offer to each of us, our families, the Tribe, and the Earth.
Traditional Environmental Knowledge 2007
A three-part  workshop focusing on a range of issues related to ecology.
FIGR Tribal Picnic
July 2008
The Environmental Protection Department participated in the annual tribal picnic at Ya-Ka Ama. This was a great opportunity to reach out to the community and share the programs and activities available for tribal members.
P
and Preserving the Environment
rotecting
Big Valley Rancheria's 8th Annual Tule Boat Festival
July 2009
The FIGR Environmental Protection Department was invited to come and share our program with tribal members and to come and enjoy the races!!!
FIGR Tribal Picnic
July 2009
The Environmental Protection Department participated in the annual tribal picnic at Ya-Ka Ama. This was a great opportunity to reach out to the community and share the programs and activities available for tribal members.