The culmination of more than 15 years of work came together last week as the Nathanson Creek Preserve officially opened to the public.  A partnership between the Sonoma Ecology Center, the City of Sonoma, the Sonoma Valley Unified School District, teen Enviro-Leaders, and community visionaries and volunteers, the preserve at the corner of Second Street East and East MacArthur is the jewel of the Nathanson Creek project and is now home to a restored riparian habitat, trees along the bike path, picnic areas, interpretive panels in English and Spanish, and a native plant demonstration garden showcasing local native plant communities, such as the oak woodland and valley grassland.  Pictured here, community partners celebrate the success of the preserve.  They are Mayor Laurie Gallian, Mark Newhouser, the preserve’s restoration program manager, and Justin Frese, deputy superintendent of the SVUSD.