Creeks, Oaks & Roosters

Indigenous communities, including Pomo, Wappo and Miwok peoples, have lived in the Laguna watershed for more than 10,000 years. The Coast Miwok tribe in particular called the place that is now Cotati home.

This community of nomadic seasonal gatherers' culinary culture depended on the natural resources found in the area: acorns, roots, seeds, berries, fish, coastal shellfish, waterfowl, and a variety of game animals including elk and pronghorn antelope. The plants harvested from the forests of the area, which the communities actively tended, also provided more than just food. Materials for clothing, dyes, and medicines were all found right here. Canoes were a transportation mode in the often-flooded lands of the area. Shelter and rope from tule, watertight baskets from willow and sedge, and countless other essentials were expertly manufactured right in the community.

The prevailing order of life which existed for thousands of years came to an abrupt and violent end in the 1800's. The Coast Miwok peoples were enslaved, forcibly moved, killed or died from exposure to diseases introduced by settlers during this brutal period, bringing an end to the Coast Miwok's longstanding control over their territory. This very important history is recounted by historian Gaye LeBaron in the video included here. Additional resources are below.

In present times, Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo people are citizens of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria tribe. The tribe is an integral part of Sonoma County's culture and leads the stewardship of the environment within the region.

Cotati's farms further transformed the land through the introduction of poultry farms, which left an indelible mark on the city's culture and the environment. For years, residents encountered this heritage in the form of neighborhood roosters who called the local Peet's Coffee Shop their home.

Besides the re-engineering of our waterways, agriculture and urban development triggered another irreversible alteration to the native ecosystem in the form of invasive plants that are outcompeting native plant species which in turn support many other forms life. The result is a reduction of biodiversity in Sonoma County. Painstaking work is currently underway to remove the worst offenders like the notorious "French broom" (pictured).

Thankfully, agricultural and land development practices have advanced over the years with Sonoma County at the forefront of sustainability. Cotati continues to slowly and steadily develop to accommodate our growing population. Much of the development is concentrated to a defined urban boundary line, with the areas outside of that line retaining much if its agricultural and environmental heritage (see map). This is intentional.

As noted by the  City of Cotati , "Throughout the 1990's, Cotati has faced this challenge by effectively encouraging growth within strict limitations. In 1990 the citizens of Cotati overwhelmingly voted to curtail the growth of the city by forbidding any annexation of land beyond a fixed urban boundary line. This highly popular self-imposed limit on annexation turned the focus on development inwards."