Tribal Affairs

Sonoma County Tribal Affairs

Within the geographic boundaries of the County of Sonoma there are five federally recognized tribes - the Cloverdale Rancheria of Pomo Indians, the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians, the Federated Indians of the Graton Rancheria, the Kashia Band of Pomo Indians of the Stewarts Point Reservation and the Lytton Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians.

The Dry Creek Rancheria operates the River Rock Casino in the Alexander Valley and the Federated Indians of the Graton Rancheria operate the Graton Resort & Casino near the City of Rohnert Park.

Reservation lands, also known as trust lands because the federal government holds the lands in trust for the benefit of the tribe, are not subject to state or county civil-regulatory jurisdiction, but under Public Law 280 remain subject to state and county criminal-prohibitory jurisdiction. Tribal trust lands are generally exempt from local and state taxation and county land use laws.

The County of Sonoma has a government-to-government relationship with each of these five federally-recognized tribes. The County of Sonoma recognizes tribal sovereignty and, as part of its government-to-government relationship with tribes, has negotiated intergovernmental agreements with three of the five local tribes on a variety of topics, including mitigation of off-reservation impacts created by on-reservation tribal development.

The County of Sonoma has executed agreements with the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians, and the Lytton Band of Pomo Indians, and continues to look for opportunities to coordinate on and negotiate enforceable intergovernmental agreements for areas of mutual interest with tribal partners.