Native plants reforested near Sacramento River
CHICO >> The organization River Partners teamed up with California State Parks and Butte County Resource Conservation District late last week to host a flood plain restoration and reforestation event. The event was called the Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park Riparian Restoration Project and was held near the Pine Creek Access point of the Sacramento River in Chico.
Employees from the organizations helped prepare the ground and plant 27 native species of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants on 25 acres of land which was formerly a state-owned walnut orchard. River Partners Senior Field Manager Ruben Reynoso said that there were 11,000 plants that would be planted on the land.
The project was funded in 2018 through Proposition 68: California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection and Outdoor Access for All Act, River Partners said in a press release.
“The kind of thing we’re delivering here, flood plain restoration and reforestation, is so aligned with what the state is interested in and what we know we need to be resilient to with the effects of climate change,” said River Partners President Julie Rentner. “So this type of investment is just growing and its exciting to see it.”
While the project is small in comparison to other projects River Partners traditionally helps out with, Rentner said the project near Pine Creek Access met all the organization’s criteria and is close to the
Chico-based company’s office employees who helped out Thursday.
“Clearly the ecological uplift is undeniable, this place is so rich for wildlife recovery and the transition from an agricultural land use to a native forest is just well documented to be an uplift for California,” Rentner said. “Then the other thing this project has going for it is just a strong political support. Both the community in Chico, the landowners at State Parks, this entire corridor is managed with so much political support to improve conditions for wildlife and people that we knew it would get off and running.”
When targeting which types of plants to put into the ground, biologists from River Partners targeted species that were likely to attract wildlife such as butterflies and birds, while also taking into account fish that may become part of the ecosystem when flooding occurs.
Reynoso led a team of employees prior to Thursday which helped prepare the land and soil for Thursday’s planting. The group helped prepare the soil into plowed rows while installing irrigation lines. Flags were inserted in the group for each plant, with each flag having identification information about the location and type of plant that would be planted.
On Thursday employees used the white flags to help guide them. Reynoso said the way in which the planting occurred is easily scalable for any project large or small.
Reynoso said the plan for the land is to give it 24 hours of water each week for three years in addition to nine months of spraying for weeds. After the three years of treatment Reynoso said the organization will let rain, flooding and nature run its course with the plants having roots built.
“Year four is after we turn off the water and we stop treating the weeds and we really get to see the ecology here. How does wildlife move in? How do trees compete with each other? And the little planting tags will be out here for several years so people can come check in on what they planted.”
California State Parks Resources
Manager Ryan Martin said that parks department is looking at the possibility of another access point to the river and as well as a pathway for members of the public to be able to see the the restored property.
While the restoration process is ongoing, Rentner said that State Parks officials are asking members of the public to stay out as there are tripping hazards and a lack of signs on where it is OK to drive and walk. She said there is parking on the road and pedestrian access, and members of the organization understand the public wanting to use the area, however officials are asking for members of the public to have limited access as the restoration process is ongoing.
“Clearly the ecological uplift is undeniable.” — River Partners President Julie Rentner