PLEASE JOIN US TO “MEND THE BEND!”
What: “MEND THE BEND”— Volunteer tree planting at the Big Bend Habitat Restoration project. The Tuolumne River Trust is sponsoring a volunteer tree planting day at the Big Bend Restoration Project site along the Tuolumne River, in Modesto.
Who: Tuolumne River Trust. Partner agencies for the project are the East Stanislaus Resource Conservation District, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Fish America Foundation, NOAA Restoration Center’s Community-based Restoration Program, and the California Wildlife Conservation Board.
Contact: Karlha Arias, Tuolumne River Trust, (209) 236-0330, meg@tuolumne.org
When: Saturday November 22 and Saturday December 6 , from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm.
Where: The site is located about 20 minutes southwest of Modesto, off Grayson Road. For directions, please contact Karlha Arias at (209) 236-0330.
Details: Join us for a day of planting trees and contributing to the restoration of forest habitat at the Big Bend Restoration Project. This event will celebrate the achievements of the project and give the public the opportunity to learn about the site and take part in the restoration work.
Volunteers are needed to help plant acorns and other species. Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to tour the site, learn about the project’s goals, speak to the landowner and project partners and learn about river restoration.
The Big Bend Habitat Restoration is a 240-acre project targeted at improving forest, river, and wildlife habitat along the Tuolumne River. The project resulted, in part, from the 1997 floods, when the site was heavily damaged by the high water surging down from the Sierra. The landowners decided that the best recovery plan for the land was to dedicate it to fish and wildlife habitat.
The USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service purchased easements on the site, which permanently protect the land for conservation purposes. The East Stanislaus Resource Conservation District provided funding to purchase one of the parcels, and the California Department of Water Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, and the Fish America Foundation provided additional funding to complete the land transactions and undertake the habitat work.
Planning and permitting took about two years to complete, and the earthwork was completed in fall of 2004. As part of restoration activities, the partners are planting native trees, shrubs, grasses, and other vegetation on the 240-acre site. Once completed and mature, the land will provide refuge for birds, mammals, and other animals, while improving the conditions along the river for fish.
What to Please dress to work, bring gloves and water. Snacks will be provided.