<
https://reasonstobecheerful.world/ranch-rewilded-californias-next-state-park/>
"On a bright morning in early January near the confluence of the San Joaquin
and Tuolumne rivers in Central California, John Cain looks out over a small,
curved lake. The trees are mostly bare for winter, but Cain, senior director of
conservation of the nonprofit organization River Partners, points out that the
wild landscape in front of him is buzzing. Bright white egrets swoop lazily
down into the water while terns whiz by in the air. A California rose bush
clings onto bright red rose hips. The low-lying plain across the water is dense
with gray branches of adolescent trees.
For more than four months last year, as California was inundated with a series
of major storms, this part of Dos Rios Ranch Preserve, about 20 miles west of
Modesto, was submerged under water. That’s exactly what it was designed for.
And when the floodwaters recede, Cain says, “It’s just an explosion of life out
here.”
Until a little more than a decade ago, this area was productive farmland, used
for growing crops like tomatoes, alfalfa, melons and almonds. Now it’s set to
be California’s next state park after a restoration project spearheaded by
River Partners converted the ranch into rewilded riverside habitat. As climate
change has doubled the likelihood of flooding in California, and is projected
to increase runoff from storms by as much as 200 to 400 percent, this restored
floodplain is proving to be a promising approach."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
