Longview Oaks
Restoration Project
Longview
Oaks Update: Recruiting Volunteers for a New Field Season!
updated
2/6/06
Longview
Oaks is a 7-acre open space parcel within Del Paso Regional Park that is owned
by the City of Sacramento. The City
has partnered with CNPS to restore the site, which is located in the upper
portion of the Arcade Creek Watershed. Urban
development has removed precious riparian habitat and severely degraded water
quality in Arcade Creek, creating high flood flows that result in severe erosion
and bank undercutting. We have the
opportunity to create a vision for this beautiful parcel and provide stewardship
to the resources both on site and downstream.
In past years, dedicated CNPS volunteers have
planted several blue and valley oak seedlings, and with much care and attention
a large majority of them are thriving. A
number of vernal pools were also created on site.
These pools have ponded wonderfully this winter and appear to support a
diversity of hydrophytic vegetation. In
addition, the site contains several very large oak trees, a seasonal drainage,
and many species of native wildflowers.
We are recruiting volunteers to
help us create and implement a vision for Longview Oaks.
In addition to idea people, we will need people interested in helping
with a botanical inventory of the site. Other
tasks might include noxious weed removal, installing bird and/or bat boxes if
appropriate, or planting and maintaining additional native plant species.
As you can see, we’re in the early stages of planning so thoughts and
suggestions are appreciated!
If you are interested in finding out more about
Longview Oaks or are interested in sharing your energy and creativity by
becoming involved, please contact Deborah Stout (deborahlstout@yahoo.com).
Join SacValley CNPS in our
restoration project at Longview Oaks. Longview Oaks is a 7 acre open
space parcel owned by the City of Sacramento and within Del Paso Regional
Park. There is a restoration project in the works to protect and enhance
this tributary watershed to Arcade Creek.
By
revegetating the native habitat of the Longview Oaks parcel, the watershed
will be enhanced to not only visually appear healthier but will restore the
native ecosystem close to what it once was and also provide for more rainwater
infiltration capacity to nourish the oak savannas and wetland swales. The City
of Sacramento has teamed with the local chapter of the California Native Plant
Society to obtain a grant from the Department of Water Resources to make
improvements to Longview Oaks and Arcade Creek. Already the property has been
roped off with cable to help prevent vehicular trespassing and illegal dumping.
Preliminary soil testing and planning is currently under way and the city is
finalizing the environmental documents needed to complete the following plans
for restoration of the property [note: these are PDF files of blueprint sheets
listed as links at the bottom of this page]:
The
grant also provides for a study of Arcade Creek to determine what can be done to
improve water quality and habitat, and to make the trail system around the
bridges useful year around. Horse enthusiasts are the main users of these
trails, but day hikers are also welcome. This urban park trail provides the
people of Sacramento a unique opportunity to trek through a wild natural area
without leaving the city limits.
Pat yourself on the back for
being part of the organization that saved this small bit of open space from
becoming a parking lot. Not long ago fully detailed plans existed to fill in the
tributary's natural swales, pave over the upper terraces, and cut down over 40
naturally occurring oaks at this site. For years, small groups fought to save
this parcel. With the help of the Sacramento Valley Chapter of CNPS, we
successfully convinced the City of Sacramento to protect and preserve the
property. We hope this is just the beginning of the development of healthier
open space sites.Special events are planned during the implementation that will
call for volunteers to participate.
If you would like to see more
development of this type happen in the Sacramento area, come to these events and
show your support. Watch for announcements to appear on the website and in
future Hibiscus issues. You may also contact us to be placed on a list of
volunteers and we will notify you directly when events will occur. Call Nancy
Thompson at (916) 923-3430 and state that you want to volunteer at Longview
Oaks, leave your name, phone number, and address.
Longview
Oaks Cover Sheet PDF
Longview
Oaks Grading Sheet PDF Longview
Oaks Layout Sheet PDF Longview
Oaks Planting Sheet PDF Longview
Oaks Vernal Pools Detail Sheet PDF
Longview
Oaks Wetland Detail Sheet PDF
Deborah
Stout
CNPS Longview Oaks Restoration Chair
916 564-8541
Paul
Townsend
Longview Oaks Restoration Co-Chair and CNPS Project Manager
916 454-9677
Nancy Thompson
Longview Oaks Co-Chair (Volunteer Coordinator) and CNPS Assistant Project
Manager
916 923-3430