News & Events
SACRAMENTO RIVER TOUR WITH RIVER PARTNERS
BRING YOUR CANOE or KAYAK: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
Trip is full. Call if you’d like to be added to the waiting list.
Paddle down the Sacramento River with Dr. Tom Griggs, River Partners’ Senior Restoration Ecologist. Explore the longest river in California as it meanders through various state wildlife areas and the Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge.
Starting where Big Chico Creek meets the Sacramento, we’ll enjoy bird watching, stop at several key public sites along the way, then take-out near one of River Partners’ restoration projects. Dr. Griggs, who has worked on the Sacramento River for more than 20 years, has a wealth of knowledge to share about this important community resource.
This is a free community event and reservations are required. Skill level is for paddlers who have the endurance for a 4 ½ hour tour to cover 9 river miles.
CLICK HERE FOR FLIER & DIRECTIONS.
Saturday, September 18, 8 am to 2:00 pm
7:45 am: check-in at launch
8:15 am & 8:45 am: cars caravan to the pull-out site & shuttle back to launch (two shuttle runs)
9:30 am to 2:00 pm: boats on the river
Sacramento River -- Chico, CA
Put-in at State Park’s new canoe launch at Big Chico Creek, east side of River Rd.
Take-out at Ord Bend County Park boat ramp (Glenn County)
What You Need
- Your own canoe or kayak, life jackets, and paddling equipment
- Sunscreen, water, bag lunch, river shoes, beach towel
- Money for possible parking or launching fees
Shuttling
- If your group brings two cars, participants may self-shuttle.
- River Partners will offer shuttling for a $12 cost-share donation.
- Please call to reserve shuttle seat.
Reservations & Information
- Please provide names of all participants, your email and cell number for last minute alerts, number of boats, and whether you’ll use our shuttle.
- Call (530) 894-5401 ext 222
- Email jpokrandt@riverpartners.org
Etiquette
Our tours book quickly and have long waiting lists. If you are unable to make the trip, please let us know at least 24 hours before the tour starts so we can call other people.
The Elusive “VELB” Seen at Mitigation Sites
Chico, CA, June 21, 2010 -- The last 30 days have been exciting for River Partners’ ecology department. While monitoring elderberry mitigation sites, our biologist, Michelle Boercker encountered several valley elderberry longhorn beetles (“VELB” for short). A male was sighted on May 18th, a female on May 20th, and a male and two females on June 2nd.
VELB sightings are exceedingly rare; many biology professionals only see a live specimen in a lab during their entire career. (To view Michelle Boercker's field notes and photos, click here.)
These medium-sized (about 2 cm in body length) brightly colored beetles spend most of their life inside an elderberry shrub. As larvae, they thrive on the woody pulp. Then, after 1-2 years, the adults emerge from the elderberry stems. Typically these “exit” holes are the only evidence of VELB presence on an elderberry plant (since actually seeing and counting them is practically impossible).
The VELB (Desmocerus californicus dimorphus) is a federally-listed threatened species. Once part of the Central Valley’s robust riparian corridor, its numbers rapidly declined with the clearing of habitat along valley rivers. The beetle depends solely on the elderberry plant (Sambucus mexicana), which grows in valley riparian zones, for its entire life cycle.
River Partners includes the elderberry shrub as part of its restoration designs wherever we are able. In addition to helping the VELB, the shrub produces distinctive white flowers that attract pollinators and its fruit is a food source for other wildlife.
Sometimes, in order to secure permits for our work, we are required to eliminate this plant species from our restoration plans.
However, large projects like the Bear River Set-back levee restoration site, the O’Connor Lakes restoration site, as well as our work on the Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge, have allowed us to bring back elderberry shrubs to new habitat areas and help the recovery efforts of the VELB.
The mitigations sites that RP biologist Michelle Boercker was monitoring were developed as an endangered species solution for the impacts from the setback levee construction work on the Feather River. River Partners assisted the Three Rivers Levee Improvement Authority and Levee District 1 by transplanting more than 120 elderberry shrubs that grew in the footprint of new set-back levee construction. Thanks to the cooperation of the USFWS, who accepted River Partners’ recommendation to plant multiples stems per basin (as opposed to one stem per basin), the transplanted shrubs have succeeded in their new locations. More than exit holes, River Partners has observed live VELB presence on these transplanted shrubs.
“The success of these mitigation areas shows that dialogue and collaboration among wildlife and flood control agencies can produce solutions that help endangered species and public safety,” says John Carlon, River Partners president. “The USFWS recovery plan is working and I think we’re on track towards the recovery of the VELB.”
River Partners Hosted Feather and Bear River Tour
More than 50 paddlers see flagship restoration site
On June 12, 2010, River Partners hosted 50 paddlers on a tour of the Feather and Bear Rivers. Putting in at the Star Bend Boat launch, the group enjoyed sunny weather and flat water as they cruised through sections of the Feather River State Wildlife area. Bird enthusiasts spotted bank swallows, great blue herons, Swainson’s hawks, as well as white pelicans. The group ended their trip on the Bear River, taking out at the Bear River Levee Setback Restoration Area. Many thanks to our participants and the volunteers from the Chico Paddleheads.
A Benefit and Celebration
Proceeds support our work to protect California’s major river systems
Friday, April 16, 2010 at 6 pm
The Big Room at the Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
1075 E. 20th Street, Chico, CA
Click here for more information.
Abbott Lake Restoration Approved
On Friday, February 26, 2010, the Central Valley Flood Protection Board (CVFPB) approved an encroachment permit to do habitat restoration work on the Abbott Lake Unit of the Feather River Wildlife Area. Various agencies and nonprofits attended the meeting to testify to the multiple benefits that will result from the restoration project. They included Ducks Unlimited and the Wildlife Conservation Board, both funders of the project. Additional proponents included the Department of Fish and Game (the land owner), the Department of Water Resources (Flood Maintenance Office), and MBK Engineers. River Partners, the project developer and implementer, assisted with the permit application process.
Click here for the full article.
For more information about restoration in the floodway, visit these links at www.RiverPartners.org:
- “Vegetation in the Floodway: Native vegetation structure is quantifiable and its response to flows is predictable."
- “Recommendations for Floodway Vegetation Maintenance.”
- “Vegetation in the Floodway and the Flume Study” River Partners Journal, December 2009, p. 3.
- Improves floodwater conveyance in the expanded floodway
- Restores fish, wildlife, and riparian habitat in the project area
- Minimizes long-term operation and maintenance costs
- Guest appearance by Ruth Coleman, Director of State Parks.
- Special preview art exhibit, A Picture Safari: In Chicos Backyard.
River Partners’ Staff Receive the James Irvine Leadership Award
John Carlon and Tom Griggs honored for habitat restoration and flood control projects; Their work along rivers seen as a solution to major challenges in California
River Partners proudly announces that its president, John Carlon, and its senior restoration ecologist, Tom Griggs, have won the 2007 James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award. Out of the six award winners, Carlon and Griggs are the only recipients from the Central Valley. They have been honored by the James Irvine Foundation for successfully advancing the use of ecological restoration for conserving wildlife and enhancing flood protection along the major rivers of California. Together they are responsible for restoring over 6,000 acres in the Central Valley and designing innovative projects which provide non-structural flood control while improving wildlife habitat.
To read more about John and Tom‘s award, visit the James Irvine Foundation's website.
To read the Irvine Foundation‘s press release, click here .
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Past Events
River Partners Plants its One Millionth Tree at Levee Setback Project
Habitat Restoration Area Honored as a Flagship Project
Marysville, CA – December 3, 2008 – On Wednesday, December 3rd, 25 guests and 75 students joined River Partners as it planted its one millionth tree at the Bear River Levee Setback Restoration Area, 30 miles north of Sacramento. Geoff Geupel, on behalf of the Riparian Habitat Joint Venture (a 15 year old coalition of nonprofit organizations and government agencies responsible for management the state’s floodplain habitat resources) presented River Partners, its collaborators, and the Bear River project with the “Flagship Award,” in recognition of the outstanding riparian habitat management and restoration activities on this 639- acre site.
As part of the ceremony, John Carlon, River Partners’ president, welcomed guest speakers Ted Frink of the California Department of Water Resources, and Paul Brunner, Executive Director of the Three Rivers Levee Improvement Authority. Both speakers acknowledged the multiple partnerships that made the restoration and levee setback possible. Two students from Barry Elementary School helped plant the millionth tree, which was grown by students from Las Plumas High School.
“Though the millionth tree is the culmination of our 10 year history, we chose this site because it represents the future of floodplain management,” said John Carlon, River Partners President. “By moving a levee back and widening the floodplain, the project has reduced the flood risk to Yuba County. By planting the larger floodplain with native plants, we’ve created critical habitat for wildlife and shown that riparian areas can be an effective floodplain management tool.”
About the Bear River Levee Setback Restoration:
The Bear River Levee Setback restoration project showcases River Partners’ large scale restoration efforts as well as the critical work that benefits public safety and the environment. River Partners planted over 100,000 trees and shrubs and more than 50,000 grass plugs on this 639-acre habitat restoration project.
Bear River project is designed to meet multiple objectives (hydraulic and ecological):
About the Students:
Seventy-five students visited the project to learn about restoration and help re-plant the footprint of the old levee. Schools participating in One Millionth Tree Field Day were Colusa High School, Marysville High School FFA students, Las Plumas High School ROP students, Barry Elementary school 6th and 8th graders. These schools participated in River Partners’ Great Acorn Grow Out program. That means since February 2008, they’ve been growing valley oak acorns into viable trees for River Partners’ restoration projects. The One Millionth Tree was a Valley Oak grown by Las Plumas High School.
River Partners' Irvine Finch to Big Chico Creek Tour
August 23, 2008
Paddlers anticipated seeing Chico State students tubing down the river; yet they only saw ospreys, herons, egrets and OTTERS. Indeed, for many paddlers this was the first time encountering river otters in the wild. About 6 individuals made a timely appearance after the tour stopped for a native plant talk. Luckily several binoculars were on hand which allowed paddlers to spy the otters on some fallen trees across the river.
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24 Boats Launched on the Feather River in July 2008
Record-setting River Tour Ends at Nelson Slough
River Partners' first 12-mile paddle ended successfully at the Nelson Slough Unit of the Feather River Wildlife Are on Saturday, July 26. Thankful for the relatively smoke-free air, about 31 kayakers and canoers launched from Boyd's Pump Boat Ramp, south of Yuba City and paddled for 5 hours down this scenic stretch of the Feather River. The group took out near the Hwy 99 bridge in Nicolaus and enjoyed a short walk through Nelson Slough - a future restoration site - while River Partners' field staff transported the 24 canoes and kayaks to the parking area.
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First Stanislaus Paddle Held in June 2008
On Saturday, June 7th, River Partners ran its first Stanislaus River Paddle from the City of Ripon to Caswell Memorial State Park. Led by Stacy Small and Chris Stevenson of River Partners' San Joaquin Office, the 9-mile trip featured a stop at the Mohler Tract of the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge - one of River Partners first restoration sites in the region.
River Partners’
10TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER & SILENT AUCTION
A sold out event, celebrating 10 year of restoring the integrity of our rivers!
On April 11, 2008, River Partners kicked off the celebration of its 10 year anniversary with live music, dinner, and a silent auction in the Big Room at the Sierra Nevada Brewery. This sold-out event featured performances by the Garcia Brothers Band and Chico‘s own Blue Hippies.
Thank you to our sponsors for making this celebration possible.
Title Sponsor:
Staff Resources
Media Sponsor:
Inside Out Magazine and the Upstate Business Journal
Event Host:
Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
Program Sponsors:
MBK Engineers
Walker Printing
Hedgerow Farms
Eagle Security Systems
Tempra Board & Association
Circle R Irrigation Co.
Law Offices of Price & Brown
Golden Valley Bank
Wells Fargo Bank
Wilbur-Ellis
Boggs Equipment & Engineering
Oxford Suites
Event program
Photos of the event
Irvine Finch River Area Expansion Ceremony
Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park,
June 27, 2007
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More than 75 community members and officials attended the expansion of this popular river access area in Glenn County. During the ceremony, River Partners and the Wildlife Conservation Board officially transferred a 20-acre parcel of land (known as Gianella Landing) to California State Parks. Ruth Coleman, Director of California State Parks, accepted the property deed and thanked all on behalf of Governer Schwarzenegger. Attendants enjoyed refreshments and a preview exhibition of Sacramento River art from Avenue 9 Gallery‘s Picture Safari.
