River Partners is the only California nonprofit that acquires, restores and protects riparian ecosystems on a large scale. We permanently protect habitat for federal and state listed species on thousands of acres of riverbanks – one tree, one shrub and one native grass seed at a time. We invite you to explore some of the more than 300 projects in 21 watersheds that we have completed throughout California.
Project Highlight
Saving Monarchs
Restoring river corridor habitat is a leading strategy to save this iconic species from extinction.
Active Projects
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Projects
Dutch Slough Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta From Cattle Ranch to Freshwater Tidal Marsh Today, very little estuary marsh habitat remains—only about 2%, at the most. It’s critical we actively re-establish the rich ecological network of these essential wetlands, and fast. Many native species who depend on tidal marshes are on the brink of extinction, such as salmon and Delta smelt.
Sacramento Valley Projects
- Bear River Setback Levee Sacramento Valley Permanent Flood Protection, Novel Ecosystem Restoration Design and implementation of habitat restoration within the floodway and levee setback area for the 2-mile Bear River Levee Setback Project was a collaborative feat that will forever improve flood safety.
- Flynn Wildland Preserve Sacramento Valley A River Conservation Ambassador River Partners designed this Preserve to serve as habitat specifically for Bald eagle, Chinook salmon, steelhead, Swainson’s hawk, valley elderberry longhorn beetle, western yellow-billed cuckoo, and willow flycatcher.
- Hamilton City Project Sacramento Valley Construction Leveraged for Conservation The Hamilton City project is the first riparian restoration effort undertaken by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. River Partners won a competitive federal construction bid to restore over 1,400 acres of habitat at the newly-created levee setback area along the Sacramento River.
- Willow Bend Preserve Sacramento Valley A Model for Salmon Recovery Restoration of this flood-prone Sacramento Valley former farmland may offer a new solution to resuscitate what was once one of the most prolific salmon runs in the world.
- Rancho Breisgau Sacramento Valley Restoring Critical Salmon Habitat on Battle Creek Battle Creek is the largest Sacramento River tributary north of the Feather River, with a watershed that covers approximately 360 square miles. The Rancho Breisgau unit is one of the last remaining parcels needed to connect a wildlife corridor of continuous riparian habitat that stretches from the Sacramento River up to the headwaters of Battle Creek in Lassen Volcanic National Park.
San Joaquin Valley Projects
- Dos Rios Ranch Preserve San Joaquin Valley California’s Largest Floodplain Restoration Project Our Dos Rios project is the largest public-private floodplain restoration project in California, a leading example of green infrastructure that lowers flood risk and brings life back to the San Joaquin Valley to protect endangered species.
- Hidden Valley Ranch San Joaquin Valley From Dairy Farm to High-Quality Riparian Habitat After 10 years of management, four years of planning, and five active months of planting, River Partners has completed transformation of its 350-acre Hidden Valley Ranch, a former dairy west of Modesto, back into native wildlife habitat.
- Panorama Vista Preserve San Joaquin Valley A Natural Respite Amongst Oil Fields River Partners commitment to restore Panorama Vista Preserve, a 1,000-acre nature preserve located in the heart of industrial Bakersfield, has helped grow the popularity of the park in the community. On any given day one is likely to come across residents running, biking, horseback riding, walking dogs, and bird watching.
- San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge San Joaquin Valley A living laboratory brings life back to the San Joaquin Over 15 years, River Partners secured more than $20 million from competitive state and federal grant programs to design and restore wildlife habitat at a scale never seen before in this region.
- Sweetwater San Joaquin Valley Part of the Single-Largest Wildlife Corridor in California Restoration will reintroduce the ancient riparian habitat that once flourished in Merced County to this site, permanently protecting it.
Southern California Projects
- Finney-Ramer Unit Habitat Restoration Projects Southern California Reviving the Alamo River flowing into the Shrinking Salton Sea Southern California’s Salton Sea is one of California’s most dire environmental catastrophes. Restoration along the Alamo River, which terminates in the Salton Sea, provides a glimmer of hope for the region.
- San Dieguito River Park Southern California Improving Habitat Value on Designated Conservation Lands River Partners restored the floodplain along the San Dieguito River to accommodate the endangered Arroyo Toad, and created new models for habitat recovery in designated conservation areas.
- Otay Delta Project Southern California A Wildlife Refuge Near I-5 At a Unit of the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge River Partners has created a birding hotspot, immediately adjacent to the State’s largest highway.
Statewide Projects
- Urgent Action to Save Monarch Butterflies Statewide Restoring habitat to save a species We’re working with a strong coalition of scientists and conservation partners to reintroduce monarch habitat at the largest coordinated scale in the western U.S.
