rmersere's Journal

Today our class traveled first to Davis to visit the . We investigated the native species nursery, and were given extensive briefings by staff of the Putah Creek Council. From there we drove to Winters, where we again were addressed while standing on the Winters Pedestrian Bridge, and observing the restoration efforts in the Putah Creek riverbed (sic). We then walked the paved trail from the Bridge, and then went down to the creek to see firsthand the changes wrought by nature and the restoration efforts of the Council and its volunteers. During this portion of our day, I was able to take pictures of and give strong identifications to three plants -- Arundo donax, Rosa californica and Trichostma laceolatum. We then went over to Lake Solano Regional Park, where we completed the day with a tour of the visitors'/information center, and a short walk on the trails, where we further discussed the efforts to balance the consumer and agricultural needs for water, and restoration efforts of the Creek and surrounding areas.

Evening walk on trails at Effie Yeaw Nature Center as part of California Naturalist class. Walked with 18 year old son AJ (who is also taking the class) for 40-45 minutes along trails first from EYNC building along Meadow Trail, and then back and down to American River. Immediately upon leaving the EYNC building, saw a doe with a VERY young and small fawn...neither deer spooked by human presence. Walked along trail, make tentative identification to a large growth of Armenian Blackberry, and a heritage Valley Oak. Then retraced our steps and proceeded to the bank of the American River at the northernmost corner of EYNC. Saw a male mallard accompanied by two females (they clearly were responding to his actions), and also took a photo of a growth of some kind of plant growing from the river within its natural confines (river is higher at this time of year as it has been in many years). Showed this picture to our class of 24 naturalists, and tentatively gave it the designation noted above. Would welcome any additional comments to assist in properly identifying all of these observations.