News & Events
MLK Service Day at the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge
Join River Partners, Saturday, January 21, for our tree planting event.
To see if there is a weather cancellation, call this number Saturday morning: (209) 521-1700 x23
River Partners is calling for volunteers to help kick-off our newest restoration effort at the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge, on Saturday, January 21 from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm. Students and community members alike are invited to celebrate Martin Luther King Day through a day of service for the environment.
Students from the Wildlink program will be joining the event. They are excited to have the opportunity to collaborate with other community members on this on this special conservation project. In addition celebrating MLK Day and the kick-off of a new restoration project, all volunteers will be able to enjoy this beautiful Refuge in the height of waterfowl migration.
Volunteers will install oaks, golden currants, and other native plants, working to restore an important wildlife area along the San Joaquin River and the Pacific Flyway. These efforts will improve water quality and wildlife habitat for the region and contribute to the largest habitat restoration initiative in California – the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge.
If you'd like to join us for the MLK Community Planting Day at the San Joaquin River NWR, please contact us at (530) 894-5401 x 222.
When:
Saturday, January 21, 2012, 9:30 am to 12:00 pm
Where:
San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge, located near Grayson.
From Modesto, head west on HWY 132 Maze Blvd and cross the San Joaquin River.
Turn left onto River Road. Go right onto the dirt access road just before the house (you should see a River Partners sign – second right past the canal). Parking is along the edge of the road.
What You Need:
Work clothes, hat, gloves, shoes, sunscreen, water, and snacks.
Willingness to get dirty and have fun!
To sign-up or for more information, including directions:
Call (530) 894-5401 ext. 222 or Email jpokrandt@riverpartners.org
About River Partners: River Partners specializes in river and floodplain restoration. Since 1998 it has planted one million native trees, shrubs and plants and initiated restoration on more than 6,4000 acres along California’s major rivers. Its mission is to create wildlife habitat for the benefit of people and the environment. www.RiverPartners.org.
About the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge: The San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge encompasses more than 6,500 acres of riparian woodlands, wetlands, and grasslands that host a diversity of wildlife native to California's Central Valley. Established in 1987 under the authority of the Endangered Species and Migratory Bird Conservation Acts, the refuge has also played a major role in the recovery of Aleutian cackling geese. Within the borders of the San Joaquin NWR is one of California's largest riparian forest restoration projects: 400,000 native trees have been planted across 1,700 acres of river floodplain. This major task was led by River Partners, a non-profit organization committed to restoring riparian habitat for wildlife.
The Inauguration of the Mudder Nature Challenge
River Partners moves annual event to the river
Since it started in 1998, River Partners has held its annual dinner at the Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. In the early years, it was a small, intimate convening on a balcony. As our partnerships grew, the dinner moved into Big Room and became our largest “outreach” event of the year. It was our chance to celebrate the important work that was happening for California’s river systems.
This year, River Partners is taking advantage of a special opportunity. We now own 176 acres along the Sacramento River that has been earmarked for conservation. While we plan for its restoration in partnership with the National Resource Conservation Service, it offers itself as the perfect location for a community event: The Mudder Nature Challenge.
The Mudder Nature Challenge is a trail and obstacle course race that will take place at on Saturday, September 10, 2011. This “mud run” involves runners and bikers racing on a 5k or 8 mile course around this future restoration site. Racers will tackle obstacle courses on open fields and a trail run around an ancient riparian forest.
Entrants are welcomed to race in teams or as individuals (donning costumes or traditional race wear). There will be a child’s Mini Mudder division, and a BBQ celebration at the Sacramento River.
Our goal, in addition to raising money for the restoration of the site, is to promote responsible outdoor recreation and stewardship of California’s watersheds and river systems. River Partners has found that citizen level support for river and watershed conservation begins with creating a positive association between community, economy, and local waterways.
Already we have registrants representing Colusa, Gridley, Davis, Folsom, Citrus Heights, Plumas Lake, Sacramento, Elk Grove, El Dorado Hills, Modesto, Stockton, Turlock, Redding, Quincy, Susanville,Willows, Chico, Yuba City, and Irvine.
By bringing our supporters and potential new friends to the Sacramento with the Mudder Nature Challenge, our hope is to inspire a deeper appreciation of our region’s rivers and public lands.
Please join us! Not only are there opportunities to race, but to volunteer, or simply have lunch and celebrate. More information: www.MudderNatureChallenge.com
Community Planting at
THE FLYNN Wildland Preserve
Join River Partners, Saturday, December 4, and throw some dirt around!
River Partners is celebrating the dedication of the new Bernard F. Flynn, Jr. Wildland Preserve to honor the conservation legacy of our co-founder Barney Flynn. To make this happen, we are inviting families, students, and community members to volunteer at our second annual MAKE 'EM SWEAT event on Saturday, December 4, 2010
NorCal Strength and Conditioning will be the feature volunteers at the MAKE'EM SWEAT event. They’ve been making River Partners staff sweat in the gym for the last month. Now we’re challenging them to get dirty in the field. Can they handle sweat and dirt? If you'd like to join us and find out, please contact us at (530) 894-5401 x 222.
When: Saturday, December 4, 2010, 10:00 am to 12:30 pm
Where: Flynn Wildland Preserve - Sacramento River
Located north of Butte City, at the intersection of Road 50 and County Road Y.
What You Need: Work clothes, hat, gloves and shoes, sunscreen, water, bag lunch and a Willingness to get dirty and have fun!
To Sign up and More Information: Call (530) 894-5401 ext 222 or Email jpokrandt@riverpartners.org
About the Bernard F. Flynn Wildland Preserve: Previously known as the Del Rio Wildland Preserve, the 259-acre project is located in northern Glenn County approximately 15 miles southwest of Chico. Once a flood-prone walnut orchard, the Flynn Preserve is being transformed by River Partner into oak woodland and savannah communities that will provide critical habitat for wildlife. The Preserve neighbors Llano Seco Ranch, contributing the largest contiguous block of conservation ownership on the Sacramento River. In addition to its conservation benefits, the Flynn Wildland Preserve has been a public asset for children’s service projects and outdoor education. It is home to a number scout projects and a popular field trip site for Butte county students, including those from Chico County Day, Marigold Elementary, Ponderosa Elementary, Butte College and Chico State.
The Loss of River Partners’ Co-Founder, Bernard F. Flynn, Jr.
On October 10, 2010, River Partners' co-founder Bernard “Barney” Flynn passed away in Sacramento due to heart failure. His loss is profoundly immeasurable for his family, friends, and all of River Partners. Also profoundly immeasurable is the legacy Barney left for the citizens of California and the migratory wildlife of the Pacific Flyway. Major restoration initiatives along the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers were made possible thanks to Barney’s innovations, commitment, and vision.
As River Partners' Vice President for 8 years, Barney Flynn developed the technological base and sustainable business model that gave this organization the capacity to deliver habitat projects of significant acreage. Further, he motivated River Partners to acquire land along the Sacramento River and donate it to State Parks. He firmly believed such land and access to the river belonged to the people of California.
As Barney has said about his work, ‘’We took restoration projects to a new level of scale. We were unique in that we owned tractors, we hired farmers and we knew how to regenerate large tracts of fallow land into viable habitat. We resolved the tension between biology and farming by making them work together.”
For Barney, restoration work was about the future of the Central Valley: “California’s population is projected to double by 2039 placing ever-increasing demands on the state’s natural resources. This growth will occur mainly within California’s Central Valley, the most expansive watershed system in the state. This means that future citizens of California will be living in a highly impacted world. Remnant ecosystems, especially those protecting watersheds, will be invaluable.”
We at River Partners will miss Barney’s passion, intellect, and friendship. Yet, we are comforted by the fact that all will benefit from his drive to protect California’s rivers and riparian forests.
A memorial service will be held at the Newton-Bracewell Funeral Home in Chico, CA, on Saturday, October 30, 2010, at 2 pm.
His obituary published in the Chico Enterprise Record is found at this link: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/chicoer/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=146132625
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.
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):
- Improves floodwater conveyance in the expanded floodway
- Restores fish, wildlife, and riparian habitat in the project area
- Minimizes long-term operation and maintenance costs
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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- Guest appearance by Ruth Coleman, Director of State Parks.
- Special preview art exhibit, A Picture Safari: In Chicos Backyard.
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.
