The future of a small California town is assured thanks to the opening of a new state park that opened earlier this week.
Dos Ríos State Park in the Central Valley is a floodplain restoration initiative that has returned farmland to its natural state.
The park is located less than five miles from Grayson, a small farming community of only 1,600 residents, which is slowly coming back to life.
The predominantly Latino city was so poor that children used to play soccer in the cemetery, until a community center was built in 2005.
But now, restoration efforts to transform the dairy farm lands back to nature have already proven effective in protecting Grayson from flooding, and more visitors are likely to be drawn to the area as the beautiful area returns. wild life.
The future of the small California town of Grayson is assured thanks to the debut of a new state park that opened its doors earlier this week.
Many believe that restoring farmland to its natural floodplain saved the community of Grayson from being destroyed when floods hit the area in 2023. Homes in Grayson are shown here near the San Joaquin River floods in Grayson in January 2023.
The project, which began in 2002, means Dos Ríos State Park is the first state park to open in 10 years, making it the 281st in California.
About 13 federal, state and local agencies have participated in the $40 million transformation.
“This is a place to experience the world at home,” California State Parks Director Armando Quintero said during Wednesday’s opening ceremony.
The 1,600-acre parcel of land in the San Joaquin Valley, located in the floodplains near Modesto, is where the San Joaquin and Tuolumne rivers meet.
Many believe that restoring the farmland to its natural floodplain saved the community of Grayson from being destroyed when floods hit the area in 2023.
“This is a place to experience the world at home,” California State Parks Director Armando Quintero, pictured, said during Wednesday’s opening ceremony.
Dos Ríos is currently open to visitors only on weekends by reservation, but there are plans to introduce a range of wildlife activities such as swimming, fishing and boating.
Visitors can still explore the almond orchards up close, while a new welcome center offers a picnic area under wooden shelters built from trees rescued from a 2020 wildfire.
Advocates for floodplain restoration say it can help solve California’s dual dangers of floods and droughts, replenishing groundwater to alleviate future droughts while protecting cities from the catastrophic flooding that scientists predict will occur. They will come with climate change.
“It worked exactly as planned,” said Julie Rentner, president of the nonprofit River Partners, which purchased the land from private owners and has revived much of the natural landscape, allowing flood waters that had previously been confined by dikes will snake across the plain, recharging the aquifer below.
‘It was really scary, man, the river rising all that time. But all the work we’ve done, planting back here, I think it helped with the water,” said David Guzman, who lives along the San Joaquin River.
It is impossible to determine with certainty that the floodplain saved Grayson. Years of drought had also exhausted the river’s fury. But some experts say restoring floodplains can help save adjacent cities.
The newly established park offers biking and bird watching trails with panoramic views.
It is even possible that several camps could be developed on the land, possibly replacing an almond orchard, a place for people to reconnect with nature.
It is impossible to determine with certainty that the floodplain saved Grayson. Years of drought had also exhausted the river’s fury. But some experts say restoring floodplains can help save adjacent cities. Grayson seen near San Joaquin River floods in 2023
In 2010, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission contributed $2 million toward the acquisition of the park, recognizing that the land would also help protect San Francisco’s water quality.
In the past, there was no way to access the land, but now the park has become a refuge for locals.
‘Many of my residents do not have the opportunity to leave the area. “Everyone I talk to, and I talk to everyone, wants to know how they can enjoy coming here,” said Lilia Lomeli-Gil. SF Gate. “I tell you he is in the infancy stage.”
The park is also vital for wildlife, especially during the winter months, when millions of geese, ducks and cranes migrate along the Pacific Flyway, a major north-south route for migratory birds in the Americas. , which extends from Alaska to Patagonia.
Dos Ríos is currently open to visitors only on weekends by reservation, but there are plans to introduce a range of wildlife activities including swimming, fishing and boating, along with cycling and bird watching trails.
There are plans to develop several campsites on the land, possibly replacing an almond orchard, a place for people to reconnect with nature.
Tours of the park, including water features, are available under the guidance of a State Parks representative.
The largely Latino town of Grayson is so poor that children used to play soccer in the cemetery, until a community center was built in 2005.
It is even possible that several camps could be developed on the land, possibly replacing an almond orchard, a place for people to reconnect with nature.
Visitors can still explore the almond orchards up close, while a new welcome center offers a picnic area under wooden shelters built from trees rescued from a 2020 wildfire.
Tours of the park under the guidance of a State Parks representative are also available.
The park is lined with white seed hairs of eastern cottonwood trees, giving visitors a serene escape.
“There could be more services, but we live here in the middle of these orchards,” said John Mataka, 73, a retired drug and alcohol counselor and one of the restoration volunteers.
He said those who donated their labor and time to the project that day “were laughing and having a good time.” He brought a sense of importance to the community.”
