Hundreds Join Forces to Rebuild Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area
Story from: Lori Wear, Great Basin District
 Top: Volunteers and park staff pose for a group photo before heading out to work at Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA). Photo from Brian Baer, Communications and Marketing Division. Bottom left: Volunteers installing fencing along Powerline Road. Photo from Bobby Scruggs, Great Basin District. Bottom center: A volunteer plants Valley Oak saplings in the burned southern portion of the park. Photo from Brian Baer. Bottom right: University of California Los Angeles students paint restrooms in the campgrounds. Photo from Lori Wear, Great Basin District.
The Post Fire tore through the Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA) in June, scorching more than 10,000 acres of the park and damaging its infrastructure and resources. In the aftermath, despite the sense of loss and grief, there was also hope and togetherness; the off-highway vehicle (OHV) community and many members of the public rallied, eager to help restore the beloved landscape.
This outpouring of interest turned to action last Saturday on National Public Lands Day, as hundreds of volunteers poured in from across the state to help heal the park. Park staff registered 231 volunteers in less than 30 minutes. After a welcome from Great Basin District Superintendent Russ Dingman and a safety briefing, volunteers spread out to repair fences, paint restrooms, plant trees, sow seeds, remove invasive plants, and install a new rock obstacle course.
Volunteers ranged from longtime park visitors such as Coleman, who returned after over a decade to help with the 4WD practice area, to University of California Los Angeles students who came to give back to a park where they had tested their Bruin Racing Baja team's OHV. Another volunteer, Nate, reflected on how the park offers him peace during mid-week trail drives. At the end of the workday, volunteers received T-shirts and sat down to a delicious lunch of pulled pork and deep-pit beef sandwiches, chips, brownies, and drinks generously provided by the California Off-Road Vehicle Association (CORVA) and California Outdoor Recreation Foundation.
Hungry Valley SVRA is on track to reopen by Nov. 1, thanks in part to the incredible efforts of everyone involved. A special thank you to:
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CORVA’s Rusty Ryan and Misty and Shea Sanders for organizing lunch and T-shirts for the volunteers.
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Park staff from the Great Basin District and State Parks headquarters, including Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Division Deputy Director Sarah Miggins, Division Chief Callan McLaughlin and Assistant Chief Jack Gorman, Desert Division Chief Greg Martin, and Interpretation and Education Division Chief Heather Holm, who all jumped in to help.
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District Facilities Management Health and Safety Officer Lance Chi for leading the safety briefing.
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State Parks Senior Photographer Brian Baer for capturing the day’s work.
And most importantly, a huge thank you to the hundreds of dedicated volunteers who came together to restore this beloved park!
State Parks Celebrates California Native American Day 2024
Story and photos from: Dena Mitchell, Cultural Resources Division
 State Parks staff participating in Native American Day at the Capitol. Left to right: Jose Hernandez, Michele Sakamoto, Carly Whitne, Rubi Deniz, Leslie Hartzell, Jason MacCannell, Dena Mitchell, State Parks Director Armando Quintero, Rhea Hartwell, and Glynnis Morrison.
California observed the 57th annual Native American Day, as proclaimed by Governor Newsom, at the State Capitol on Sept. 27. This year's California Native American Day had the theme “Recognizing 100 Years of Citizenship and the Fight for the Right to Vote, 1924- 2024." It commemorated the moment 100 years ago when Native Americans were conferred citizenship in the United States, and with it, the right to vote in the State of California.
Speakers at the event included tribal chairpersons and other tribal leaders, Assemblymember James C. Ramos, Tribal Affairs Secretary for the Governor’s Office of Tribal Affairs Christina Snider-Ashtari, and California State University Chancellor Dr. Mildred Garcia. California Native American dance and song were shared and dozens of departments, agencies, and institutions had tables at the event. The Cultural Pavilion allowed the public to interact with cultural practitioners and the Tribal Cultural Department, sharing cultural knowledge and practices.
State Parks Director Armando Quintero; Department Tribal Liaison, Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) Coordinator, and Cultural Resources Division Chief Leslie Hartzell; Tribal Affairs Program Manager Pattie Garcia; and Tribal Affairs Program Analyst Dena Mitchell attended the event to have open discussions with participants and foster relationships between State Parks and California Native Americans tribes and Individuals.
Placeworks Project Planner Rhea Hartwell and Placeworks Senior Associate II Isby Fleischmann were there highlighting several projects under the Reexamining Our Past Initiative, including the tribal lands acknowledgement and interpretation and exhibits programs and the Arts in California Parks program. Placeworks also organized opportunities for public input into the evaluation of interpretation of California Native American history and culture at state parks.
The State Indian Museum (SIM) participated with interactive displays, event flyers, and giveaways. Interpreter I Kyle Floyd and Park Interpretive Specialist Mike Ramirez connected with the public around the interactive items on display and provided information on the museum. The SIM promoted upcoming community events, including Acorn Day on Oct. 19, Basket Weaving Demonstration Day on Nov. 16, and the Native Arts and Crafts Market on Nov. 29-30. The SIM also encouraged visitors to participate in a survey to help the museum create a new exhibit focused on the federal NAGPRA.
Recruitment analysts Carly Whitney, Jose Hernandez, and Rubi Deniz participated in the event, speaking with the public to answer questions and provide assistance in navigating state employment. Recruitment brought flyers and job-related resources to spread awareness on job and career opportunities with State Parks. Small Business (SB) and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) Advocate and Contract Analyst Michele Sakamoto also participated, sharing information on opportunities for SBs and DVBEs to contract with State Parks and knowledge on how to contract with State Parks.
 Top left: Mike Ramirez (left) and Kyle Floyd. Bottom left, from left to right: Jose Hernandez, Carly Whitne, Armando Quintero, and Michele Sakamoto. Right: Wish tree responses to the question “What would you wish visitors learned about California Native Americans when they visit State Parks” were written on cards and hung on the tree branches.
Another Successful California Coastal Cleanup Day
Story from: Vivian Matuk, California Coastal Commission
 Clockwise from top left: Trash and recyclable materials were collected at event sites throughout California for California Coastal Cleanup Day. At the Jack London Aquatic Center cleanup event hosted by I Heart Oakland Alameda Estuary, even a derelict canoe was retrieved from the shoreline. Photo from Vivian Matuk. Volunteers at Middle Harbor Shoreline Park collected materials near the Port of Oakland. Across San Francisco Bay, more volunteers cleaned areas along the Richmond shoreline. Photos from California Coastal Commission.
Over 40,000 of Californians turned out at nearly 700 cleanup sites throughout the state for the 40th annual California Coastal Cleanup Day on Sept. 21. Events were hosted in 57 of California’s 58 counties. The volunteers removed more than 327,000 pounds of trash and recyclable material. This means roughly 150 tons of materials was collected from over 1,200 miles of the state's shorelines just in three hours.
The current numbers for the cleanup sites statewide stand at:
- 41,705 volunteers
- 327,552 pounds of trash and recyclable material (or 164 tons) collected from over 1,217 miles of the state's shorelines just in three hours.
The event enjoyed a strong volunteer turnout in both coastal counties and inland areas. Once again boating facilities and boating groups showed their commitment to this important event. Forty boating facilities and boating groups participated in the event, with 1,432 volunteers collecting 12,205 pounds of trash and recyclables from land and from 123 vessels.
Forty-five California State Parks units, including Heart’s Desire and Millerton Point (Alan Sieroty Beach) at Tomales Bay State Park (SP), Crystal Cove SP, and San Buenaventura and San Clemente state beaches, participated in this year's Coastal Cleanup Day.
Volunteers kept track of all the items they removed as part of Coastal Cleanup Day, one of the world’s largest and longest-running community science projects. Over the past 40 years, this data has revealed a great deal about the extent and nature of the problems associated with marine debris. About 75% of the trash removed by volunteers is plastic, a material that never completely biodegrades and has numerous harmful environmental consequences. For example, plastic debris can kill wildlife and leach toxic chemicals into the food chain.
The data has also shown that up to 80% of the trash collected on the California coast originates on land. Almost all water in California eventually drains to the sea, so volunteers, even in inland communities, can help prevent enormous amounts of trash from fouling ocean waters. A big thank you to all the volunteers who cleaned California’s coast, waterways, green spaces, and neighborhoods, during Coastal Cleanup Day and beyond!
California Boating and Waterways Commission Tours, Hosts Meeting in Colusa County
Story and photos from: Kevin Murphy, Communications and Marketing Division
 Participants of the recent California Boating and Waterways Commission tour pictured at East Park Reservoir in northwestern Colusa County included (from left to right), Commissioners Maggie Hallahan and Katie Hawkins, Colusa County Director of Transportation and Public Works Mike Azevedo, Colusa County Supervisor Gary Evans, Supervising Ranger Matt Piper, local resident and business owner Dave Johnson, Commissioner Jose Gonzalez, and Deputy Director of Boating and Waterways Ramona Fernandez.
Unusually warm weather greeted members of the California Boating and Waterways Commission and the public on a tour of Colusa County on Oct. 1. Commissioners and staff from the Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) first visited Colusa-Sacramento River State Recreation Area (SRA), in the City of Colusa. Northern Buttes District Superintendent Matt Teague joined commissioners, in addition to Colusa City Manager Jesse Cain and city councilmembers Ryan Codorniz and Denise Conrado. Participants inspected the boat launch and floating platform installed previously with grant funding approved by the commission in 2018.
The two-lane ramp was built on city property adjacent to the park unit to provide direct access to the Sacramento River. The previously used boat ramp, located on State Parks property, was located at the end of an irrigation canal called Robert’s Ditch. Today, the older ramp has been revitalized as a non-motorized boat launch for personal watercraft, including kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards. The city, which operates the park unit through an agreement with State Parks, has added hiking and biking trails to the park that are used frequently by the public, including students engaged in cross country running. Firebreaks constructed by CAL FIRE are also used for recreational activities in the undeveloped areas of the park.
Future improvements for Colusa-Sacramento River SRA include new landscaping at the park’s entrance and the installation of a 130-foot flagpole. Additionally, State Parks and the city are close to finalizing plans for a second phase of improvements that would move the park’s current 13 campsites to the rear of the developed area of the property and using the current camping area for trailer and vehicle parking adjacent to the current boat ramp. Existing campsites would be relocated closer to the old boat ramp to provide easier access for non-motorized watercraft. Staff from State Parks and the City of Colusa are working together to identify funding sources for the next phase.
In the northwest corner of the county, tour participants met again at East Park Reservoir. The facility, used for irrigation and recreation, would see several improvements from a $2 million grant requested by the Bureau of Reclamation. The bureau owns the East Park Dam while Colusa County manages recreational facilities and activities at the reservoir through a management agreement. During the visit, Mike Azevedo, director for transportation and public works for the county, and Colusa County Supervisor Gary Evans shared the facility’s importance, not only as a place for recreation for local residents, but as an economic generator for the county and local communities. In addition to fishing, camping, and hiking, East Park Reservoir hosts several events each year, including a sky lantern festival, music festival, and end of school year celebrations for local children and teens.
The reservoir has 194 camping sites and attracts large numbers of visitors from the Bay Area and Central Valley. The county is hoping to see average annual occupancy rise to 80% as the proposed grant would fund significant improvements to the reservoir’s facilities, including the construction of a single-lane concrete boat ramp and boarding float, solar-powered lighting, a parking area, an accessible pathway, information kiosk, and trash receptacles. Commissioners are expected to discuss the project at their next meeting in November, to be held on Thursday, Nov. 7, as part of the 2024 Marine Recreation Association Educational Conference and Trade Show in Long Beach.
In the afternoon, commissioners convened their meeting in the City of Williams and received reports from division staff on the DBW's budget, pending legislation related to state boating and waterways, and several program updates, including the Boating Clean and Green Program, California Boater Card program, Life Jacket Loaner Programs, and Aquatic Center Grant Program. A recording of the commission meeting is available online through CAL-SPAN. More information about the California Boating and Waterways Commission and grants and loans administered by DBW is also available online.
 Clockwise from top left: Commissioner Jose Gonzalez reviews current and future plans for Colusa-Sacramento River SRA. The former boat ramp, located on State Parks land, is used to launch non-motorized vehicles into an irrigation canal connected to the Sacramento River. The current boat ramp, built in 2018 from funding provided by DBW, was built on land owned by the City of Colusa, immediately adjacent to Colusa-Sacramento River SRA.
 Clockwise from top left: One of the existing unimproved boat launches at East Park Reservoir. A $2 million grant would provide a one-lane concrete ramp and other improvements, including new signage. DBW Deputy Director Ramona Fernandez listens as Colusa County Supervisor Gary Evans explains the economic importance of recreational activities at the reservoir. Mike Azevedo, Colusa County director for transportation and public works, shares information about the project with Joe Dux from DBW and Commissioner Maggie Hallahan.
Celebrating Biodiversity and Diverse Park Use at Salinas River State Beach
Story and photos from: Daniel Williford, Cannabis Watershed Protection Program
 Clockwise from top left: Asilomar State Beach (SB) Park Interpreter I Jenifer Lienau-Thompson welcomes visitors to Salinas River SB on California Biodiversity Day. Seaside buckwheat at Salinas River SB. Bird life at Salinas River SB. Yellow sand verbena at Salinas River SB.
An exciting kick-off in celebrating California Biodiversity Day took place at Salinas River State Beach’s (SB's) Potrero Road parking lot entrance on Sept. 7. State Park Interpreters Jenifer Lienau-Thompson with the Monterey District and Daniel Williford with the Cannabis Watershed Protection Program co-hosted an outreach table to bring attention to the biodiversity at the outflow of the Salinas River watershed. Complete with local field guides, brochures, binoculars, and a map of the Salinas River watershed to help give a sense of place, the outreach table was a hub of relevant information.
One of the northernmost California State Beach units within the Monterey District, Salinas River SB is nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Old Salinas River channel at the end of the river’s 175-mile flow. The park serves as a destination for many different user groups from the surrounding communities – many of which are home to the agricultural workforce for the Salinas Valley. Both Jenifer and Daniel encouraged visitors to discover the many different forms of life residing along this narrow strip of a well-vegetated sand dune by participating in the weeklong bioblitz challenge using the iNaturalist app.
On this September morning, many park visitors were heading to the beach to fish. There were also dozens of birdwatchers, dogwalkers, joggers, nature photographers, and general beach lovers that walked by. Most of the visitors that stopped at the outreach table were from the neighborhoods adjacent to the park and spoke a variety of primary languages, including English, Spanish, and Korean. They were so happy to see a State Parks presence at their local beach and had many questions about the flora, fauna, history, and park rules.
Many visitors encouraged park staff to make this a semi-regular occurrence, and it was truly heartening to be on the receiving end of such kind feedback from everyone. Thanks to a collaboration between the statewide Watershed Interpretive Program and district staff, interpreters plan to continue these “pop-up” outreach events to explore watershed science at Salinas River SB and additional park units where there has traditionally been a limited interpretive presence compared to more popular destinations further south in Monterey and Big Sur.
Not only is park visitor use diverse at the mouth of the Salinas River, so is the flora and fauna. Fifty observations were made and 45 different species were identified during the Salinas River SB bioblitz that took place Sept. 7-15. To explore more of the species observed here and in your own local parks, visit the iNaturalist link.
Bowtie Wetland Demonstration Project Breaks Ground in Los Angeles
Story from: Angeles District
 The Bowtie Wetland Demonstration will create a wetland with native habitat. Photo from Geosyntec/ Paul Hansen Engineering.
The Bowtie is an 18-acre parcel located on the east bank of the Los Angeles River in Northeast Los Angeles. Historically, the property was part of the Taylor Yard, a former headquarters of the Southern Pacific Railroad.
In 2003, California State Parks purchased the Bowtie parcel with the intent of transforming undeveloped industrial land into a safe and clean, vibrant public green space focused on nature conservation and restoration, education, and passive recreation. In partnership with The Nature Conservancy (TNC), transformation of the Bowtie is now underway to clean up and heal the site.
TNC recently broke ground on the Bowtie Wetland Demonstration, which will treat water from an underground storm drain and create a wetland with native habitat. The site will include walking trails and interpretive elements. The project aims to improve water quality, reduce urban heat, and create an ecological habitat that ultimately strengthens the Los Angeles urban ecosystem. It will be is Phase 1 of the proposed conversion of the Bowtie into a California state park. More information about the Bowtie is available on the project's webpage.
Guardians of Lake Tahoe: A Dive into Aquatic Conservation
Story from: Jeremy Lin, Sierra District
 Sierra District interpreters Jeremy Lin and Camden Dahms answer audience questions, discuss aquatic wildlife, and survey an underwater transect. Photos from Taylor Jackson and Brandon Caskey, Sierra District.
The Sierra District Dive Team and the statewide PORTS (Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students)® Program Team broadcasted a live underwater program called Guardians of Lake Tahoe: A Dive into Aquatic Conservation from Emerald Bay State Park on Sept. 26. This program featured California State Park scuba divers as they surveyed and documented the current condition of an intriguing underwater ecosystem known as the Emerald Forest.
Viewers learned about the ongoing efforts to monitor and remove aquatic invasive species (AIS) such as Eurasian watermilfoil, a threat to Lake Tahoe's water clarity and native habitats. Hundreds of virtual attendees engaged with this interactive broadcast by asking questions directly to the divers.
State park interpreters, environmental scientists, and rangers collaborated on this program with the goal of educating the public on the impact of AIS, engaging viewers through live demonstrations of conservation techniques, and inspiring action to protect the lake. By providing digital access to a part of the park that is challenging for park guests to visit, the program broadened its reach, encouraging stewardship in the fight to "Keep Tahoe Blue."
The event was well-received and popular, increasing awareness and community involvement in preserving Lake Tahoe’s unique ecosystems. A recording of the broadcast can be seen on the PORTS YouTube Channel.
 Top left: Jeremy Lin presenting live from the Emerald Forest. Photo from Taylor Jackson, Sierra District. Top right: Camden Dahms showing Emerald Bay from the topside camera with Interpreter Katie Sullivan in the yellow kayak. Photo from Bandon Caskey, Sierra District. Bottom, left to right: Live Dive Team with State Park Lifeguard and Boat Operator Ryan Petersen, PORTS Interpreter II Brandon Caskey, Senior Environmental Scientist Lindsay Cline, and Jeremy Lin. Photo from Camden Dahms, Sierra District.
 PARTNER NEWS
BayWood Artists Celebrate California State Parks with Exhibit and Donations
Story from: Michael Bridges, Parks California
 State Parks Director Armando Quintero with Parks California staff at the BayWood Artists exhibition. From left to right: Alfonso Orozco, Scott Kleinman, Director Armando Quintero, Kindley Walsh Lawlor, Elizabeth Kubey, Michael Bridges and former Parks California staff member Debbie Felix. Photo from Parks California.
The BayWood Artists, a Marin County-based group of 10 visual fine artists, held an exhibit and show entitled "State Park Impressions" at the Marin Art and Garden Center in Ross on Sept. 27-29. Half of the proceeds from the art sales were donated to support State Parks through the statewide work of Parks California. Hundreds of people viewed the exhibit throughout the weekend.
The BayWood Artists are a small group of professional landscape painters. Artist members of 2024 are Christin Coy, Laura Culver, Jon Francis, Robert Frank, Michael Friedland, Sherrill Miller, Lissa Nicolaus, Jean Sanchirico, Robert Steele, and guest artist James Morgan. The mission of the BayWood Artists is to protect and preserve the landscape by raising awareness of and making donations to environmental causes through fine art exhibitions and sales, and by promoting the tradition of plein air painting in California.
California State Parks Director Armando Quintero was on hand to greet guests, and two of his own pastels were on display, though not for sale. One of his pastels, depicting a view at Año Nuevo State Park, was started as part of last year’s Tour de Parks California, an annual event hosted by Parks California to engage people in the work and breadth of opportunities in state parks. This year's Tour de Parks California is taking place this weekend, Oct. 5-6, and will travel from Morro Bay to San Simeon
Throughout the year, members of the BayWood Artists group visit state parks to paint the scenes in preparation for this annual show. The works at the recent show depicted scenes from more than a dozen parks, including California’s newest park, Dos Rios at the confluence of the Tuolumne River and the San Joaquin Rivers.
 State Parks Director Armando Quintero with his artwork. Photo from Parks California.
  Email photos to the WeeklyDigest@parks.ca.gov.
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