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Living Lightly

Join us to “Mend the Bend!

By PATRICK KOEPELE

On Saturdays, March 4th  and April 1st, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. there will be volunteer tree planting at the Big Bend Habitat Restoration project sponsored by the Tuolumne River Trust, East Stanislaus Resource Conservation District, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Fish America Foundation, and NOAA Restoration Center’s Community-based Restoration Program.

Volunteers are needed to help plant acorns and other species. Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to tour the site, learn about the project’s goals, speak to the landowner and project partners and learn about river restoration.

The Big Bend Habitat Restoration is a 240-acre project targeted at improving forest, river, and wildlife habitat along the Tuolumne River. The project resulted, in part, from the 1997 floods, when the site was heavily damaged by the high water surging down from the Sierra. The landowners decided that the best recovery plan for the land was to dedicate it to fish and wildlife habitat.

The site is located about 20 minutes southwest of Modesto, off Grayson Road. Please dress to work, bring gloves and water. Snacks will be provided.

ACTION: Contact Patrick Koepele, Tuolumne River Trust, for information and directions to the site, (209) 236-0330, patrick@tuolumne.org