Thanks to the vision of the Board of Supervisors, over 50 acres of flood prone lands were set aside in a conservation easement a couple of years ago. That set in motion a collaborative venture between the County, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the District. Engineers, biologists and construction managers came together to design the wetlands. Today the RCD is busy making those plans a reality. Wildlife began to show up to check out the new wetlands as they were still being constructed – frogs took up residence and herons stopped by to check on this new supply of food on a day in mid-October.

“The design is as much art as it is science,” said Pat Frost, District Manager and wetland scientist. “We took a basic engineering design developed by the NRCS and have been tweaking it to add complexity to the wetlands – a little island here, a deeper hole there, and some boulders or logs to create a little more diversity for fish and wildlife.” Innovative planting materials are being used in the design, including large mats that have wetland plants embedded in them. These mats will be rolled out onto the surface of the newly excavated wetlands to stabilize the soil and establish a diverse plant community. At the same time native plant seeds will be spread over critical areas and covered with straw mulch. Then a variety of wetland plants from the District’s nursery will be installed. Subsequent plantings are being funded through a grant from the California Department of State Parks, through their Habitat Restoration Program.

The overarching goal of this project is to build wetland habitats that are attractive to wildlife and people alike – a place where residents and visitors to Weaverville can go for a short stroll, to view wildlife or take a class on a field trip. For more information, give the District a call at 623-6004 or visit our www.tcrcd.net for updates on the progress of this exciting new project.