California has announced plans to open a new nature conservation reserve, Dos Rios State Park, in the San Joaquin Valley region of Central Valley, between San Francisco and Sacramento. The State of California will invest US$5m (R78m) in acquiring the reserve.
The name, Dos Rios (Two Rivers), comes from its location at the intersection of the San Joaquin and Tuolumne rivers, southwest of Modesto.
More than a decade of conservation and restoration work done by the non-profit River Partners means that 2 100 acres of floodplains have already been restored to a green space dotted by willow trees and oaks. This green infrastructure lowers flood risk and brings life back to the San Joaquin Valley to protect endangered species, says River Partners.
The restoration means the area is now a thriving ecosystem for several species, including brush rabbits, woodrats, hawks, Central Valley Chinook salmon, steelhead trout, yellow warblers, sandhill cranes, and migratory songbirds.
Dos Rios could see the addition of hiking and nature trails, picnic areas, restrooms, and campgrounds within the next few years.
Public access to Dos Rios State Park will only begin in 2023.
