THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- On Saturday, September 29th from 9am to 12pm, the National Park Service and Mountains Restoration Trust will host a tree planting volunteer event.
Volunteers are needed to help plant 178 Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia) and Valley Oak (Quercus lobota) trees along a dirt road at Rancho Sierra Vista, a site located in Newbury Park that is part of Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.
The tree planting, which will serve several different goals, is part of an experiment to test the efficacy of a type of biodegradable container that could potentially lower the amount of time, labor and water it takes to ensure tree plantings are successfully established and can survive. Park ecologists also want to learn the effects of native soil from mature individuals in tree restoration by adding native soil, which includes beneficial microbial and fungal communities to see if it aids in helping the young trees become established.
“Native trees are important to Southern California and our cultural heritage," said Richard Rachman, a park biological technician. “Birds of prey, like barn owls, use the large trees to roost and to return to after a night of hunting for rodents. The Lazuli bunting, a songbird easily recognized due to its bright sky blue head, use this restoration area for breeding, as do the beautiful and hovering white-tailed kites."
Volunteers can park in the main visitor parking lot. The restoration site is a 10 minute walk away (near the intersection of Potrero Road and South Briar Avenue).
Volunteers should wear closed-toe shoes and sun protection, bring water and be prepared to work outdoors. NPS will provide gloves and tools. RSVPs to e-mail us are welcome, but not required. For more information, please call (805) 370-2393.
Restoration at Potrero Creek began 20 years ago with the National Park Service. Mountains Restoration Trust partnered with NPS 3 years ago to expand on the Potrero Creek restoration. The land was historically used for cattle and sheep ranching, which has degraded many of the native animal and plant communities. Since the restoration project began, neighbors have noted the return of wildlife, such as mule deer, scrub jays, white-tailed kites and other critters. Early in the morning, it's not unusual to find a flock of California quail calling out, or a California road runner chasing a western fence lizard. The area also boasts an array of flowers, which attracts butterflies every year.
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is the largest urban national park in the country, encompassing more than 150,000 acres of mountains and coastline in Ventura and Los Angeles counties. A unit of the National Park Service, it comprises a seamless network of local, state and federal parks interwoven with private lands and communities. As one of only five Mediterranean ecosystems in the world, the recreation area preserves the rich biological diversity of more than 450 animal species and 26 distinct plant communities. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/samo.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
