Happy New Year 2022 with much hope for a year that is great for nature and everyone!
Gateway to the American River
Fall on the river under continuing low flow conditions
Sutter’s Landing Park is a natural treasure in the heart of Sacramento. It serves as a historic gateway to the 31.5-mile American River Parkway, which enjoys more than 8 million visitor days per year—more than Yosemite National Park! Friends of Sutter's Landing Park (FOSL) has created a vision offers a unique opportunity to enhance the quality of life of residents today and for future generationFOSL Blogs. The park could become a legacy project for the City of Sacramento, enriching the livability of our city and making it a destination for families, nature-lovers, and outdoor recreation enthusiasts.
Sutter’s Landing could be a nature park in the middle of the central city, providing habitat for wildlife, as well as great access to trails along the American River for people. There exists an opportunity to add to the current park by adding to and widening the corridor along the river that supports wildlife, by expanding access for people to enjoy this resource through additional nature trails, and by helping inspire children and their families through increasing opportunities to learn about science, nature, and the history of this important site. Please consider joining FOSL to make this happen!
------------
🔥Participate in State Parks "Reinterpreting Sutter's Fort" planning effort. California State Parks is gathering public input on a proposal to fundamentally change the way history is interpreted at Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park as part of State Parks’ Reexamining Our Past Initiative. Surveys, workshops and planning documents are available now. The initiative was started in 2020 when State Parks joined with other California State Agencies to redress discriminatory names within the state’s park and infrastructure systems. This followed the national conversation about racist public memorials in 2019, as well as Governor Newsom’s formal apology to Native Americans and the creation of the California Truth and Healing Council that same year.
🔥FOSL 2/3/22 Letter to Council Member Valenzuela regarding proposed use of SLP solar parking lot for "Safe Ground Camping" site. (click link for pdf of letter)
-------PREVIOUS NEWS-------
💧FORB Hosts "Let's Go With The Flow, Flows on the Lower American River" 10/23 10 AM @ SLP
Join us October 23rd at 10 AM at our regular meeting up site at the edge of the Skateboard Building parking lot. Local expert, Cathy Kemp with US Geo Survey, will provide a program specific to the American River, in particular to describing the flows at Sutter's Landing Park that are affected daily by tidal action - this will include the impacts from Folsom Dam on the American River flows.
Friends of Sutter's Landing's education committee, Friends of the Riverbanks has hosted monthly nature programs at SLP. for the past 15 years, We suspended these programs last year due to COVID-19. Our hope is to begin the programs once again on a limited attendance basis, following COVID-19 rules. If you decide to attend, please follow appropriate COVID protection including masks, social distancing etc.
Please RSVP to Betsy Weiland at flweiland@yahoo.com. More details to follow.
-------
💥🚮 The next "Park Beautification" will be held on Saturday October 30th at 8 AM. We will continue to work in the Corps Yard, and pick up the litter that seems to accumulate as quickly as we remove it. We will start at our usual time, 8:00 a.m. The beach is still busy with all of this nice weather and we can't slack off quite yet. If you haven't had a chance to join a beautification day yet, now would be a good time to come to the River. Fall colors are appearing and its a glorious sight. Mark Baker will lead another work party across the river at Woodlake (see blog post for details.)
💥🚮 Summer long Saturday work party cleanup events have been underway in 2021 since Memorial Day. Contact Betsy Weiland, volunteer coordinator, at flweiland@yahoo.com to sign up for future cleanup events.
💥📣FOSL is on social media! You can follow us on Twitter @FOSLPark and Instagram @friendsofsutterslandingpark. If you include #sutterslandingpark and #americanriverparkway when you share photos and other information it will help promote the area, nature and recreation there. You can also reach us via email at foslsean@gmail.com.
March 15, 2021 Release of Public Draft American River Parkway Natural Resources Management Plan
March 17, 2021 Lower American River Conservancy Program Public Workshop
💥Great news! City of Sacramento approved acquisition of Blue Diamond property as an addition to Sutter's Landing Park on January 19th, 2021. (see blog post for more information)
💥Friends of the River Banks (FORB) 2021 Annual New Years gathering at Sutter’s Landing was cancelled due to COVID-19 and regular monthly outdoor Second Saturday events are also cancelled until further notice (please follow all health and safety guidance. FORB events will return when it is safe to gather.
💥Also, remember to always "Recreate Responsibly". Increased Illegal off-pavement bike riding at SLP is causing erosion, wildlife disturbance and habitat loss.
💥FOSL has a new Blog webpage. Watch this space for more!
💥We have scheduled a volunteer work morning at the Sutter’s Landing Restoration site this coming Saturday, January 23rd. 9:00am to 11:30.
Sutter’s Landing "Beach"/River (County) & Parking Lot (City) Contacts
This is your Parkway, the jewel of Sacramento. If off-leash dogs running through your picnic, trash, litter, broken glass, damaged trees, dog waste, graffiti, open fires, loud music, fireworks, speeding bicycles on quiet forest trails, and disruptive behavior make you feel unwelcome and unsafe, don’t put up with it. Speak up and protect it!
“It’s the action, not the fruit of the action, that’s important. You may never know what results come from your action.
But if you do nothing, there will be no result.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi
Links to Sacramento Co Park Rangers & Sheriffs, Sacramento Police & Services:
Sac Co 311 Connect Mobile App
To report Non-Emergencies in real time, Call the Sheriff’s Dept. 916-874-5115
Sac City 311 Smart Phone App
To report Non-Emergencies in real time, Call the Sac Police Dept. 916-808-5471
Use 911 for Emergencies
provided by Friends of Sutter’s Landing Park
---------
💥🚮 Summer long Saturday work party cleanup events are planned for 2021 starting on Memorial Day. Contact Betsy Weiland, volunteer coordinator, at flweiland@yahoo.com to sign up for future cleanup events. Everyone interested in keeping SLP clean and safe for the community can count on an opportunity to volunteer that fits with their availability. We've had a positive volunteer response, and most of all, the park is clean and ready for the many visitors that come to enjoy the Parkway. We definitely notice a difference in proper trash disposal when people start off in a clean park. We also provide cold water, answer questions about Sutter's Landing Park, the American River Parkway and County Regional Parks in general. Its a great opportunity to meet people now that Covid 19 restrictions are easing up. We do wear our masks at the outreach table.
-------
Good News:
Friends of Sutter’s Landing (FOSL) was formed to advocate for our neighborhood stretch of the American River. FOSL recently obtained its 501(c)(3) non-profit status and is ready for business. We provide support and resources for ongoing environmental education work done by Friends of the River Banks. We’ve also hosted work parties to remove invasive plants. What else should we do to make Sutter’s Landing a fabulous native ecosystem? Participate in a FOSL meeting and help us protect this resource and plan for the future. The next meeting will be scheduled with Zoom, contact Sean for details.
💥Friends of the River Banks, or FORB, recently hosted a special online event "Midtown Sacramento Coyotes with Guy Galante". Guy has been studying coyotes in the area for many years and is currently involved in education and monitoring activities with a young family of coyotes in Midtown. Those who missed this very popular event can follow the link above to a video recording as well as other information on this subject.
Check out this Video! "Sutter's Landing Park Gateway to the American River". Truly a part of Sacramento's heart and soul.
*********************
IMPORTANT NEWS!
AB 1716 approved creating a new state conservancy for the Lower American River Parkway. The governor signed Assembly Bill 1716, the bill to create a state conservancy program for the Lower American River Parkway, on September 16, 2016. The Lower American River Conservancy Program (LARC) is now in place under the state Wildlife Conservation Board. The governor's recent budgets have provided several million dollars in funding for the LARC and with the passage of Prop 68 this year an additional $10 million in funding for projects is now available. The approved legislation created an advisory committee with representation by various state and local agencies as well as key nonprofit organizations. The committee meets regularly and will soon make recommendations on proposed projects. FOSL's vision for Sutter's Landing Park as Sacramento's gateway to the American River Parkway can become reality through the LARC process. Additional funding could become available later this year if Prop 3 passes in the general election.
Sacramento County is now seeking a $500,000 grant from WCB to finally develop the Natural Resource Management Plan for the American River Parkway which will be a critical tool in setting priorities for protecting and restoring wildlife habitat and other natural resources primarily through the Lower American River Conservancy Program. Public participation in the NRMP and overall LARC are critical. Also note that the approved legislation for the new conservancy requires at least 20% of approved funds target disadvantaged communities along the American River Parkway providing an important means of providing parklands, open space and recreation for these communities.
Past News:
Work party met at 9 am; climate change discussion began at 10 8/10/19
In addition to Friends of the River Banks discussion on climate change August 10th, participants had an opportunity to help keep Sutter’s Landing healthy by removing star thistle. Star thistle is an invasive plant that doesn’t belong in our river ecosystem. It grows quickly in disturbed areas and can take over, excluding native species and changing the ecosystem. We need to remove the star thistle before it goes to seed.
Work on star thistle starts at 9 am, then take a break at 10 am for our discussion on climate change and why habitat restoration is even more important in a changing climate. Those who want to remain after the discussion can go back to star thistle removal.
If you want to help with star thistle removal, please wear long pants and sleeves—star thistle is prickly. Bring leather gloves, a water bottle (we’ll have jugs to refill them), shovels and hoes. Happily, the weather is supposed to be relatively cool tomorrow.
All volunteers must sign a waiver. Copies will be available at the event.
Climate Change on the River
Climate change is the biggest challenge of our time. Join Friends of the River Banks and Friends of Sutter's Landing Park on Saturday, August 10, 2019 @10 am, to talk about how a changing climate will impact our neighborhood stretch of the American River, the species that live there, the larger Sacramento area, and all we hold dear. We’ll also talk about what we can do to address the climate crisis. While this gathering is mostly geared toward adults, children are welcome to join us for the walk and to remind us how important it is to ensure a safe climate for future generations.
Gather at the very end of 28th Street at the Sutter’s Landing parking lot. Bring hats, water, sun block, and binoculars. Please leave your dogs at home and walk, bike, or carpool if possible to keep our collective carbon footprint low.
Recent local community radio program on Sutter's Landing Park.
Cully Park Opens! In June 2018 an exciting example of how a city and community can come together to convert a former landfill into a new 25 acre park for everyone opened in Portland's most diverse and park deprived neighborhood. What is underway in the city of Portland Oregon is also an excellent example of what can be done here too.
From Dumps to Destinations, Converting landfills to parks. "New parks can be fashioned out of old garbage dumps. It's not as bad as it sounds". An excerpt from the recently released book published by Island Press called Urban Green: Innovative Parks for Resurgent Cities. This article looks at some cities who have created parkland from capped landfills and provides considerable information about how and why completing the conversion of the former landfill at Sutter's Landing Park to a true regional park is an excellent idea.
How a Former Phoenix Landfill Became Home for Displaced Burrowing Owls
The last known burrowing owl was seen at Sutter's Landing Park in 2007 in an area that has been altered by heavy equipment and the species seems to be on the decline in many locations. There is some habitat remaining at SLP and more could be restored as was the case with a former landfill in Phoenix. This type of effort is a priority for Friends of Sutter's Landing Park, Friends of the River Banks and other local groups. The recent approval of AB 1716 creating a new state conservancy for the Lower American River Parkway should be an effective tool for this type of effort.
A first cut draft map looking at American River Parkway vegetation, habitats, connectivity and surrounding 2050 urban growth projections. The intent is to create a useful tool to help with the development of a Natural Resource Management Plan for the Parkway while learning more about the capabilities of Data Basin, a free mapping and analytical tool. A PDF file of this draft map is also available.
Sutter’s Landing could be a nature park in the middle of the central city, providing habitat for wildlife, as well as great access to trails along the American River for people. There exists an opportunity to add to the current park by adding to and widening the corridor along the river that supports wildlife, by expanding access for people to enjoy this resource through additional nature trails, and by helping inspire children and their families through increasing opportunities to learn about science, nature, and the history of this important site. Please consider joining FOSL to make this happen!
------------
🔥Participate in State Parks "Reinterpreting Sutter's Fort" planning effort. California State Parks is gathering public input on a proposal to fundamentally change the way history is interpreted at Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park as part of State Parks’ Reexamining Our Past Initiative. Surveys, workshops and planning documents are available now. The initiative was started in 2020 when State Parks joined with other California State Agencies to redress discriminatory names within the state’s park and infrastructure systems. This followed the national conversation about racist public memorials in 2019, as well as Governor Newsom’s formal apology to Native Americans and the creation of the California Truth and Healing Council that same year.
🔥FOSL 2/3/22 Letter to Council Member Valenzuela regarding proposed use of SLP solar parking lot for "Safe Ground Camping" site. (click link for pdf of letter)
-------PREVIOUS NEWS-------
💧FORB Hosts "Let's Go With The Flow, Flows on the Lower American River" 10/23 10 AM @ SLP
Join us October 23rd at 10 AM at our regular meeting up site at the edge of the Skateboard Building parking lot. Local expert, Cathy Kemp with US Geo Survey, will provide a program specific to the American River, in particular to describing the flows at Sutter's Landing Park that are affected daily by tidal action - this will include the impacts from Folsom Dam on the American River flows.
Friends of Sutter's Landing's education committee, Friends of the Riverbanks has hosted monthly nature programs at SLP. for the past 15 years, We suspended these programs last year due to COVID-19. Our hope is to begin the programs once again on a limited attendance basis, following COVID-19 rules. If you decide to attend, please follow appropriate COVID protection including masks, social distancing etc.
Please RSVP to Betsy Weiland at flweiland@yahoo.com. More details to follow.
-------
💥🚮 The next "Park Beautification" will be held on Saturday October 30th at 8 AM. We will continue to work in the Corps Yard, and pick up the litter that seems to accumulate as quickly as we remove it. We will start at our usual time, 8:00 a.m. The beach is still busy with all of this nice weather and we can't slack off quite yet. If you haven't had a chance to join a beautification day yet, now would be a good time to come to the River. Fall colors are appearing and its a glorious sight. Mark Baker will lead another work party across the river at Woodlake (see blog post for details.)
💥🚮 Summer long Saturday work party cleanup events have been underway in 2021 since Memorial Day. Contact Betsy Weiland, volunteer coordinator, at flweiland@yahoo.com to sign up for future cleanup events.
💥📣FOSL is on social media! You can follow us on Twitter @FOSLPark and Instagram @friendsofsutterslandingpark. If you include #sutterslandingpark and #americanriverparkway when you share photos and other information it will help promote the area, nature and recreation there. You can also reach us via email at foslsean@gmail.com.
March 15, 2021 Release of Public Draft American River Parkway Natural Resources Management Plan
March 17, 2021 Lower American River Conservancy Program Public Workshop
💥Great news! City of Sacramento approved acquisition of Blue Diamond property as an addition to Sutter's Landing Park on January 19th, 2021. (see blog post for more information)
💥Friends of the River Banks (FORB) 2021 Annual New Years gathering at Sutter’s Landing was cancelled due to COVID-19 and regular monthly outdoor Second Saturday events are also cancelled until further notice (please follow all health and safety guidance. FORB events will return when it is safe to gather.
💥Also, remember to always "Recreate Responsibly". Increased Illegal off-pavement bike riding at SLP is causing erosion, wildlife disturbance and habitat loss.
💥FOSL has a new Blog webpage. Watch this space for more!
💥We have scheduled a volunteer work morning at the Sutter’s Landing Restoration site this coming Saturday, January 23rd. 9:00am to 11:30.
Sutter’s Landing "Beach"/River (County) & Parking Lot (City) Contacts
This is your Parkway, the jewel of Sacramento. If off-leash dogs running through your picnic, trash, litter, broken glass, damaged trees, dog waste, graffiti, open fires, loud music, fireworks, speeding bicycles on quiet forest trails, and disruptive behavior make you feel unwelcome and unsafe, don’t put up with it. Speak up and protect it!
“It’s the action, not the fruit of the action, that’s important. You may never know what results come from your action.
But if you do nothing, there will be no result.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi
Links to Sacramento Co Park Rangers & Sheriffs, Sacramento Police & Services:
Sac Co 311 Connect Mobile App
To report Non-Emergencies in real time, Call the Sheriff’s Dept. 916-874-5115
Sac City 311 Smart Phone App
To report Non-Emergencies in real time, Call the Sac Police Dept. 916-808-5471
Use 911 for Emergencies
provided by Friends of Sutter’s Landing Park
---------
💥🚮 Summer long Saturday work party cleanup events are planned for 2021 starting on Memorial Day. Contact Betsy Weiland, volunteer coordinator, at flweiland@yahoo.com to sign up for future cleanup events. Everyone interested in keeping SLP clean and safe for the community can count on an opportunity to volunteer that fits with their availability. We've had a positive volunteer response, and most of all, the park is clean and ready for the many visitors that come to enjoy the Parkway. We definitely notice a difference in proper trash disposal when people start off in a clean park. We also provide cold water, answer questions about Sutter's Landing Park, the American River Parkway and County Regional Parks in general. Its a great opportunity to meet people now that Covid 19 restrictions are easing up. We do wear our masks at the outreach table.
-------
Good News:
Friends of Sutter’s Landing (FOSL) was formed to advocate for our neighborhood stretch of the American River. FOSL recently obtained its 501(c)(3) non-profit status and is ready for business. We provide support and resources for ongoing environmental education work done by Friends of the River Banks. We’ve also hosted work parties to remove invasive plants. What else should we do to make Sutter’s Landing a fabulous native ecosystem? Participate in a FOSL meeting and help us protect this resource and plan for the future. The next meeting will be scheduled with Zoom, contact Sean for details.
💥Friends of the River Banks, or FORB, recently hosted a special online event "Midtown Sacramento Coyotes with Guy Galante". Guy has been studying coyotes in the area for many years and is currently involved in education and monitoring activities with a young family of coyotes in Midtown. Those who missed this very popular event can follow the link above to a video recording as well as other information on this subject.
Check out this Video! "Sutter's Landing Park Gateway to the American River". Truly a part of Sacramento's heart and soul.
*********************
IMPORTANT NEWS!
AB 1716 approved creating a new state conservancy for the Lower American River Parkway. The governor signed Assembly Bill 1716, the bill to create a state conservancy program for the Lower American River Parkway, on September 16, 2016. The Lower American River Conservancy Program (LARC) is now in place under the state Wildlife Conservation Board. The governor's recent budgets have provided several million dollars in funding for the LARC and with the passage of Prop 68 this year an additional $10 million in funding for projects is now available. The approved legislation created an advisory committee with representation by various state and local agencies as well as key nonprofit organizations. The committee meets regularly and will soon make recommendations on proposed projects. FOSL's vision for Sutter's Landing Park as Sacramento's gateway to the American River Parkway can become reality through the LARC process. Additional funding could become available later this year if Prop 3 passes in the general election.
Sacramento County is now seeking a $500,000 grant from WCB to finally develop the Natural Resource Management Plan for the American River Parkway which will be a critical tool in setting priorities for protecting and restoring wildlife habitat and other natural resources primarily through the Lower American River Conservancy Program. Public participation in the NRMP and overall LARC are critical. Also note that the approved legislation for the new conservancy requires at least 20% of approved funds target disadvantaged communities along the American River Parkway providing an important means of providing parklands, open space and recreation for these communities.
Past News:
Work party met at 9 am; climate change discussion began at 10 8/10/19
In addition to Friends of the River Banks discussion on climate change August 10th, participants had an opportunity to help keep Sutter’s Landing healthy by removing star thistle. Star thistle is an invasive plant that doesn’t belong in our river ecosystem. It grows quickly in disturbed areas and can take over, excluding native species and changing the ecosystem. We need to remove the star thistle before it goes to seed.
Work on star thistle starts at 9 am, then take a break at 10 am for our discussion on climate change and why habitat restoration is even more important in a changing climate. Those who want to remain after the discussion can go back to star thistle removal.
If you want to help with star thistle removal, please wear long pants and sleeves—star thistle is prickly. Bring leather gloves, a water bottle (we’ll have jugs to refill them), shovels and hoes. Happily, the weather is supposed to be relatively cool tomorrow.
All volunteers must sign a waiver. Copies will be available at the event.
Climate Change on the River
Climate change is the biggest challenge of our time. Join Friends of the River Banks and Friends of Sutter's Landing Park on Saturday, August 10, 2019 @10 am, to talk about how a changing climate will impact our neighborhood stretch of the American River, the species that live there, the larger Sacramento area, and all we hold dear. We’ll also talk about what we can do to address the climate crisis. While this gathering is mostly geared toward adults, children are welcome to join us for the walk and to remind us how important it is to ensure a safe climate for future generations.
Gather at the very end of 28th Street at the Sutter’s Landing parking lot. Bring hats, water, sun block, and binoculars. Please leave your dogs at home and walk, bike, or carpool if possible to keep our collective carbon footprint low.
Recent local community radio program on Sutter's Landing Park.
Cully Park Opens! In June 2018 an exciting example of how a city and community can come together to convert a former landfill into a new 25 acre park for everyone opened in Portland's most diverse and park deprived neighborhood. What is underway in the city of Portland Oregon is also an excellent example of what can be done here too.
From Dumps to Destinations, Converting landfills to parks. "New parks can be fashioned out of old garbage dumps. It's not as bad as it sounds". An excerpt from the recently released book published by Island Press called Urban Green: Innovative Parks for Resurgent Cities. This article looks at some cities who have created parkland from capped landfills and provides considerable information about how and why completing the conversion of the former landfill at Sutter's Landing Park to a true regional park is an excellent idea.
How a Former Phoenix Landfill Became Home for Displaced Burrowing Owls
The last known burrowing owl was seen at Sutter's Landing Park in 2007 in an area that has been altered by heavy equipment and the species seems to be on the decline in many locations. There is some habitat remaining at SLP and more could be restored as was the case with a former landfill in Phoenix. This type of effort is a priority for Friends of Sutter's Landing Park, Friends of the River Banks and other local groups. The recent approval of AB 1716 creating a new state conservancy for the Lower American River Parkway should be an effective tool for this type of effort.
A first cut draft map looking at American River Parkway vegetation, habitats, connectivity and surrounding 2050 urban growth projections. The intent is to create a useful tool to help with the development of a Natural Resource Management Plan for the Parkway while learning more about the capabilities of Data Basin, a free mapping and analytical tool. A PDF file of this draft map is also available.
Lower American River in Parkway Plan
