River Partners’ Restoration of Floodplains Averts Disasters in California – CleanTechnica

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Earth’s climate is changing, and we are seeing the consequences of this more often. California is just one place on Earth where residents are experiencing a range of extremes triggered by climate change. Residents of the state face wildfires and floods, and both are devastating.

“Collectively, post-wildfire hydrologic hazards — debris flows and flash floods — are going to be increasing in a warming climate,” said Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at UCLA and the Nature Conservancy, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

“To be honest, we’re behind the game,” said Jason Kean, a US Geological Survey hydrologist who studies post-fire debris flows.

In the current situation, it is imperative to unite and accelerate efforts to take action as quickly as possible to ensure a safer future for all Californians. For over 25 years, the nonprofit River Partners has dedicated every effort and resource available to ensure a safer and healthier future.

River Partners purchases land from private owners and restores large portions of the natural landscape. Its mission is “to bring life back to rivers by creating wildlife habitat for the benefit of people and the environment.” The organization creates interconnected, thriving floodplains that support abundant wildlife, productive farmland, conserve freshwater resources, improve surrounding communities, and serve as the first line of environmental defense in a changing climate. River Partners restores native ecosystems in some of the state’s most vulnerable river corridors at a pace and scale that matters.

River Partners has pioneered the use of agricultural technology combined with ecological science to reintroduce critical habitat in California at a scale never attempted before. Its methods create self-sustaining forests from seed in just three years.

Since 1998, River Partners has invested $160 million to restore nearly 20,000 acres of river corridors across California. Every acre the organization restores yields many times its cost in broad ecological value:

• River forests lower flood risk to downstream communities by reducing erosion and allowing floodwaters to slow down and spread out.
• Floodwaters sink into the aquifer and contribute to groundwater recharge.
• Young, growing forests have higher rates of carbon sequestration than mature woodlands, reducing the impact of global warming.
• Riparian forests act as natural pollution filters to improve water quality.
• Reduced agricultural water use conserves freshwater.
• Healthy river ecosystems provide habitat for birds, animals, and pollinators, and enhance fisheries.
• Open space on public land creates recreational and educational benefits for surrounding communities.
• The majority of its funding is directed to local communities in under-resourced areas, strengthening local economies.

River Partners brings together farmers, federal and state agencies, regulatory boards, foundations, conservationists, and local organizations to take large-scale action to achieve goals. The organization first works proactively with landowners, state agencies, nonprofits, and local municipalities to identify common goals. Then they navigate complex regulatory hurdles and bureaucratic red tape before each new project is implemented.

This would not be possible without the participation and support of Californians, organizations, new partners, and sponsors. Every dollar counts to improve the lives of Californians. For more information, visit the River Partners website.

To date, River Partners has completed 300 projects in 21 watersheds across California, all of which restore ecosystems, conserve freshwater resources, improve surrounding communities, and protect the environment and residents.

Among the various projects in the Sacramento Valley, River Partners is working on the Bear River Setback Levee, which will restore habitat along a 2-mile stretch of the Bear River and levee. This project will permanently improve flood safety. River Partners also won a competitive federal construction contract to restore more than 1,400 acres of habitat in the newly created levee setback area along the Sacramento River, Hamilton City project.

In the San Joaquin Valley, River Partners is working on California’s largest floodplain restoration project, Dos Rios Ranch Preserve, San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge, and Panorama Vista Preserve. Southern California projects include San Dieguito River Park and the Otay Delta Project. These are just a few of the projects River Partners is working on at the moment.

Featured image: San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge/source River Partners.

By our friend Eva Fox