California’s next state park is a ‘rewilded’ ranch that also protects communities from floods
On a bright morning in early January near the confluence of the San Joaquin and Tuolumne rivers in Central California, John Cain looks out over a small, curved lake. The trees are mostly bare for winter, but Cain, senior director of conservation of the nonprofit organization River Partners, points out … the wild landscape in front of him is buzzing. … Until a little more than a decade ago, this area was productive farmland … Now it’s set to be California’s next state park after a restoration project spearheaded by River Partners converted the ranch into rewilded riverside habitat. As climate change has doubled the likelihood of flooding in California, and is projected to increase runoff from storms by as much as 200 percent to 400 percent, this restored floodplain is proving to be a promising approach. Not only does the area help buffer downstream communities from flood damage, it also maximizes environmental benefits from high waters. “When we step back from the river, when we give the river more room, flooding actually is a very productive process for the ecosystem,” says Cain. “It recharges groundwater. It filters polluted water. It nourishes riparian forests that support all kinds of wildlife. It’s alive.”