Santa Monica Mountains Native Plant Restoration & Hike
Saturday, March 16, 2024
9:00 am 12:00 pm- field work
12:00- 2:00 pm- lunch and short hike
Leader: Russell Hammerl, [email protected]
Meeting Point: Erinlea Ave. and Potrero Rd. About 0.3 miles west of Wendy Dr. Newbury Park, CA.
Map Location: Click here
We will walk together to the work site from Potrero Road.
Limited to 30 volunteers
Volunteer to remove invasive plants around oak saplings in a restoration project of hundreds of California Live and Valley Oaks at Rancho Sierra Vista, Potrero Creek. The Santa Monica Mountains National Park Fund, restoration team with the help of volunteers have planted well over 100,000 native plants. We need your help to maintain the plants so that they thrive!
This is going to be just for Great Outdoors. It's a fun way to learn and give back to the Mountains.
The site is reestablishing a native oak woodland habitat. This type of habitat is important to many species and is unique to the Southern California Region. For decades ranchers grazed these hills and encouraged the growth of non-native grasses. Wildfires have further contributed to the extensive loss of the native plant communities. Matthew Wells, the restoration project manager and environmental scientist for SAMO Fund, has established many projects and studies in the Santa Monica Mountains. Matthew selected this project for our group, Great Outdoors, and will be working alongside us, discussing the project, the work of SAMO Fund, and leading a short hike. Some of the oaks were planted over 20 years ago and others in the last few years.
Activity involve digging, weeding, and kneeling.
Please bring lunch, water, sunscreen, sun hat, and the 10 essentials. Wear field clothes or hiking attire, boots or hiking shoes, long-pants and long-sleeved shirts are recommended. Gloves and tools will be provided.
Rain cancels the event.
Please be on time so everyone can get instructions at the same time.