Invasive Plant Removal Work Party Sat, Aug 10th & 17th, at Sutter’s Landing Park
Last weekend we held a very successful work party. About a dozen hard-working enthusiastic people pulled star thistle—8 large garbage cans and 2 tarps worth! We’re going to do it again Saturday August 17th…and you’re invited!!
This invasive plant doesn’t belong along our American River Parkway and grows quickly in disturbed areas excluding native species and changing the ecosystem. The regular monthly FORB event on the same day focused on climate change and the river and why habitat restoration is even more important in a changing climate.
Friends of Sutter's Landing Landscape Committee is hosting another Saturday workday this coming Saturday, August 17, from 8:00 am to 10:00 am with cooler temperatures expected. We will meet in the parking lot in front of the Sutter's Landing Skateboard Building, gather our tools, and walk down to the Parkway restoration site we worked on last Saturday, and we made a noticeable dent in the star thistle invasion at this site. The Landscape Committee is inspired and energized to keep on truckin'.
Please bring leather gloves, and tools such as rakes and shovels. A hat and long sleeves make the work more comfortable also. I'll make sure we have lots of water (bring your own container if possible)!
Volunteer Waiver Forms are required and I will have those ready to be filled out and signed. Contact me if you have any questions.
Your Parkway Pal,
Betsy Weiland, Landscape Committee
Friends of Sutter's Landing
[email protected]
(916) 488-3894
This invasive plant doesn’t belong along our American River Parkway and grows quickly in disturbed areas excluding native species and changing the ecosystem. The regular monthly FORB event on the same day focused on climate change and the river and why habitat restoration is even more important in a changing climate.
Friends of Sutter's Landing Landscape Committee is hosting another Saturday workday this coming Saturday, August 17, from 8:00 am to 10:00 am with cooler temperatures expected. We will meet in the parking lot in front of the Sutter's Landing Skateboard Building, gather our tools, and walk down to the Parkway restoration site we worked on last Saturday, and we made a noticeable dent in the star thistle invasion at this site. The Landscape Committee is inspired and energized to keep on truckin'.
Please bring leather gloves, and tools such as rakes and shovels. A hat and long sleeves make the work more comfortable also. I'll make sure we have lots of water (bring your own container if possible)!
Volunteer Waiver Forms are required and I will have those ready to be filled out and signed. Contact me if you have any questions.
Your Parkway Pal,
Betsy Weiland, Landscape Committee
Friends of Sutter's Landing
[email protected]
(916) 488-3894
Report from Climate Change on the River
by Laurie Litman
Star thistle isn’t the only threat to our river ecosystem. Perhaps the biggest overarching threat to the future of all natural ecosystems—and human life as well—is climate change. On Aug 10 we gathered at the river, enjoying the shade and birdlife, and had a great discussion about the climate crisis and what we can do about it.
Climate change is accelerating. It is a threat multiplier, and is already exacerbating many problems. With higher temperatures there will be less water stored in the snowpack, so more water will come downhill during big storms, increasing the risk of flooding and leaving less water available later in the summer. Precipitation patterns are becoming more unpredictable, with greater chances of long-term drought. Excess heat will affect plants and animals; warmer waters are bad for salmon and other species. Sea level rise will affect the Delta. Public health issues and social inequities will increase.
What can we do to stop climate change? The reason the climate is changing so rapidly is due to the increase in greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. This is a simple physics/chemistry issue: as we burn fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas), molecules of CO2 and other gases are released into the atmosphere where they act as a blanket, or greenhouse, trapping heat. The remedy is to stop burning fossil fuels and lower our carbon emissions every way we can.
The good news is: we know what to do about climate change. The bad news: political will is still lacking. It’s up to us to lead our leaders and demand they make the changes necessary for a safe climate future.
Some things you can do:
• Talk with others—there has been a huge effort by the fossil fuel industry to portray climate change as a political issue and so people are reticent to talk about it. Start the conversation and let your friends and family know how concerned you are.
• Cut your own personal emissions. Drive less, fly less, electrify your home, cut your use of plastics, consume less, eat lower on the food chain,…
• Help your place of work, school, church, etc. cut their emissions.
• Let your representatives know that the climate crisis is a top priority to you and that you expect them to step up and take bold action. We need to leave fossil fuels in the ground and rapidly transition to 100% renewable energy.
• Get involved with an organization working on climate issues (350sacramento.org is one place to start).
• Vote for the climate—we must elect leaders who have the courage to step up to the biggest challenge humankind has ever faced.
Climate change is accelerating. It is a threat multiplier, and is already exacerbating many problems. With higher temperatures there will be less water stored in the snowpack, so more water will come downhill during big storms, increasing the risk of flooding and leaving less water available later in the summer. Precipitation patterns are becoming more unpredictable, with greater chances of long-term drought. Excess heat will affect plants and animals; warmer waters are bad for salmon and other species. Sea level rise will affect the Delta. Public health issues and social inequities will increase.
What can we do to stop climate change? The reason the climate is changing so rapidly is due to the increase in greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. This is a simple physics/chemistry issue: as we burn fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas), molecules of CO2 and other gases are released into the atmosphere where they act as a blanket, or greenhouse, trapping heat. The remedy is to stop burning fossil fuels and lower our carbon emissions every way we can.
The good news is: we know what to do about climate change. The bad news: political will is still lacking. It’s up to us to lead our leaders and demand they make the changes necessary for a safe climate future.
Some things you can do:
• Talk with others—there has been a huge effort by the fossil fuel industry to portray climate change as a political issue and so people are reticent to talk about it. Start the conversation and let your friends and family know how concerned you are.
• Cut your own personal emissions. Drive less, fly less, electrify your home, cut your use of plastics, consume less, eat lower on the food chain,…
• Help your place of work, school, church, etc. cut their emissions.
• Let your representatives know that the climate crisis is a top priority to you and that you expect them to step up and take bold action. We need to leave fossil fuels in the ground and rapidly transition to 100% renewable energy.
• Get involved with an organization working on climate issues (350sacramento.org is one place to start).
• Vote for the climate—we must elect leaders who have the courage to step up to the biggest challenge humankind has ever faced.
FORB and FOSL: Update
Friends of the River Banks (FORB) has been leading monthly gatherings at the river for about 14 years. Friends of Sutter’s Landing (FOSL) was formed to advocate for this stretch of the American River. FOSL recently got its 501c3 status and now FORB will become an educational program under FOSL. These changes will open up more possibilities for restoration work, advocacy, and other improvements/protection/stewardship of Sutter’s Landing. This is a great time to get involved. If you would like to be part of the newly empowered FOSL, please contact Sean, [email protected].
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