STEWARDSHIP RESTORATION

The Foothill reroute has been a large endeavor for the OVLC stewardship team and all trail volunteers. A project with methodical planning going back to last spring, the team has improved and rerouted a portion of the trail to ensure longevity. 

Trail building is essential for public access, however, there are many challenges when building these paths. In order to fight erosion, prevent social trails created by over eager trail users, and protect sensitive habitat, OVLC planted native plants. Native plants are perfect for these projects. They support ecosystems by stabilizing disturbed soil and deterring foot traffic, but most importantly, they create a robust habitat for all living things. 

When winter hits, the plants are eager to escape the nursery. Their roots have filled their pots, soil settled, and with that we send them out into the field. They return back to the preserves from where their seeds originated. This was also implemented at the river bottom where destroyed and unsanctioned trails are being replanted with help from Ojai Valley School volunteers and the field crew. 

We hope to empower any plant loving volunteers to help establish the plants through the summer. Stewardship of land is something we all partake in as a community. But we hope that with the support from the powerful atmospheric river, and additional spring showers, the native roots will stretch across the clay and alluvium soils, and hold tight through summer. 

Sophie McLean
Native Plant Specialist