Sequoia Riverlands Trust

The 909-ACRE Sopac Mccarthy Mulholland Blue Oak Ranch Preserve Serves to Conserve a Diverse Blue Oak Woodland and Riparian Forest Vegetation Community. the Preserve Is Located to the North of Springville in Tulare County and Is Within Half a Mile of Sequoia National Monument Land, the California Department of Fish and Wildlifes Springville Clarkia Ecological Reserve, and the Tulare County Office of Educations Scicon Outdoor School of Science and Conservation. Rotational Grazing Is Used to Manage the Annual Grasslands That Dominate the Herbaceous Layer of the Property. This Stream, Wetland, and Pasture Enhancement Project Will Utilize Process-based Restoration Strategies to Improve Ecosystem Services Within a Sensitive Riparian Area and Adjacent Wet Pasture, by Enhancing Hydrologic Conditions, Overbank Flooding, Wetland Functions, and Habitat Diversity Within an Established Riparian Corridor. Placement of Low-tech Instream Structures, Stream Side Planting, and a Conservation Grazing Management Plan, Which Will Assure That Preserves Conservation Grazing Strategies Meet Natural Resource Management Goals Within the Riparian and Wet Pasture Area. Native Perennial Grass, Forb, Shrub, and Tree Plantings Will Enhance Habitat Conditions for Native Wildlife, and Invasive Species Control Measures Will Tilt the Balance of the Exiting Vegetation Toward More Native Plants. the Objectives for This Project Are: 1. Placement of Instream Structures. Install Beaver Dam Analog and Post-assisted Log Structures Within the Active Stream Channel. One Beaver Dam Analog Will Be Installed at the Downstream End of the Project Area, and Adaptive Management Strategies Will Be Used Determine the Placement of 2-3 Additional Structures to Influence Stream Hydrology and Create Channel Complexity, Sinuosity, and Overbank Flooding. 2. Monitor Site to Assure Hydrologic Functions Are Improving as Intended and Adjust as Needed to Apply Adaptive Management. 3. Conservation Grazing Management Plan Creation. a Grazing Management Plan Will Be Written for the Project Area and Adjacent Wet Pasture, to Enable Conservation Grazing That Meets the Preserves Natural Resource Goals of Wildlife Habitat Enhancement and Biodiversity Maximization. 4. Residual Dry Matter Monitoring Plots Will Be Sited Near the Project Areas to Monitor Livestock Utilization of the Herbaceous Layer and Provide a Data-based Foundation to Prevent Overutilization If Necessary. 5. Habitat Enhancement Planting. Site-appropriate Native Perennial Forbs, Grasses, and Shrubs Will Be Installed in the Stream Banks and Margins to Provide Habitat for Wildlife Including Migratory Songbirds and Insect Pollinators. 6. Invasive Plant Management. Where Invasive Plant Species Are Identified in the Vicinity of the Project Area, They Will Be Removed by Hand-pulling or Hand Tools Depending on the Species and the Stage of Its Life Cycle.