Grace Earick, Art History | Ji Won Kim, Civil & Environmental Engineering

Today we worked with the Consumnes River Preserve (CRP) in Galt, California, a small town thirty minutes outside of Sacramento. After exiting the more urban areas of Sacramento, we drove past several acres of various farmlands, including grape vineyards and dairy farms. As we approached the CRP, we began to see several species of birds in wetland habitats, which we later learned from our community partner were artificially restored from retired farmland. At the CRP, we met site coordinator Alex Cabrera who has been with the CRP for over twenty years. Before we completed our service for the day, Alex provided insight on the history of the CRP as a wildlife sanctuary of 50 thousand acres for migratory birds (250 different species in total) and other wildlife. We then began our service by mixing three types of soil which we used to plant native grasses and cottonwood cuttings into small pots. This would allow each plant to grow its roots between now and next winter, when they will be planted into the ground. First we split the natural grasses (which existed as large bundles) into small enough sections to fit in the narrow pots. Then we potted each small grass cutting, and trimmed the ends to facilitate growth. In total, we potted 100 native grass clippings. Then we moved on to the cottonwood clippings. We first distinguished which ones were able to mature by selecting the branches which were noticeably healthier and smaller in diameter. We then completed the cottonwood clippings in the same manner as the native grass. In total we planted 266 budding cottonwoods. Although we intended to continue with our service after our lunch break, we were stopped by the rain and ended with a quick tour of the 27 mile levee that surrounds an island. Upon returning to Sacramento with a free afternoon, we bonded by taking a leisurely walk through the neighborhood, strolling through a park down the road, and posing for a photo in front of a house used in the recent movie, Ladybird.

Throughout the service, many of us were able to ask questions about Alex’s experience in conservation work, including his role as site coordinator. After previous conversations about the importance of funding, we were surprised to hear his narrative of persistence and innovation, despite the rejection of a grant proposal for a greenhouse. Even without the $50K grant, he was able to continue with the conservation efforts by upcycling pots and using the main barn as shelter for the young plants. It was encouraging to see him continue these efforts regardless of lack of funding. One of the larger overarching lessons we learned from Alex’s many stories, was that a little can go a long way, and that small efforts accumulate to larger impacts. It can be daunting to tackle the often complex and systemic issues related to water justice. Especially as an advocate, it’s easy to feel powerless when trying to ignite change. This is why it was so empowering to talk to Alex because we were able to see how his passion for the land and his community can outweigh barriers such as funding. Additionally, our service today allowed us a firsthand appreciation for work required to restore the natural resources and ecosystem. Today served as a reminder that if we intend to take from the land, we must show our gratitude and preserve the Earth for the future generations.