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The Cosumnes River lower floodplain. In 1999, through the Carquinez Straits, Watershed Project The Nature Conservancy pushing fresh water back up purchased a 12,300­acre the Cosumnes. The climate is The Cosumnes River is the cattle ranch featuring blue Mediterranean, with hot, dry last undammed river flowing oak woodlands and vernal summers and cool, moist from the Sierra Nevada pool grasslands, protecting a winters. Tule fogs are mountains into California’s large portion of the upper common in mid­winter. The Great Central Valley. watershed and high­quality average land elevation at the habitats. Downstream, Staten Preserve is less than ten feet. Originating at an elevation of Island is a 9,200­acre Delta Because there are no major 7,600 feet, the headwaters of farm managed for wintering dams on the Cosumnes, the Cosumnes River flow waterfowl and owned by The frequent flooding occurs in through the El Dorado Nature Conservancy. response to heavy winter National Forest and support rains. The load of rich silt native trout fisheries and The Cosumnes River and sand carried by many other aquatic species. Preserve floodwater introduces Descending towards the valuable nutrients to adjacent Central Valley, the river SIZE: 46,000 acres forests, wetlands, and passes through blue oak, grasslands. Because of its grassland, and vernal pool LOCATION: Southern historic stands of valley oak communities. The lower Sacramento and northern San forests, portions of the reaches of the river provide Joaquin Counties, on the Preserve have been selected critical salmon spawning eastern edge of the as a National Natural habitat and the broad Sacramento­San Joaquin Landmark. floodplain of the lower river Delta. Nearest towns are harbors valley oak riparian Walnut Grove and Galt. FLORA: The Cosumnes forest and freshwater wetlands River Preserve protects two used by thousands of resident HISTORY: Miwok Indians plant communities now rare, and migratory birds. once lived in the area, riparian (streamside) forest attracted by the rich hunting and freshwater marsh; less The Nature Conservancy, in and fishing grounds and the than 4% of each community partnership with local abundant acorns that formed remains intact in the state. landowners, businesses, other the staple of their diet. Valley oak (Quercus lobata), private partners, federal, state Nineteenth century settlers and Fremont cottonwood and local government cleared much of the rich (Populus fremontii) form the agencies, is pursuing bottomland for farming and forest’s tall, continuous conservation strategies that cattle grazing. Agriculture canopy. Great vines of wild safeguard critical ecological remains the predominant land grape (Vitus californica) processes within the 1,200 use on and around the festoon the trees, giving the square­mile Cosumnes Preserve. forest an appearance that John watershed and that maintain Muir described as “tropical the biological and GEOGRAPHY: Although luxuriance.” This lush forest hydrological health of this nearly 100 miles from the growth results from the important natural system. Golden Gate, the lower abundance of available water reaches of the Cosumnes during the optimum growing From 1987 to 1999, land River are affected by ocean temperatures of summer. acquisitions focused on the tides funneling into the Delta Freshwater marshes bordering the forest support vigorous The Nature Conservancy is ACCESS: Take Interstate 5 growth of tules (Scirpus) and reestablishing riparian forest to the Twin Cities Road exit, cattails (Typha latifolia). and perennial grasslands about midway between Annual grasslands and through active and passive Stockton and Sacramento. cultivated fields occur in drier restoration efforts. Valley Take Twin Cities Road east parts of the Preserve. oak, Oregon ash, Fremont’s to Franklin Boulevard. Turn cottonwood, box elder, south on Franklin Boulevard. FAUNA: The river supports willow, wild rose, and runs of Chinook salmon and elderberry are planted to The Visitor Center is located steelhead. Resident mammals create the diverse understory about 2 miles down Franklin include river otter, beaver of trees and shrubs found in Boulevard on the left. It is and muskrat. The rare giant mature riparian forest. staffed by volunteer garter snake makes its home Grasslands are managed for naturalists every weekend in marshes and uplands. The greater abundance and from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. riparian forest bordering the diversity of native species and is usually open during river is home to raccoon, using the tools of fire and the week – hours vary. black­tailed mule deer, mink, grazing. and many species of The Visitor Center houses songbirds. Over 200 species Ducks Unlimited and the interpretive exhibits of birds have been recorded Bureau of Land Management describing the natural and on the Preserve, including are working together to create cultural history of the region several nesting pairs of and enhance seasonal and as well as the restoration and threatened Swainson’s hawk. perennial waterfowl ponds. management of the Preserve. Marshes support greater and Wetlands are managed for lesser sandhill cranes, Ross’ diverse aquatic plant From the Visitor Center, take white­fronted and Canada communities that provide the Cosumnes River Walk, geese, tundra swans, and nesting and brood­rearing a 3­mile dirt nature trail, or many species of ducks. habitats for waterfowl during the Lost Slough Wetlands Resident birds such as great spring and summer. Fall and Walk, a 1­mile paved, blue herons, black­crowned winter flooding provides universally accessible trail. night herons and white­tailed resting and feeding areas for Both trails are open sunrise to kites are common. both visiting migrants and sunset, year­round. winter resident birds. MANAGEMENT: Lands Viewing opportunities are Paddling? Launch your within the Cosumnes River excellent from Desmond and canoe or kayak from the Preserve are jointly owned by Bruceville Roads. parking lot just south of the The Nature Conservancy, Visitor Center. The Bureau of Land VISITOR RULES: Please Management, Ducks remember: All other parts of the Unlimited, the California 1. Hunting, fishing, biking, Preserve are reserved for Department of Fish and and collecting are the wildlife. Game, State Lands prohibited. Commission, the California 2. No fires, camping, or The Preserve address and Department of Water smoking. information line are: Resources, Sacramento 3. Pets and firearms are Cosumnes River Preserve County and various private prohibited. 13501 Franklin Boulevard owners. While each partner 4. Pack out your trash. Galt, CA 95632 contributes to the design and 5. Mosquito repellent, (916) 684­2816 maintenance of the Preserve, drinking water, and sun [email protected] it is managed out of one on­ protection are advised www.cosumnes.org site office. during your visit.