Laguna Discovery Trail: Grand Opening Walks

Walk Times: 8:00 AM & 10:00 AM

$10 donation requested. Pre-registration required: lagunafoundation.org

Join us for an overview of the new Laguna Discovery Trail; a wonderful place to enjoy a walk with a friend, take-in open sky, watch birds, catch glimpses of other wildlife, and deepen your connection to the Laguna watershed. This 1.8 mile trail was created as part of the Southern Laguna Restoration project, a collaboration between the Sonoma County Water Agency & the Laguna Foundation that  improved water flow in the Laguna, widened the riparian zone (thus increased wildlife habitat!) and creates a healthy future for the natural communities that include all of us. More than 4800 native plants and approximately 15,000 native grass seedlings have been planted over 30 acres.  During these special staff and volunteer-led walks we will provide insight into restoration work that has taken place while focusing on the wonder of the area. Here is a great opportunity to get to know some of the plants early in their life cycles so you can witness their growth and watch nature in action over time!

The southern reach of the Laguna de Santa Rosa was once a shallow meandering stream home to a wide variety of plant and wildlife species. In the 1970’s, a section of the Laguna was straightened and deepened to increase flood protection to growing neighborhoods and businesses. Riparian and in-stream vegetation was also removed at that time toward the goal of moving water out of the area, quickly. Very soon it became obvious that those practices had negative effects on the ecosystem. In a 2008 cooperative grant application to the River Parkways Program (Proposition 84), the Sonoma County Water Agency and the Laguna Foundation proposed a project to improve flood control and water quality while enhancing the natural ecological value of the area. After seven years and countless hours of labor, the project has come to completion, and the results of the work are already beginning to show! The over-all plant survival rate is at 86%, Monarch Butterflies have found the Narrow-leaf Milkweed, birds are utilizing the increased perch, nest and forage opportunities, and the low-flow channel is hindering the spread of invasive plant species.