Stewardship
Come Join Us on the American River Parkway!
STEWARDSHIP PARTNERSHIP –The goal is to partner with local groups and Sacramento Regional Parks to improve habitat in neighborhoods along the American River Parkway. We’re making a blueprint for stewardship. Partners needed: 1. Sacramento Valley CNPS Stewardship Coordinator: Join the Stewardship team, please contact Troy Jurach and Chris Lewis at Stewardship@SacValleyCNPS.org; 2. a Neighborhood or Community Group; and 3. Sacramento County Regional Parks Department.Â
Native biodiversity grows through relationships. Between plants and pollinators, birds and berries, fungi and roots. And people and places.
The Stewardship program brings together volunteers year-round to care for native habitats in the Sacramento Valley, with a pilot project underway along the American River Parkway at Sailor Bar. Stewardship Partnership Sailor Bar Our work changes with the seasons, responding to what the landscape needs throughout the year– removing invasive plants before they set seed, protecting naturally recruiting trees through the hottest months, planting locally appropriate native species, documenting biodiversity and natural regeneration, and discovering the remarkable ecology of the Parkway along the way. Every season invites us back with new opportunities to learn, contribute, and discover how the landscape is changing.
Our goal is to help native habitats become richer, more connected, and more resilient over time. Every stewardship day combines hands-on restoration work with opportunities to discover the plants, wildlife, and ecological relationships that make this landscape unique. Whether you’re curious about native plants, interested in ecology, or simply looking for a meaningful way to spend a Saturday morning outdoors, we’d love to have you join us.
For the last four weeks, volunteers have been working in conjunction with the Friends of Sailor Bar and Sacramento County Regional Parks to pull invasive yellow star thistle along the American River at Sailor Bar Park. In its first week, the team of volunteers cleared an area in preparation for a native plant garden (designed by the CNPS) at the Sailor Bar Park Olive Ave. entrance.Â
9/29/26 For the last three weeks, volunteers have been focusing their efforts near Turtle Pond at the Sailor Bar Park Illinois entrance. Volunteers have endured scratched limbs, and thorny pokes, but in total will have pulled and cleared close to 2.5 acres of invasive yellow star thistle. In the short term, its removal will help native Madia and Oak flourish near the pond. As part of a long term solution, the CNPS (in conjunction with Friends of Sailor Bar) is designing a sensory native plant and butterfly garden to serve as a focal point for Sailor Bar’s All People Trail. Friends of Sailor Bar envision the trail as an inclusive outdoor space, designed to accommodate all people, regardless of disability.Â
If you or someone you know may be interested in helping make this dream a reality, join us this Sunday (10/4) for our the fourth and final week of this specific weeding project. Don’t worry, there will be more yellow star thistle weeding opportunities, but this final push should help us clear the area for the fall and winter season (we’ll be back in the spring to ensure all our hard work doesn’t go to waste). Troy
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The Sacramento Valley Chapter is a Volunteer Mile Steward through the American River Parkway Foundation’s Adopt-the-Parkway initiative. The Mile Steward program allows groups to sponsor 1-mile sections on either side of the American River along the entire 23-mile length of the Parkway. We volunteer our time as stewards of the Parkway to help maintain this special landscape for everyone to enjoy.
As a steward of River Mile 13 South, our chapter holds cleanup days to pick up trash, maintain trails, remove weeds, and make note of any issues to report. In the chapter’s first 3 years of stewardship, volunteers pulled more than 2,000 pounds of trash out of our mile of river. Along with removing trash, we have also pulled red sesbania (Sesbania punicea), broom, and other weeds; found interesting animal bones; observed wildlife such as waterbirds, Sandhill Cranes, deer, and coyotes; and enjoyed beautiful days along the river in all seasons.Â
Message from the Steward
Hi everyone! My name is Nicole and I’m the ARPF River Mile stewardship coordinator. I greatly enjoy helping steward our small portion of the American River Parkway. My favorite aspect of stewarding our river mile is observing nature change with the seasons, from the first green growth of willows and wildflowers in early spring to the cooler temperatures in the fall.
Please email me to be on the stewardship email list. I will only send cleanup announcements, parking passes, and cancellation notices to my email contacts.
 You don’t need to bring much to participate—just sturdy shoes (the terrain is rocky and sandy) and gloves if you want them. I’ll provide the garbage bags. Bring your kids, your dog on a leash, your plant ID books . . . whatever will make the experience enjoyable for you.Â
The map shows our River Mile (13 South), which is on the east/south side of the river, downstream of River Bend Park. Our mile is flat and very wide!
Interested in joining us?
Please email Nicole Carpenter to be added to the stewardship email list. Once on the list, you’ll be notified of upcoming events and any scheduling changes. When you sign up for a cleanup day, Nicole will send you directions and a free parking pass. Please note that cleanup days will be rescheduled if rain is predicted with confidence.