When Urban and Nature Meet

What do you get when urban areas and nature meet? You get Preserves, Reserves, and Refuges, oh my!

These conservation spaces are a great way to create a balance between urban sprawl and the depleting environment.

The Sacramento Valley has so many nature areas that need to be experienced in person. Visiting one of these places is a great way to connect to the environment and increase your appreciation and awareness of the flora and fauna that our region has to offer!

Below are some of the TOP local nature areas – each providing some unique features. They are so close to Sacramento, yet provide an escape from the hustle and bustle of urban life. So, if you love hiking, paddling, kayaking, bird watching, photography, or just love to experience the outdoors – check out the many preserves, reserves, and refuges below!

Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area (Davis)

The Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area is located just outside of Davis. You can even see downtown Sacramento skyline from this place. It is approximately 16,600 acres of wetlands and riparian woodlands and is home to many species of birds, reptiles, fish, and more! Its a hotspot for migratory birds as well. During the wet season, this place becomes the inland sea! It looks like a never ending body of water that goes on for miles and miles and provides floodplain habitat for fish.

This place offers wildlife viewing by foot or even by car. Yep, that’s right. You can take a little scenic self-guided tour by car through parts of this wildlife area. Bring your photography game skills!

For more information, visit the website here.

Jepson Prairie Reserve (Dixon)

The Jepson Prairie is located south of the town of Dixon. It’s 1,566 acres of wide open space of wildflowers, vernal pools, and prairies. The vernal pools are home to rare aquatic life such as fairy shrimp and the California tiger salamander. Jepson Prairie is one of the few remaining vernal pool habitats in California. The reserve also protects native bunchgrass prairies that once covered one-fourth of California. Imagine that! This place is home to over 400 plant species.

You can do a self-guided tour or a guided tour of this vast landscape. So, if you come to Jepson Prairie Reserve, be sure to carry your camera with you (nature photography at its finest – hint hint).

To visit this place in person, check out the website here.

Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge (Elk Grove)

Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge is 6,550 acres in size and is located 16 miles south from downtown Sacramento. The refuge is home to over 200 species of birds, fish, and wildlife. This place provides a sanctuary for these species and is a corridor for neighboring natural areas.

The Blue Heron Trails is a perfect way to experience the peace and serenity of this place, in addition to the educational kiosks along the trail. If you like paddling, kayaking, or canoeing, this refuge offers a paddle program on the water!

To learn more about the paddle program or to visit in person, check out their website here.

Cosumnes River Preserve (Galt)

A personal favorite of mine is the Cosumnes River Preserve. This preserve is located outside of the town of Galt and is connected to the Cosumnes River. It’s over 50,000 acres in size with tons of trails to choose from. It’s home to more than 250 species of birds, over 40 species of fish, and over 400 types of plants.

Enjoy wildlife viewing by hiking the many trails. One of the coolest ways to experience this preserve is to participate in one of the many events that occur throughout the year. You can also bring your kayak or canoe and adventure your way through the Cosumnes waterways! Also, if you love fishing, don’t forget to bring your rod and enjoy fishing by boat.

Check out the website to learn more about this preserve and any of the upcoming events here.

Deer Creek Hills Preserve (Sloughhouse)

Deer Creek Hills is located east of Sacramento. It’s 4,060 acres of oaks and grasslands and provides habitat to 170 species of birds, 105 mammals, 58 amphibians and reptiles and more!

This place is great for hiking, birding, mountain biking, and even horseback riding (saddle up, partner)! Deer Creek Hills is considered to be Sacramento’s largest nature preserve to hike. REI even offers events for photography, hiking, or running.

To take a hike or to learn more about upcoming events, visit the website here.

Effie Yeaw Nature Center (Carmichael)

Last, but not least – we have the Effie Yeaw Nature Center. Named after a local conservationist and environmental educator that led nature and cultural walks in the area in the 1950’s. Effie Yeaw Nature Center is your ultimate nature in an urban space. It’s located in the City of Carmichael and is 100 acres in size. It may be much smaller in size than the other nature areas, but it’s mighty! It’s located right along the American River.

There are plenty of walking trails to experience the variety of wildlife and riparian woodlands. Bring your kids and explore the outdoor space and educational exhibits. The center also offers a variety of events through out the year.

To learn more, come check out the visitor center or the website here.

Take advantage of the nature areas that Sacramento has to offer. Bring your hiking shoes, camera, kids, binoculars, or kayaks – there’s a little bit of everything for everyone.

Go experience nature in urban spaces!

The Last Undammed River: Cosumnes River

The Cosumnes River is a great place to start my watershed series because it highlights a major change to California’s Central Valley: our plumbing. No, I’m not talking about the pipes in our homes, I’m talking about the plumbing of our rivers, streams, and creeks.

The Undammed

In my last blog post I talked about the heart of California - the Delta. We learned that all Central Valley rivers and streams drain into the Delta. But that flow has changed over the years, causing a great shift in the Delta ecosystem. One of the biggest culprits has been the placement of large dams. Once we placed those dams - well damn, everything changed downstream.

However, one river has remained unchanged in that capacity: the Cosumnes. So let’s talk about what a local healthy watershed looks like. Let’s get to know this “girl next door” of rivers. It’s important to know what’s in our backyard. After all, it’s only a hop, skip, and a jump from Sacramento. (Ok not really. It’s about 25 miles south of Sacramento.)

The Cosumnes River is unique in that it’s the last major undammed river in the California Central Valley. If the other rivers and streams are the big brothers and sisters that have grown up and gone off to the big DAM corporate world, then Cosumnes River is the baby sister that went against the grain (or flow) and followed a more natural path: UNDAMMED.

It’s a more natural river system — much like the other rivers once were before they were dammed. Latrobe Falls, a natural barrier, is the upper most extent where fish can migrate. In other words, fish cannot swim passed Latrobe Falls, unless you feed them steroids, turning them into Franken-Fish. (The way we are managing our environment, we are kinda headed into that direction of mutated fish, but that’s another story for another day.)

The Cosumnes watershed has north, middle, and south forks that begin in the Sierras and drain into the main channel of the valley floor. Cosumnes River’s final destination is the confluence with the Mokelumne River. Before emptying into the Mokelumne River, the main channel of Cosumnes connects to various floodplain habitats.

Salmon Daycare Center

An important feature of Cosumnes are the surrounding floodplains. Because of its ability to be a rebel without a cause and remain undammed – the river meanders, moves, and floods the way rivers once did before we diked, leveed, and armoured them with rock (like it’s the thing to do). The Consumnes does its thing naturally and guess what? Fish and wildlife love it!

Floodplains of the Cosumnes

Think of floodplains like the daycare center for baby salmon. Baby salmon can feed, grow, and hide from predators such as bass – those nasty non-native fish that love to prey on baby salmon. Bass are like the bullies of the playground. When baby salmon can safely grow in floodplain habitats, they are better at hiding from bass, and their survival rates increase because they can swim back to the main channel better equipped to fend off the bullies. Waterfowl and shorebirds (birds that like to hang out in aquatic areas) love this kind of habitat too because they can feed, nest, and generally just be their pretty little bird selves.

Catching a glimpse of a Great Egret!

Cosumnes River Preserve

Another unique aspect of the Cosumnes is the preserve. No, I’m not talking about jellies and jams here. I’m talking about the Cosumnes River Preserve. Home to several hundreds of mammals, fish, birds, and plants – it’s a bird lovers paradise and the sunsets are amazing. It’s a great place for hiking, nature watching, birding, paddling, fishing, and hunting. To learn more about the preserve, check out their website here, or better yet, go visit it in person!

Final thoughts on the UNDAMMED

We dam rivers for a bunch of different reasons – irrigation, human consumption, flood control, etc. But the end results of dams leads to some negative consequences downstream (the downside of dams). Fish, animals, plant life, and water quality become impacted. But, we’re lucky to have the Cosumnes River to remind us of a glimpse of the natural beauty of California’s historic water.

So remember: 1) The Cosumnes is undammed. There have been proposals to dam it, but damn it! She can’t be controlled. She’s a rebel without a cause, remember? 2) Go see the Cosumnes River Preserve. It’s big and beautiful and a great place for photography and bird watching and more! An absolute must-visit. 3) Floodplains. Cosumnes is surrounded by floodplain habitats – the most precious daycare centers for our precious baby salmon.

I hope all these fun facts about the Cosumnes River will increase your appreciation and awareness for it. In doing so, and by connecting to this watershed, you’ll come one step closer to being a better steward of our local natural resources.

The Beating Heart of California

The California Delta – what an iconic place.

I like to think of the Delta as the beating HEART of California.

Water flows through the rivers and sloughs of the Delta, just like blood flows through major veins and arteries of your heart. Salt water pulsates in from the ocean and, like oxygenated blood, freshwater flows down from the west side of the southern Sierras and the east side of the Coast Range. On each tide, water pulsates in and out of the Delta, providing life to the vast ecosystem that is California’s Central Valley.

Circulation of the HEART

Water is the essence of the beating heart of California. A connecting force between the mountain, streams, and the ocean.

The California heart is one of the largest waterworks in the world (source: San Francisco Estuary and Watershed Science). Now that’s large indeed!

The boundaries begin approximately 20 miles south of Sacramento, extending for miles and miles, ending just outside of the City of Tracy.

And the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers are the major arteries of this heart where they meet and converge at the Delta and circulate through the veins and sloughs, out to the mouth of the San Francisco Bay.

What was once a vast rich landscape of tidal marshes and wetlands, with an abundance of diverse community of native birds, mammals, and fish – has now been transformed into a mosaic of leveed islands and patchwork of farmlands. This man made shift has also created favorable conditions for the exotic species that now dominate these waterways.

And the management of water flows is causing the circulation of this heart to be in a fragile state.

River View, by Elaine Bowers

Imbalance of the HEART

There is a dilemma. An imbalance and struggle for this precious resource – WATER. We are in the midst of a water war crisis. And the species have become the casualty of war. Many native animals are fighting for their survival in the midst of a battle between man and man.

The struggle for this resource has been an ongoing issue since the late 1800’s, when the placement of dams and diversion changed the plumbing of our rivers. This assault on the natural flow of water continued over decades of time. This has caused a drastic shift in the Delta ecosystem, leaving less flow to pulsate out of the beating heart of California.

People depend on the Delta – for agriculture, water supply, and recreational use. The Delta encompasses 45% of California’s surface area (source: Public Policy Institute of California). That’s almost half of this big state! As you can imagine, this vast landscape is indeed of great importance to not only people, but for wildlife as well.

Day Break, by Elaine Bowers

The remaining native species, such as Chinook salmon, are the remnants of a historical Delta. The native species that migrate through the Delta and call this place home, are in decline. This unique ecosystem will continue to decline if we don’t change our behaviors towards more sustainable practices. And that means allowing more flow to circulate throughout the heart to create a healthy balanced Delta, not only for native species, but for the people of California as well.

Morning Light, by Elaine Bowers

Connecting to the Delta

Although the Delta has been drastically transformed from its historical state, we can still appreciate and connect to today’s habitat. The meandering waterways surrounded by orchards, crops, and trees create a beautiful landscape quilt. As you travel more towards the center of the Delta, you become mesmerized by the beds of tules, waterfowl, and the sound of fish emerging to the water surface. The Delta is home to more than 750 species of plants and animals. It is considered to be a part of the California Floristic Province – one of the 25 hotspots of biodiversity in the world (source: Nature), which is biologically rich and highly susceptible to human induced threats. Therefore, the Delta is important and iconic to California.

Delta Reflections, by Elaine Bowers

Elaine Bowers, a local Sacramento watercolor artist, has captured the beauty of the Delta in a unique and realistic way.

She creates a whole new perspective of the Delta through her art. There’s a story for every part of her watercolor paintings. From the history of families who have lived on the Delta for decades to the stories of why palm trees were symbols of social status during the early to mid 1900’s.

The Christie Ranch – Delta Harvest, by Elaine Bowers

Although we are not able to reverse the changes we’ve created to the Delta, seeing her work makes me appreciate the Delta that much more! I am able to see the Delta from a different viewpoint, through the details and story telling in her artwork. And in those stories, I have been able to connect to the Delta in a whole new way.

In order to value this place, we must create sustainability through our water and land use practices. Future generations and the last remaining populations of native species depend on the Delta for their survival. The Delta is a complex place, but there are many artists out there such as Elaine who are leading the way in connecting people to the Delta through art.

“Maybe my art can help promote saving the Delta.” -Elaine Bowers

Thus, we need to create sustainable changes in order for water to continue pulsating in and out of the Delta.

After all, it is the beating heart of California.

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You may have seen Elaine’s work all around Sacramento, California. Her work has been featured in Inside the City, a Sacramento Newspaper, and at the Sacramento International Airport. You can also check out her work at the Crocker Art museum store. In 2013, Elaine was honored the American Watercolor Society Bronze Medal of Honor and is a “Signature Status” member of both the American Water Society (AWS) and the National Watercolor Society (NWS). To see more of Elaine’s work and upcoming exhibits/shows, visit her website or give her a follow on Instagram!

I want to thank Elaine for opening up her studio to me and sharing her work and story as an artist.

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The mission of Egretta is to connect you to nature through art and design. I hope that connecting to the Delta through Elaine?s art, we can begin to shift to become better stewards of the Delta.

Delta Sunset

Delta Waterways

HANDS that Can Change the World

On a beautiful spring day in 2017, as I was scrolling through Instagram, an image stopped me in my tracks. I gravitated to the image: a pair of giant elegant white hands emerging from the water holding up a building in what looked to be in Venice, Italy. I soon learned that this work, called Support, was created by the very talented Lorenzo Quinn. I instantly became a fan of his work.

These HANDS have the power to change the world.

Don’t believe me? Well, keep on reading and I’ll explain what I am talking about.

The Support installation highlights the threat of climate change and how the City of Venice is in danger of sea level rise. The art sculpture emerging from the Grand Canal is “supporting” the historic Ca Sagredo Hotel. The hands represent how man has the ability to preserve and protect this world, at the same time, has the ability to destroy it.

Thus, WE have the power to change the world - that change can be either supportive or destructive.

We think of climate change as something elusive and ethereal and not part of our immediate reality. But, unfortunately it is not. It’s happening right here, right now, at this very moment. Not just somewhere far off on the other side of the world, but also in our backyards.

AND, it’s getting worse.

But, the good news is we have the power to change that.

The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.

-Robert Swan

Why these Hands Matter to YOU

Lorenzo’s art installation is a representation of something big that matters to each and everyone of us. You, me, your children, your neighbor - everyone.

Climate change is a very complex issue. It affects our way of life in so many ways. It impacts our economy, crops, agriculture, food, air, water, animals - every resource. AND human health as well. Yikes!

Basically, our priorities and the things that matter most to us are going to be threatened.

What does this mean for Sacramento, and the entire State of California? We are seeing more frequent extreme weather events here. As a result of reduced snow pack in our beautiful Sierra mountains, our California water supply has been affected. The snowpack that is stored over winter and melts during the warmer months has decreased over time. Droughts especially have been intensified by climate change. The extreme dry conditions during the summer months have exacerbated these fire events in this state. This year alone has been the most devastating fire season I have ever experienced in California.

Now, this is just the tip of the iceberg. (No pun intended – Antarctic ice sheets are changing too as the Earth’s surface is being smothered by a giant heat-retaining blanket that’s increasing in temperature, causing icebergs to break off into sea the size of Delaware!)

And for the people of the iconic City of Venice, it impacts their survival to continue living there. The city may potentially be underwater within a century if climate change continues to worsen. And it is. Their city is already sinking, yet climate change is causing more floods, increasing the city’s sea level. This means changing and adapting to living in higher ground – abandoning their ground floor levels in their homes and raising their doorways.

We are all being impacted in some way by climate change, whether it’s here or on the other side of the world. And Lorenzo’s Support is a symbolic figure that we are all connected in some way and how climate related events are affecting us all.

The Man Himself

Image by Lorenzo Quinn

Lorenzo Quinn is a contemporary Italian sculpture artist. His work can be seen all over the world.

I deeply admire and appreciate Lorenzo’s work.

One of the many things that I appreciate about his art work is the messaging behind each piece. It’s not just for aesthetics, but each piece tells a story and is mission-oriented.

I wanted to sculpt what is considered the hardest and most technically challenging part of the human body. The hand holds so much power – the power to love, to hate, to create, to destroy.

-Lorenzo Quinn

Lorenzo’s art installation, Support, addresses climate change in a very unique and powerful way. An elegance between the beauty of this sculpture, yet it conveys the strength of our own human representation of our destruction.

Lets SUPPORT

Image by Lorenzo Quinn and Halcyon Gallery

So, how can we support our environment the way Lorenzo’s installation supports the Ca Sagredo Hotel?

Yep, it starts with YOU.

We need to educate ourselves and understand WHY and HOW climate change is impacting our planet. Sustainability is the path forward if we want to continue to survive and thrive. And our practices and the things that matter most need to move into that direction.

We can begin by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, such as driving your car less and decreasing our consumption of meat (which means less cattle raised, ultimately reducing those emissions produced).

And thus, adapting to a new way of being that can support us all well into the future.

In May of 2018, the installation Support was taken down in Venice. We hope to see this sculpture have a permanent residence in Venice in the future, but for now it’s being restored.

Although the installation has been taken down, the message of climate change still remains.

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Egretta’s mission is to connect people to nature and the environment through art and design. In the case of Lorenzo’s sculpture, Support, it’s a perfect example of bringing awareness on an environmental issue such as climate change, through art.

I want to thank Lorenzo and his team (Lucia Gonzalez) for taking the time to connect with me. Please check out his Instagram page and show some love and support (no pun intended) for the beautiful sculptures that he creates. You can also check out his website to see all of his beautiful works of art.

Unwind in Nature

In 2016, I had the opportunity to stay at the Hotel Paradox, located in Santa Cruz, California. I had never visited such a place before! I literally thought I was stepping into nature.

When I first started developing my website and blog, the Hotel Paradox came to mind. I knew I had to write about my experience and how it made me FEEL: like I was stepping into a forest; like the walls ended and the earth began; as if I had just stepped outside into an untouched natural landscape; at peace as the anxieties of the day-to-day hustle disappeared and I was enveloped in the natural world.

The Paradox Factor

Accustomed to concrete streets, high-rise buildings, and fluorescent lights - walking into the antithesis of our man-made world is incredibly refreshing, and the best way I can imagine to begin a vacation or getaway.

The Hotel Paradox does just that!

The front entrance and outside area of the hotel has a very modern and contemporary look (which I love in design). When I first walked into the hotel lobby, I automatically got the WOW factor. The lobby desk is literally a giant reclaimed eucalyptus tree. (Now who is the genius behind this idea, because I looooove it!) If the lobby desk alone does not make you feel connected to the natural surrounding beauty of California's Central Coast, then I don't know what will. The giant eucalyptus is a fallen tree collected and repurposed by a tree specialist and found by the hotel’s principal interior designer, David Oldroyd. 

                                                                               The majestic reclaimed eucalyptus tree.

As I explored every area of the hotel, I slowly forgot I was indoors and lost myself in the natural beauty of this place. From the artwork, to the tree branches covering the walls, to the “forest” room, to the bird nest chandelier in the meeting room. I’m telling you, the devil is in the details. This place offers some serious natural elements to their decor. The juxtaposition between modern and natural elements are executed so beautifully. 

These design concepts are continued into the guest bedrooms as well. There’s a warmth to the guest rooms as you enter - from the rustic reclaimed wooden headboards to the river rock inside the showers. Stepping into the shower stall and feeling the rock beneath my feet reminded me of swimming in a stream. These features made my stay feel extra relaxing!

And to top it off, you can bring your pooch or cat to stay with you and share in the experience as well. Imagine that!

Now let’s talk about the other extras that the hotel has to offer.

The Winter Wildlife Package

Although being in Santa Cruz, you’re already surrounded by the majestic coast, towering redwood forests, and countless outdoor activities; it may not seem like an ideal winter vacation destination. But did you know the Hotel Paradox offers a “Winter Wildlife Package?” When I stayed here, it was in the middle of summer so I did not take advantage of this. This package offers a stay at a discounted rate and provides informative wildlife activities, such as viewing the Monarch Butterflies at Natural Bridges State Beach, watching the whale migrations at Monterey Bay from shore or boat, or going on a guided tour to see the elephant seals at Año Nuevo State Park.

So really there’s no excuse not to visit and stay here year-round. Even in the wintertime, you can feel connected to nature, the coastline, and the local (or more like migrating) wildlife.

The Eco Features

Now, let’s talk a little about eco-friendly practices. The natural design features, contemporary decor, and giant reclaimed wood lobby desk are what I call the cake itself. The eco-friendly practices and the little extras (such as the Winter Wildlife Package - see above) are the icing of the cake. A nature inspired design hotel should not be without its “green” initiatives. You just can’t design a hotel that’s supposed to connect you to nature without the sustainability practices to back it up. Some of these initiatives include eco-friendly bath products, conserving your linens during your stay, and stations to refill your personal water bottles to cut back on plastic waste. I love this idea!

Unwind in Nature

I loved being able to unwind in nature. If you find yourself heading to Santa Cruz, I highly recommend staying here. You won’t be disappointed. I sure would love to come back again. And next time I’ll bring my dog Bailey to share in the experience with me as well!

                                                                           (Peek-a-boo --- relaxing in the cabanas by the pool)

Thank you to the Hotel Paradox for a wonderful stay.

Thank you for reading and letting me share my experience unwinding in nature.

 -Monica :)

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