Lower Mokelumne River Riparian Restoration Project

The San Joaquin County Resource Conservation District is working with the East Bay Municipal Utility District and landowners along the Lower Mokelumne River to undertake:

•   Riparian restoration
•   Eradication of non-native invasive species
•   Off-watering for cattle to reduce erosion and maintain riparian species

Funding for the effort is provided by the Lower Mokelumne River Partnership Fund-a joint program implemented by the East Bay Municipal Utility District, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Department of Fish and Game.

Three landowners are involved in the effort including the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. The NRCS Plant Materials Center in Lockeford, which borders the Mokelumne River, has completed the initial phase of its program which emphasizes eradication of non-native invasive species and replanting with natives. The Plant Materials Center is experimenting with use of goats to eradicate non-native invasive species, in particular Himalayan blackberries, along the Lower Mokelumne. The effort has been quite successful to date and the San Joaquin County Resource Conservation District is looking forward to completing the eradication of the non-natives by spring, 2003.