Redwood Creek Native Plant Nursery
Encyclopedia
Redwood Creek Native Plant Nursery is just outside the old-growth redwood
forest at Muir Woods National Monument
. The nursery provides plants for restoration
of the creek bank in the lower watershed and impacted areas of the Muir Woods’ redwood understory
.
tallest mountain, to the Pacific Ocean
and is nestled in one of the nation’s most densely populated regions. This watershed
encompasses an area of less than nine square miles, yet it harbors incredibly diverse ecosystems with a rich assemblage of plant and animal species. Within this small watershed are found grasslands, coastal chaparral, mixed hardwood and old-growth redwood forest, seasonal wetland
s,and riparian woodlands that extend in an unbroken mosaic from the mountain’s ridge tops to the sea. The watershed is also home to some of the West Coast’s most imperiled species, such as coho salmon (Oncorhyncus kisutch), steelhead trout (O. mykiss), northern spotted owl
(Strix occidentalis caurina), and the California red-legged frog (Rana aurora draytonii’’).
The Redwood Creek watershed is 95% public lands, and holds Muir Woods National Monument, as well as the communities of Muir Beach
and Green Gulch Farm. An indication of it ecological value is that the watershed is one of 25 global biodiversity “hot spots” recognized by The Nature Conservancy and targeted by the global conservation community as key to preserving the worlds’ ecosystem
It is also within the Golden Gate Biosphere Reserve
, one of 411 reserves designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO
) "Man and the Biosphere" Program to provide a global network representing the world’s major ecosystem types.
runs five native plant
nurseries
, which have three main goals:
Redwood Creek Nursery began over 20 years ago, returning native plant communities to trampled areas on the "floor" of Muir Woods. In 1997, the Parks Conservancy began providing professional support in nursery management and restoration through a financial partnership with the Golden Gate National Recreation Area
. Since that time, the nursery facility has been upgraded and made more ecologically sensitive. More than 80,000 plants have been grown from seed collected in the Redwood Creek watershed. These have then been planted into the watershed, from the upper slopes of Muir Woods to the mouth of Redwood Creek
at Muir Beach.
Muir Woods Trail Decompaction: Until the 1920s, visitors could drive their cars into Muir Woods, and it wasn't until the 1950s that trails began to be officially established in the park. Unrestricted driving and hiking killed most of the understory plants; they also compacted the soil, making it difficult for those species to return on their own. Using hand tools, areas are being decompacted and native plant species reintroduced, helping to restore the Muir Woods plant community.
Lower Redwood Creek Floodplain and Salmon Habitat Enhancement (Banducci): During the last hundred years, farmers and ranchers channelized sections of Redwood Creek and filled in adjoining wetlands. The National Park Service bought out one farm in 1986 and, in 2003, began to restore the creek and its floodplain. Redwood Creek provides the southernmost habitat for the Federally listed Coho salmon
and Steelhead Trout. Restoring stream processes and revegetation of the stream corridor will provide more useful habitat for these and other species, such as migratory
songbird
s.
Easkoot Creek: This creek in the Stinson Beach
watershed and is also home to the Federally listed Coho salmon. The Redwood Creek nursery assists in collecting the seed and growing the native plants which are used in the restoration of this creek.
Redwood
-Trees:Conifers* Family Cupressaceae *** Sequoia sempervirens - coast redwood**** Albino redwood*** Sequoiadendron giganteum - giant sequoia*** Metasequoia glyptostroboides - dawn redwood* Family Pinaceae...
forest at Muir Woods National Monument
Muir Woods National Monument
Muir Woods National Monument is a unit of the National Park Service on the Pacific coast of southwestern Marin County, California, north of San Francisco and part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area...
. The nursery provides plants for restoration
Restoration ecology
-Definition:Restoration ecology is the scientific study and practice of renewing and restoring degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystems and habitats in the environment by active human intervention and action, within a short time frame...
of the creek bank in the lower watershed and impacted areas of the Muir Woods’ redwood understory
Understory
Understory is the term for the area of a forest which grows at the lowest height level below the forest canopy. Plants in the understory consist of a mixture of seedlings and saplings of canopy trees together with understory shrubs and herbs...
.
Location
The Redwood Creek watershed extends from the peaks of Mt. Tamalpais, Marin County’sMarin County, California
Marin County is a county located in the North San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. As of 2010, the population was 252,409. The county seat is San Rafael and the largest employer is the county government. Marin County is well...
tallest mountain, to the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
and is nestled in one of the nation’s most densely populated regions. This watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
encompasses an area of less than nine square miles, yet it harbors incredibly diverse ecosystems with a rich assemblage of plant and animal species. Within this small watershed are found grasslands, coastal chaparral, mixed hardwood and old-growth redwood forest, seasonal wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
s,and riparian woodlands that extend in an unbroken mosaic from the mountain’s ridge tops to the sea. The watershed is also home to some of the West Coast’s most imperiled species, such as coho salmon (Oncorhyncus kisutch), steelhead trout (O. mykiss), northern spotted owl
Owl
Owls are a group of birds that belong to the order Strigiformes, constituting 200 bird of prey species. Most are solitary and nocturnal, with some exceptions . Owls hunt mostly small mammals, insects, and other birds, although a few species specialize in hunting fish...
(Strix occidentalis caurina), and the California red-legged frog (Rana aurora draytonii’’).
The Redwood Creek watershed is 95% public lands, and holds Muir Woods National Monument, as well as the communities of Muir Beach
Muir Beach, California
Muir Beach is a census-designated place , unincorporated community, and beach that is located northwest of San Francisco in western Marin County, California, United States...
and Green Gulch Farm. An indication of it ecological value is that the watershed is one of 25 global biodiversity “hot spots” recognized by The Nature Conservancy and targeted by the global conservation community as key to preserving the worlds’ ecosystem
It is also within the Golden Gate Biosphere Reserve
Golden Gate Biosphere Reserve
The Golden Gate Biosphere Reserve is a biosphere reserve in Northern California. It was created by UNESCO in 1988, and encompasses thirteen protected areas in the San Francisco Bay Area...
, one of 411 reserves designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
) "Man and the Biosphere" Program to provide a global network representing the world’s major ecosystem types.
Function
The Golden Gate National Parks ConservancyGolden Gate National Parks Conservancy
Established in 1981, the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy is the nonprofit partner that supports and assists the Golden Gate National Parks in research, interpretation, and conservation programs....
runs five native plant
Native plant
Native plant is a term to describe plants endemic or naturalized to a given area in geologic time.This includes plants that have developed, occur naturally, or existed for many years in an area...
nurseries
Nursery (horticulture)
A nursery is a place where plants are propagated and grown to usable size. They include retail nurseries which sell to the general public, wholesale nurseries which sell only to businesses such as other nurseries and to commercial gardeners, and private nurseries which supply the needs of...
, which have three main goals:
- Produce high quality container plants for park restoration from local seedsSEEDSSEEDS is a voluntary organisation registered under the Societies Act of India....
. - Create and foster a volunteer program.
- Educate community members about concepts of community, ecologyEcologyEcology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
, and horticultureHorticultureHorticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
.
Redwood Creek Nursery began over 20 years ago, returning native plant communities to trampled areas on the "floor" of Muir Woods. In 1997, the Parks Conservancy began providing professional support in nursery management and restoration through a financial partnership with the Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
The Golden Gate National Recreation Area is a U.S. National Recreation Area administered by the National Park Service that surrounds the San Francisco Bay area. It is one of the most visited units of the National Park system in the United States, with over 13 million visitors a year...
. Since that time, the nursery facility has been upgraded and made more ecologically sensitive. More than 80,000 plants have been grown from seed collected in the Redwood Creek watershed. These have then been planted into the watershed, from the upper slopes of Muir Woods to the mouth of Redwood Creek
Redwood Creek (Marin County)
Redwood Creek is a short but significant stream in Marin County, California. long, it drains a watershed which includes the Muir Woods National Monument, and reaches the Pacific Ocean north of the Golden Gate at Muir Beach.-History:...
at Muir Beach.
Recent Restoration Projects
Old Road Removal: It is a priority of the National Park Service to remove roads and pavement wherever possible. Just such a project was accomplished in Muir Woods. By removing a redundant access road to park residences, over an acre of redwood understory habitat was restored.Muir Woods Trail Decompaction: Until the 1920s, visitors could drive their cars into Muir Woods, and it wasn't until the 1950s that trails began to be officially established in the park. Unrestricted driving and hiking killed most of the understory plants; they also compacted the soil, making it difficult for those species to return on their own. Using hand tools, areas are being decompacted and native plant species reintroduced, helping to restore the Muir Woods plant community.
Lower Redwood Creek Floodplain and Salmon Habitat Enhancement (Banducci): During the last hundred years, farmers and ranchers channelized sections of Redwood Creek and filled in adjoining wetlands. The National Park Service bought out one farm in 1986 and, in 2003, began to restore the creek and its floodplain. Redwood Creek provides the southernmost habitat for the Federally listed Coho salmon
Coho salmon
The Coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch, is a species of anadromous fish in the salmon family. Coho salmon are also known as silver salmon or "silvers". It is the state animal of Chiba, Japan.-Description:...
and Steelhead Trout. Restoring stream processes and revegetation of the stream corridor will provide more useful habitat for these and other species, such as migratory
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
songbird
Songbird
A songbird is a bird belonging to the suborder Passeri of the perching birds . Another name that is sometimes seen as scientific or vernacular name is Oscines, from Latin oscen, "a songbird"...
s.
Easkoot Creek: This creek in the Stinson Beach
Stinson Beach, California
Stinson Beach is a census-designated place in Marin County, California, on the west coast of the United States. Stinson Beach is located east-southeast of Bolinas, at an elevation of 26 feet . The population of the Stinson Beach CDP was 632 at the 2010 census.Stinson Beach is about a 35-minute...
watershed and is also home to the Federally listed Coho salmon. The Redwood Creek nursery assists in collecting the seed and growing the native plants which are used in the restoration of this creek.
Further reading
- GGNPC Native Plant Nurseries website.
- NPS Muir Woods website
- GGNPC Big Year website
- California Native Plant Society
- Salmon Protection and Watershed Network (SPAWN)
- Students and Teachers Restoring a Watershed (STRAW)
- Save the Redwoods League