EBMUD Creek Restoration Project

California Buckeye trees are a native tree that can be found all over the Bay Area with concentrations in the steep canyons and valleys of the Bay area parks and grazelands. At MariLark, we are fortunate to have what has become known locally as the "Mother of all Buckeye Trees" a large, beautiful tree that produces large numbers of seedlings each year. With the reestablishment of MariLark, a more formal planting and harvesting program is in force and consequently a large number of trees have been donated to the East Bay Municipal Water District to give them a jump start on replanting and restoring the local watershed with the native tree. The MariLark Buckeye is known for its unique shape and color resembling a large "Bonsai".

Read more about the restoration project below. Get a print friendly copy.

Reproduced with permission from Bob Flasher, Ranger/Naturalist for EBMUD

Why we restore creeks?

Cattle have overgrazed many creeks on EBMUD Watershed Lands for almost two centuries. Most of the trees have been stripped away by logging, age, cattle and erosion. We will be restoring these creeks by replanting native trees like those that used to live here.Creeks can often recover on their own if cattle are removed for 4-5 years. When cattle are fenced out, rushes and creeping wild rye grass usually grow in first. They are often followed by rushes, tules and cattails. Seeds for all these second wave of plants are either washed down from existing plants upstream or wash off the feet of birds that come to eat and drink here.

Why Willows?

Since birds and gravity will be taking care of rushes, cattails and tules, we begin our restorations by planting willows. These trees are usually the first ones to grow back on a damaged creek. They like to be planted right in the creek water. In fact, if they are planted even a few feet above the creek, they will die during the hot, dry summer. Planting them right in the water also helps protect them from nibbling rodents like mice and gophers.

Once the willows mature, they shade the water and creek banks. This slows evaporation of the creek and keeps the water cooler. More insects can then live in the creek. These insects provide food for birds, raccoons, fish, and other animals. The willows also provide cover and roosting places for these larger animals while the creek provides more water and food.

Why Oaks and Buckeye's?

In the shade of 3-4 year old willows, we can plant oaks, buckeyes, and other native trees. This third wave of plants does better growing in the shade of willows. We often use planting tubes to simulate willow shade if we want these trees to get a head start. The oaks and buckeyes are planted right next to the creek but not in the water. This gives their roots a chance to grow deep enough to follow the water table as it drops during the summer drought months. Tree seedlings have a hard time surviving in nature because so many animals like to eat them, especially when the trees are the last green plants remaining at the end of the summer. Deer, gophers, mice, voles and cattle all love tender young plants: Seedlings must also survive our hot, dry summers. This is really hard for them to do. It is also the reason we return to the same creek for 2-3 years to replant new trees each year. After this amount of effort, creeks are well on the road toward becoming healthy again.

Why Students?

Rangers tried to restore all our creeks by ourselves for 2 years. It was really hard because there was so much to do. We decided that we needed help and asked teachers and students if they could help us. Now, over 30 classes visit each year to plant, mulch and water the trees. This is fortunate since we can't water the trees like you would at home. So the planting tubes around your trees hip provide shade and conserve water. The mulch, meanwhile, helps keep the soil around the trees cooler and helps hold the moisture in longer.Thank you for helping us restore the earth. Every plant that grows, every tree that is planted, helps produce oxygen for us to breathe, takes pollution out of the air, provides better wildlife habitat, and improves water quality. Thanks for being part of a team that is restoring the earth.

"A healthy watershed will normally have clean creeks with cool water, a thriving riparian corridor, and stable, well-vegetated land. These help keep water quality high, provide fish and wildlife habitat, control erosion and maintain dry season creek flows. A healthy riparian habitat (creek side vegetation) is used by more species of wildlife than any other type of habitat.Dense roots and vegetation stabilize creek banks, help reduce soil loss, filter sediment, and slow flood waters. Trees, shrubs and their canopies cool the water. The leaves, fallen branches and logs that drop into the creek form the base of the food chain."

Planting Suggestions

(Read two days before potting!)We deliver acorns and buckeye seeds in "starter kit" bags, which are filled with leaves. Keep them in a refrigerator until two months before your planting field trip. Two days before planting in pots, take the acorns out and soak them in a glass of water overnight. Begin by filling the planting pot over 3/4 full with planting soil (it holds water better than potting soil). Then take two seeds with some leaves out of the "starter kit" and quickly but gently place them on top of the soil. Quickly cover the seeds with just enough soil to hide them and water gently.