The Bean Creek Preserve is getting a makeover.  The 80-acre property in northern Mariposa county was donated by Ken and Teri Pulvino in 2010 as part of the John Muir Geotourism Project  This stream, now deeply channelized with banks 8ft tall in sections, was once the water source for a flourishing low elevation meadow. SFC is working to restore the property to

Eroded banks of Bean Creek. Photo: K Boysen

its natural ecosystem.

     Meadows, though they make up only a small fraction of the Sierra landscape, are vital to watershed and ecosystem health and provide important cultural resources.  Healthy meadows help with flood control by storing excess water in the wet spring and by releasing cool flows slowly through the drier seasons. As our climate patterns become more erratic, meadows will help manage water flow from the mountains to the valley. Meadows also help filter the water by removing pollutants and sediment.  These open landscapes provide hold present and historical significance for people as well including important cultural sites for Native peoples, seasonal grazing lands for ranchers, and recreational sites for outdoor enthusiasts.  Due to their lack of trees and flat grade, meadows are often the first to be developed. Development and unmanaged uses threaten meadow habitats throughout the Sierra. SFC is proud to be restoring such an important feature in the ecosystem while maintaining multiple uses of the land including recreational enjoyment and grazing.

     The Bean Creek restoration project will stabilize the eroded banks of the creek and rehydrate the meadow.  Our intention is to help the

SFC's Ray, and Clearwater Hydrologists Steven and Bill drill a piezometer well.  Photo: K Boysen

meadow system revert to its natural state.  SFC is working with hydrologists and meadow specialists from Clearwater Hydrology on this project. This winter we broke ground on the project with the installation of  piezometers, groundwater monitoring wells. Readings taken from the piezometers give us an idea how the ground water fluctuates on the property and where the water is naturally pooling.  The restoration project also includes removal of invasive plants from the property, so that native meadow flora, like sedges and rushes, can re-colonize the area.  Look in this month's e-newsletter for how you can help with the project.

      "This will be a long-term phased project project, but the beginning phases of restoration are underway. The initial stage of the project is funded by a mitigation project with Tuolumne County and SFC is targeting future phases of funding to come from other mitigation projects and grant programs," explained Bridget Fithian, SFC's Conservation Director.

    Stay tuned for updates about the work on Bean Creek Preserve. 

This spring marks the second year of Sierra Lands Beef, SFC's grass-fed beef LLC. Our cattle graze on our preserves, moving from one to the next

SLB Manager Logan Page rounds up the herd. Photo: R Ruiz

as the seasons dictate. The cows are currently in Smith Basin, just north of the main section of the McKenzie Table Top Preserve. 

This year, SLB is offering custom packages as well as the 20, 40, 80, and 120 lb variety packs. Go to the SLB website for ordering information. 

This spring is bringing lots of changes to SLB-- next month we'll highlight some of the exciting news. 

Fine Gold Open House, 4/15. 

A big event! Volunteers will help with set-up, tabling, and clean-up. Time

slots: 9:30-1:00, or 1:00-5:00. 

Earth Day Mariposa Highway Clean-Up: 4/19. 4:00-5:30pm. As part of the Great American Cleanup, SFC is sponsoring a Highway Clean-Up on April 19th, 4:00-6:00pm.  

McKenzie Member Day, 4/22. Volunteers needed to open gates, table, help with clean-up. Time slots: 8:30-12, 12:00-4:30. 

Blk Mtn Open House, 5/13. Volunteers will open gates, table, help with clean-up. Time slots: 8:30-12, 12:00-4:30. 

Piezometer Reading near Coulterville: Interested in learning about groundwater and participating in hydrologic monitoring? We need people do to weekly checks of our peizometers at our Bean Creek Preserve, NE of Coulterville. 

For more information or to volunteer, call our Mariposa office (209)742-2556, or email Kristen (kristen@sierrafoothill.org)