You will notice many wonderful plants and different wildlife when hiking along the many trails here in Sycamore Grove. You can see wildflowers, twisting and turning beautiful Sycamore trees, and a plethora of grasses and shrubs. These native plants are incredible to see in the park all year round in many different stages of their lives. Right now, in Sycamore Grove Park, you can see the one plant most people get concerned about, poison oak, beginning to bud, bloom, and leaf out.  

Pacific poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum) is all over Sycamore Grove Park. There is no need to concern yourself with it as long as you stay on the trail since the Rangers work diligently to keep it off the hiking trails. However, right off the trail, in certain spots, you can see this member of the sumac family growing.

It's important to identify these plants because they can irritate the skin. The poison oak plant produces an oil called Urushiol oil. The oil is created on the leaf's surface and can be active year-round. According to the University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources, 75% of adults react to this oil, and the reaction varies for each person. 

Identifying Pacific poison oak plants can be tricky. The common trick is "leaves of three, let it be." The shrub typically grows between 1-6 feet tall in woodland areas with lots of sunlight. They will also grow in shaded areas as vines and move their way up other plants, sometimes reaching 75 feet tall! The leaves of this plant will have a glossy shimmer to them and vary in color from greens to reds.  This plant often gets mistaken for the blackberry plant. The best way to tell the difference is the blackberry plant will have spines on the vine. A good way to remember this is the phrase: "If it's hairy, it's a berry." 

Poison oak is not all doom and gloom. Many animals, such as our black-tailed deer, birds, and insects, rely on this plant for sustenance. The leaves and berries are excellent food sources for these animals and help sustain the variety of birds in the area. 

If you come in contact with poison oak, you should be careful not to spread the oils anywhere else than the already contacted area. Then, wash with cool water and an over-the-counter treatment such as Tech-nu as soon as possible. 

So next time you're out in Sycamore Grove, be aware of these plants and watch the wildlife enjoy the tasty meal it provides. 

Here on Earth, there are threats of natural disasters like earthquakes or tornadoes, but one occurs more often than most, Floods, and the results can be catastrophic. Unsurprisingly, bodies of water have been an essential part of people's lives throughout history. Creeks, rivers, and lakes supply resources vital to life, like food, fresh water, and fertile land for growing crops; without them, life on Earth would be bleak. Even though these bodies of water help us, when excessive rains or rapid ice melting occurs, water levels rise and turn these bodies of water into a destructive force.  

Floods are categorized into three distinct types; river, coastal, and flash floods. River floods occur when water levels run over riverbanks because of heavy rainfall, rapid snow melting, or a barrier holding back water fails, causing the water to release. Heavy rain, intense winds, and hurricanes cause coastal floods. Flash floods are the most dangerous of the three, usually occurring within 6 hours. Excessive rains cause it when underwater water systems and drainage overflow. This type of flood is known as the most dangerous because it happens with little warning. All types of floods can occur in California, though 90% are caused by river flooding in lowland areas.

Throughout California's history, the state has endured several destructive floods dating back to 1605, when a massive flood submerged substantial portions of California, potentially the most significant flooding event of the prior 2,000 years! However, massive floods struck California between December 31st, 2022, and January 25th, 2023. Periods of heavy rainfall caused by multiple atmospheric rivers, most notably the reoccurring Pineapple Express atmospheric river, affected parts of southern California, the California central coast, northern California, and even Nevada. Over 200,000 homes and businesses lost power, and 6,000 individuals were ordered to evacuate, prompting the governor of California to declare a state of emergency. 

During the storm, Sycamore Grove Park did not make it out unscathed. Here in Livermore, a recorded 2 inches of rain in 24 hours prompted the California Department of Water Resources to release water from the neighboring Del Valle Dam at 3,000 cubic feet (about the volume of a one-car garage) per second. This massive water flow flooded the Arroyo Del Valle directly into Sycamore Grove Park, causing damage. A large section of the heavily trafficked Arroyo Del Valle Regional Trail and sections of the single-track trails paralleling the creek washed away during the floods causing Livermore Area Recreation and Park District Rangers to close the park for several weeks. 

Even though things may seem like a disaster on the surface, floods can bring many benefits, like transporting vital nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic material, to the surrounding land. After the flood has passed and the water recedes, it leaves sediment and nutrients behind. This becomes a rich natural fertilizer that improves soil quality and promotes plant growth! Floods may also replenish depleted underground aquifers, especially important to cities like Livermore, where we depend on these water supplies during prolonged dry spells. Also, floods play a role in bringing life back to wetlands (such as Garaventa Wetlands in Livermore), which provide food and habitat for 40% of the world's animal species and act as a water filter, flood mitigator, and carbon sink, which is highly beneficial to the ecosystem as it absorbs more carbon dioxide than it releases.  

Floods are an unstoppable force of nature; they can be extremely destructive to humans and the environment but are essential in the function of many ecosystems here on Earth. So, whether you think floods are good or bad, one thing is sure: life would look a lot different without them. 

Hello,

It's hard to believe it is already April! The year is going by so fast! LARPD Open Space Staff wants to remind you that registration for Summer LARPD Programs is happening! (March 29th is the first day of open registration for Livermore residents and 3/31 for all!) Here at Sycamore Grove we offer a Summer Nature Camp for kids aged 5 - 12. It is a fun program filled with adventure, games, and crafts! We also offer a Counselor In Training (CIT) program! This is for teens aged 13 - 16! You will learn leadership skills, games, crafts, and more great life skills!

Additionally, general registration for Camp Shelly begins on April 25th! For all your Camp Shelly questions and important dates please visit our website!

Keep your eyes peeled for other fun Summer Ranger Programs the LARPD Park Rangers are offering as well!

Thank you,

Dora O'Brien

LARPD Naturalist

Valley Wilds Newsletter Editor