California’s newest state park to open near Modesto this summer
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(FOX40.COM) — California’s newest state park, which is located near Modesto, was given a special dedication ceremony on Monday with Governor Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom.
Since 2012, River Partners, the Tuolumne River Trust and many other organizations have led the restoration of Dos Rios Ranch Preserve near the confluence of the San Joaquin and Tuolumne Rivers.
Yosemite, the United States’ first state park
With its official opening on June 12, Dos Rios will enter the California State Park system as the 281st park and it will be the first state park in Stanislaus County.
During the restoration process of converting this once agricultural site into a wildlife habitat, 280,000 trees were planted across 2,100 acres, 7,000 acre-feet of fresh water was conserved and 8 miles of riverfront were restored.
“And the benefits don’t just stop at recreation – this park is a key asset to fighting the climate crisis, home to the state’s largest floodplain restoration project,” Governor Newsom said. “We’re not just protecting these spaces, we’re restoring them for future generations.”
Along with serving local wildlife, Dos Rios will become a valuable link to the Pacific Flyway, which is an intercontinental avian migration path stretching from South America to Alaska.
The nation’s first environmental law resulted from destructive California mining operations
“Earth Day is always such a beautiful reminder that our planet is a shared space, and its health and future are dependent on our individual and communal commitment to restoration and regeneration. Being in the heart of the Golden State at the site of our new state park— a place designed through partnership — was such a fitting way to spend Earth Day,” said First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom.
Along with adding over 2,000 acres of protected lands, Dos Rios directly abuts the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Reserve and increases the amount of protected land in the area by 10%.
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