NATIVE PLANT PROJECT VS

A GROUP OF ABOUT 50 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN PLANTING SATURDAY, ALONG GABILAN CREEK. THE PLANTING INCLUDED ABOUT 650 PLANTS THAT WERE ALL GROWN BY LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN. THE EVENT WAS ORGANIZED THROUGH CSU-MONTEREY BAY, BY THE RETURN OF THE NATIVES ORGANIZATION, WHICH FUNCTIONS AT THE COLLEGE'S WATERSHED INSTITUTE. AMONG THE VOLUNTEERS WERE SALINAS MAYOR ANNA CABALLERO, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS (EARNING COMMUNITY SERVICE CREDITS), CITY RESIDENTS AND CSUMB REPRESENTATIVES. THE GROUP PLANTED ALONG A 100-YARD STRETCH OF BIKE PATH EAST OF THE PARK'S SOCCER FIELDS. THE PATH BORDERS A PATCH OF UNDEVELOPED LAND OWNED BY MONTEREY COUNTY. RETURN OF THE NATIVES IS A COMMUNITY AND SCHOOL-BASED ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM DEDICATED TO INVOLVING STUDENTS (KINDERGARTEN THROUGH UNIVERSITY) IN HABITAT RESTORATION AND SERVICE LEARNING PROJECTS IN SCHOOLS AND THE COMMUNITY. RETURN OF THE NATIVES PARTNERS WITH THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT IN RESTORATION AND EDUCATION EFFORTS ON THEIR NEWLY ACQUIRED FORT ORD PUBLIC LANDS, ALONG WITH THE MONTEREY REGIONAL PARKS, CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS, AND WITH THE CITY OF SALINAS, WITH THEIR VARIOUS RESTORATION PROJECTS. THE CREEKS OF SALINAS RESTORATION PROJECTS FOCUS ON NATIVIDAD CREEK PARK, LOWER NATIVIDAD CREEK RESTORATION AREA, SANBORN CREEK-CESAR CHAVEZ PARK AND GABILAN CREEK-VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK. OTHER RESTORATION PROJECTS INCLUDE FORT ORD PUBLIC LANDS AND MOSS LANDING DUNES.