American Water Oakhurst River Parkway Trail Restoration Project

Start Date: 05/02/2024                

Finish Date: 05/02/2025

 

Partner: Madera County

 

Funder: American Water Foundation

 

Purpose: This project aims to restore and enhance the parkway, improving safety, accessibility, and educational opportunities for all visitors and community members. Focused restoration efforts will include:

• Removing invasive species

• Repairing and reinforcing trail infrastructure

• Improving water flow to mitigate flooding risks

 

These actions are vital for the community's safety, well-being, and the protection of property, while also promoting environmental stewardship and providing educational insights into local ecosystems and conservation efforts.

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Current Activity:  Update 06/19/2024: We hosted an award ceremony announcing to the Oakhurst community that the project will be coming to their local trail. During the award ceremony, we were able to get sign-ups for volunteer work days on the trail. We have also done some outreach to find a local project coordinator who will work with county staff to determining needs for CEQA.

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Update 10/29/24: The first planning meeting was held, and the project is starting. Coarsegold RCD has secured an AmeriCorps crew and will offer their services for two days in December. Land planning and EA have been completed. Executive Director, Erin Capuchino, will present at Yosemite Adult School Wildland Fire, and they will be taking a small portion of the trial as training. EC will be working with six high school seniors to participate as part of their senior project.

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Update 01/13/25: The first planning meeting was held, and the project is starting. Coarsegold RCD has secured an AmeriCorps crew and will offer their services December 11-12. Land planning and EA have been completed. 8 YHS seniors have volunteered to work with us on their senior project. Yosemite Adult School Wildland Fire, is working the portion of the trial as training. 

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Update 06/09/25: Land planning and EA have been completed. 8 YHS seniors have volunteered to work with us on their senior project. Working with NFWS on a partnership to create a more significant project. Site Tour to be held Tuesday, 2/25/25. The site tour was productive. The last clean-up was successful despite a rainy day. Christian Dozer was hired to mow and masticate as much as possible; Blue Star Arborist has been cleaning up the invasive and dead vegetation along the trail. EC will conduct a full audit of the funds spent. There is no official budget adjustment. We have had amazing volunteers and donations; we haven’t spent most of the funds. Blue Stars' work will take a good chunk of funds. After their work, we will determine what is left to add trial barriers and adjust areas that have washed out, and we want to make a sign honoring Sandy Brinley.