This is the first time CNPS or SEA has held a field trip in the Nur Pon Open Space in many years. Since the area has been fenced off, cleared of trash and illegal camping as well as regular police patrols it made for an enjoyable field trip. We had about 22 people show up and as most participants were new to native plants, it provided an educational walk about the basics of native plants. Walk leader David Ledger identified many of the native and plants and provided participants with a plant list.
This area was once the site of a lumber mill and then up until the 1970’s a concrete plant. Before that it may have been used for agriculture. Because of these intrusions in this area, there was a profusion of non-native plants found, from lowly puncture weeds to tall pecans, silverleaf maple and many pistache trees. Pokeweed and jimson weed were also found on the walk of the area.
However, the area will recover. Mature Fremont cottonwood, black willows, Oregon ash and valley oaks provided shade for parts of the walk. Interestingly, there is a sand bar next to the river that had silverbush lupine, coyote brush, naked buck wheat, gray pine and interior live oak all within 100 feet of the river. These are all plants usually found on the hot dry hillsides of our area.
The Bureau of Reclamation put in a fish channel in the area and there were two bridges over it providing nice views of the area. This area also has a remaining 20 foot tall concrete abutment that was the east side of the old Freebridge that crossed the river until the new Cypress Street bridge was built. This is a nice close in area to learn a few native plants or just take your dog for a walk as the City is allowing dogs off leash in the area now.
