Nestled between the San Joaquin and Tuolumne Rivers in Central California, the Dos Rios Ranch Preserve is the Golden State’s newest State Park. The former farmland will become a key location for migratory birds, various species of plants, and other river wildlife. It will also protect against flooding in the river valleys while providing a new public space for residents.
The ranch is located eight miles west of Modesto. The rewilding project is being carried out by River Partners, a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring riverlands in California to save many species of threatened birds. The project took 10 years and $40 million from 11 investors.
According to the nonprofit, some notable figures include:
- More than 2,100 acres of the park have been restored.
- Over 280,000 trees have been planted.
- Nine species have been protected.
- More than 7,000 acre-feet of freshwater has been conserved, and eight miles of riverfront has been restored.
- The local economy added 250 jobs, and $40 million in grants were sent to an underserved community.
“Our collective efforts at Dos Rios united stakeholders from diverse sectors who worked together for years to grow a thriving river forest on a reconnected floodplain where it had once been lost and disconnected,” Julie Rentner, president of River Partners, said on the nonprofit’s website.
The ranch is located near the small rural town of Grayson, California.
It’s the first State Park in a decade, the 281st in the whole state, and opened to the public on June 12, with Gov. Gavin Newsom attending the ceremony.
Photo Courtesy California State Parks
The park is not only a wildlife passageway but also a floodplain protector. The town of Grayson has already been spared from severe flooding, as it was designed. Some experts say the floodplain may not be the sole reason Grayson survived last year’s winter runoff flooding, but it is certainly helping. The floodwaters will replenish groundwater and support riparian forests, many of which have been lost to dams and levees built for agricultural purposes.
“There’s no better way to spend Earth Day than celebrating California’s first new State Park in nearly a decade. The Golden State’s natural beauty is unmatched, and we’re laser-focused on ensuring every Californian can enjoy these spaces,” Newsom said in a news release. “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. We’re not just protecting these spaces; we’re restoring them for future generations.”
The park is also expected to boost the local economy. It’s located just off Interstate 5, one of the main highways in California. Being around 80 miles from the San Francisco metropolitan area, plenty of in-state tourists will flock to the area for activities like hiking, biking, camping, swimming, fishing, boating, and bird watching.
The rivers are expected to be foraging grounds for juvenile Chinook salmon. The dams and levees had long blocked the salmon, but they now can gather in this central area to feed.
“The vision for Dos Rios is a journey into the past, revealing a lush Central Valley and a local escape — adjacent to two rivers and a wildlife refuge,” Armando Quintero, California State Parks director, said in a statement.
Photo Courtesy River Partners
The California State Parks and Recreation Commission will soon determine the site’s official name and classification. For now, the site will serve as it was designed, offering a recreation spot for visitors and a home for birds, fish, and small mammals.
“Dos Rios is the gold standard for how California achieves its bold vision for a vibrant, resilient future,” Rentner said in a statement.
“This ‘park of the future’ connects underserved communities that have limited outdoor-recreation options with scalable multi-benefit climate solutions, advancing a thriving future for the Central Valley in which reconnected and restored floodplains support water resilience for a hotter, drier future and flood safety for the nation’s most imperiled communities — all while bringing back wildlife from the brink of extinction.”
“River Partners is honored to have partnered with so many to bring life back to 1,600 flood-prone acres along the San Joaquin and Tuolumne Rivers,” she continued. “We’re ecstatic to give the transformed property back to the Central Valley to enjoy for future generations. We’ve got a lot more work to do just like this and are proud of the model Dos Rios serves in guiding the rest of the state.”
