SRCSD - Restoring Native Grasslands

Sacramento Watershed

Our Beautiful Bufferlands

Sacramento Constructed Wetlands Demonstration Project

Water Recycling Program

Sacramento Coordinated Monitoring Program

Renewing Riparian Forests

Restoring Native Grasslands

What You Can Do

Restoring Native Grasslands

Native Grasses Evolved With Native Wildlife

In portions of our Bufferlands, the natural resources staff of the Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District (SRCSD) effectively use several of the Central Valley's native grass species to restore damaged natural habitats. Unlike exotic introduced plants, native grasses evolved together with endemic wildlife, making natives particularly valuable for habitat restoration.

California's Plant Mix Has Radically Changed

During the past century perennial grasses that once covered large expanses of both valley and mountain habitats in California have been transformed into a mix dominated by annual grasses and other herbaceous (non-woody) plants, called forbs. The foxtails that catch in your socks and the prickly spines of yellow star-thistle are part of the exotic plant community that has taken over California's natural landscape.

Native Grasses Offer Many Advantages

California's historic native grass community included more than 300 species of grasses, including both warm and cool season varieties. In addition to their usefulness in restoring wildlife habitat, native grasses have characteristics that make them desirable for revegetating roadsides, creating natural green firebreaks and stabilizing slopes.

Drought-and flood-tolerant grasses can be planted in locations where other species fail.
Perennial grasses that remain green for extended time periods are especially useful in areas requiring fire suppression.
The deep, fibrous root systems of many perennial species can bind soil, greatly reducing erosion rates. Additionally, the root systems reduce surface runoff and enhance groundwater recharge.

SRCSD's Bufferlands staff have planted and currently manage more than 25 acres of perennial grasslands at the Upper Beach Lake Wildlife Enhancement Project. This highly successful restoration effort has identified several native grasses as particularly useful in California's Central Valley, including:

Purple Needlegrass (Nasella pulchra),
California Meadow Barley (Hordeum brachyantherum),
Blue Wildrye (Elymus glaucus),
Slender Wheatgrass (Elymus trachycaulus) and
Creeping Wildrye (Leymus triticoides).

Research is currently underway to evaluate additional native grass species and to develop cost-efficient ways of restoring large parcels to native grasslands. For more information about restoring native grasslands on SRCSD's Bufferlands, please contact:

Bryan Young
Bufferlands Manager
Email: youngb@sacsewer.com