The Botanist's Journey Through Deer Creek Preserve
The Land Trust recently collaborated with Mount Lassen Chapter of the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) for our May Take-a-Hike series at Deer Creek Preserve!
Here’s the recap!
An annual tradition in our Take-a-Hike series, it was a delight to have dear friends of NCRLT, Marjorie McNairn, and her co-leader, Robert Fischer, take a group along the Deer Creek Trail with their botanical expertise. The group was a nice mix of greenies and seasoned botany enthusiasts who assisted our CNPS guides with identification throughout the day. One retired teacher brought along small sheets of paper and a pen, sketching out the shapes of leaves and delicate petals as we gathered around to peek at flowers.
If you’re not familiar with this hidden gem, the Preserve is the Land Trust’s one and only fee title property, meaning that we hold space on the land for so-creating stewardship practices, and bear the duty of responsibly managing these 600 acres of stunning forest, creek, and canyon. Conserved through the foresight of Western Rivers Conservancy and the David and Lucille Packard Foundation, the transfer of the Preserve to the Land Trust for long-term stewardship was supported by the State of California Wildlife Conservation Board in 2012. Long before the establishment of the preserve, these lands had for time immemorial sustained the Yahi and Yana peoples.
What I love most about these hikes is the curiosity being out in nature inspires, both in myself and within hike participants. Many used the iNaturalist app on their phones to document what we found, recording where the plants were located and the season in which it was blooming while helping folks identify the trickier plants.
Pacific starflowers (Lysimachia latifolia) grew abundant along the forest floor. Bright splashes of yellow mariposa lilies (Calochortus monophyllus) popped up through dried needles. Long purple hyacinths swayed as we walked past. Before a branching trail, lovely patches of Hartweg’s wild ginger (Asarum hartwegii) spread their rounded leaves, and as we trekked through the canyon sections, we found flowering succulents and curling blooms tucked within the rock faces. We even found a small patch of clarkia!
Resting at one of the alcoves along the trail, we saw a Sierra garter snake (Thamnophis couchii) hidden in the reeds along the shore. Many were able to snap a few quick pictures before it swam out across the cold creek. The chill of the water was a soothing relief to the heat; some wet their hats while others dunked their heads. I stuck my hands in and reveled in the crisp coolness.
Sierra garter snake (Thamnophis couchii)
When at last we reached our destination, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife-managed fish ladder, hike participants broke out snacks and lunches to fuel up before the journey back. Many milled around the ladder, while folks feeling more adventurous climbed up a boulder to a get a good view of the falls. Beyond an impressive rush of water, they also saw…jumping salmon! What a delight!
How wonderful it is that we can see such beautiful sights in such wonderful company. Thank you so much again to CNPS hike guides Marjorie McNairn and Robert Fischer, for taking us on a botanist’s journey through the Deer Creek Trail and thank you to everyone who attended the hike.
Join us for our June hikes! On June 13th, we collaborate with our local Audubon chapter, AltaCal, and on June 28th we have our pride themed hike! Hikes are free and we’re excited to spread the joy and beauty of this little slice of wonderful wilderness.
Learn more about Deer Creek Preserve here!
Deer Creek Preserve (StoryMap created by NCRLT)
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/d7d04cc644c245fd80468ca48b51ee6b
Lower Deer Creek Falls Fish Passage Improvement Project (StoryMap created by CDFW)
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/collections/fbb63092e68e4db488e2dab8f599f5de?item=3
