With the sun shining, the brooks babbling and green in abundance, it is time to experience the regrowth of the regional parks in Sonoma County. Many are witnessing the rising wildflowers and vegetation from the ashes of October, with trails being reopened and support for restoration. A few months after the fire, the fungi, plants and flowers are blooming once again in the midst of the spring season. Sonoma County is active as always, with thousands of people participating in the season’s sunshine.
Dave Chalk and Bill Myers have been organizing hikes for 18 years, and on Feb. 17 took a group of about 119 people to Bald Mountain, located in Sugarloaf Regional Park. More than half of the park was burned, but nature has been growing back from the charred landscape.
“The wildflowers are out and blooming,” said Myers. “There are better views because it is not overgrown.” Along with Sugarloaf, Annadel State Park has also been experiencing its fair share of visitors. According to Sean Thornily, a veteran of the Sonoma County Regional Parks for 33 years, the Marsh Trail is one of the most popular trails in Annadel. It leads to the highest point in the park where one can see the aftermath of the fires. “You do not need to tell people to go outside,” Thornily said. “There is so much beauty here.”
To document this regrowth in the parks, Hattie Brown, the natural resources program coordinator, has set up a crowdsourced photo project in Sonoma Valley Regional Park. Participants can place their phone on a stand and help document the regeneration of the landscape at the park by sending the photo to the project email or sharing it on social media with the hashtag #nunsfire01.
This project will span a few years. “The wildlands recover with little support,” said Brown. “It’s pretty important to experience the recovery and resilience of the park.” Shiloh Ranch Regional Park has also been open for a few months despite being siginificantly burned. “I enjoy Foothill and Shiloh for their steep climbs and beauty,” said Donna Legge, the director of Parks and Recreation for the Town of Windsor.
There are a lot of events and activities planned for spring by Sonoma County Regional Parks. For more information visit parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov/Play/Calendar/.
