2026 STAGE EcoShasta | S.E.A.

Inside the Rotary Screw Trap 101 (Horsetown-Clear Creek Preserve)
2024-05-04 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
May 4 (Sat.) 9 a.m. – Inside the Rotary Screw Trap 101
“Join Horsetown–Clear Creek Preserve alongside Fish Biologists from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to learn more about their juvenile salmon conservation and monitoring projects in our area. This is a family-friendly event where you can view USFWS rotary screw trap operations on Clear Creek, a project that helps track and monitor populations of our local Chinook Salmon. We’ll start at the China Garden Trailhead. USFWS Biologists will then lead us down to Clear Creek where we will be able to learn about and observe USFWS rotary screw trap and juvenile fish handling operations, conservation and monitoring of Chinook Salmon and steelhead trout, as well as restoration and management efforts happening within the watershed.
This hike meets at the China Garden Trailhead, (the first BLM trailhead on Clear Creek Road from highway 273).
See our website at HorsetownClearCreekPreserve.org for a trail map and coming events. Contact Horsetownhccp@gmail.com for more information”

Native Plant Identification and Uses (Horsetown-Clear Creek Preserve)
2024-04-28 13:00 - 15:00
April 28 (Sun.) 1 p.m. — “NATIVE PLANT IDENTIFICATION AND USES”
Join native Wintu Ted Dawson on a spring walk while he locates, identifies, and explains medicinal and general uses of native plants. Ted consulted and provided technical support at Turtle Bay for Native American exhibits. Today’s presentation includes making a natural poison oak remedy.
Bring a jar – take some home.
Meet at the HCCP parking area on Clear Creek Road, just west of the Clear Creek Bridge.

Native Pollinator Projects (Horsetown-Clear Creek Preserve)
2024-04-27 11:00 - 13:00
April 27 (Sat.) 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. “NATIVE POLLINATOR PROJECTS”
Join Ryan Morris and Jeremy Kelley from the Western Shasta Resource Conservation District (WSRCD) for an afternoon of education on the history and inner workings of a Resource Conservation District. They will discuss current, past and future restoration projects along the
Clear Creek greenway and surrounding areas of Shasta County. Also, in depth discussions about native plants and their importance in our community and much more.
In addition, a free native pollinator plant giveaway will be held for attendees after, in partnership with the Monarch Fellowship.

Native Plant Walk in the McConnell Arboretum
2024-04-23 09:00 - 11:00
Native Plant Walk in the McConnell Arboretum
Tuesday, April 23rd at 9 am
Learn to identify native plants in your own “backyard” with SEA and the California Native Plant Society, Shasta Chapter on a short loop trail on the northwest side of the Sacramento River. Walk leader David Ledger will identify native plants of the area and talk about certain aspects of plants and why they are growing there.
For those new to native plants you can learn the common trees, shrubs, and wildflowers on this easy two-mile walk. Walk leader David Ledger will also give a brief explanation of photosynthesis and water movement in plants from the roots to the highest leaf in a tree. Limited to 20 people, please sign up on our Meetup site. We will meet under the huge oak tree across from the Turtle Bay parking lot by the service road and sidewalk to the Sundial Bridge. For more information, email david@ecoshasta.org.

Wild Trout and Fly Fishing in Clear Creek (Horsetown-Clear Creek Preserve)
2024-04-21 09:00 - 11:00
April 21 (Sun.) 9:00 a.m. – “WILD TROUT AND FLY FISHING IN CLEAR CREEK”
Join local angler Mark Clausen as he discusses fly fishing and watch from the beach as he demonstrates the technique of casting a fly on beautiful Clear Creek. He will share facts about wild trout on Clear Creek and some of the equipment used on the sport. Mark has been tying his own flies and fishing this stretch of creek for many years. NOT limited to fisherman.
Meet at the HCCP parking area on Clear Creek Road, just west of the Clear Creek Bridge.

Hog Lake Plateau Field Trip (SEA + CNPS)
2024-04-21 00:00 - 23:59
Hog Lake Plateau, Sacramento River Bend Recreation Area
Sunday, April 21

Hog Lake Plateau is one of the best places in the North State to be wowed by amazing arrays of spring wildflowers, as well as many bird species. We will visit Hog Lake itself—in fact a very large vernal pool—and at least one other smaller pool in the blue oak woodlands above. This field trip is a follow-up to the CNPS April 18th Chapter meeting presentation by Greg Lockett, Hog Lake and Environs, in which he shares his gorgeous photography of this beautiful area and its botanical denizens.
Be prepared for ~2 miles of mostly, if not entirely, off-trail walking in very rocky and very possibly muddy conditions. Hiking poles may come in handy! Wear appropriate footwear, and bring water and lunch or snacks. Make sure you have signed both waivers for 2024 (see opening paragraph). For light rain, bring an umbrella; heavy rain cancels. Dogs OK on leash if you pick up after them. Please RSVP to Shasta Chapter CNPS at shastacnps@gmail.com for time and location details.

2024 Redding Earth Day Festival
2024-04-20 11:00 - 16:00
Please join us on Saturday, April 20th for the Redding Earth Day Festival at Caldwell Park in Redding, CA from 11am – 4pm!
We will have music, booths, food, kids’ activities, as well as a secure bike corral so ride your bikes if you can!
Head to seashasta.org for more information about this event!

Roadside Driving Native Plant Field Trip
2024-04-14 13:30 - 15:30
Roadside Driving Native Plant Field Trip
*Millville Plains (new location)
Sunday, April 14th at 1:30 pm

UPDATE: Due to construction work by PGE on Whiskey Creek Road, all the flowers and shrubbery are thrashed along the roadside so this will be a driving tour of Millville Plains, Parkville Rd, and Black Butte Rd.

This is a joint field trip with California Native Plant Society, Shasta Chapter and SEA to identify wildflowers, shrubs, and trees near Millville. This will be a driving tour of Millville Plains, Parkville Road, out Dersch Road, near the proposed Patrick Jones gun range, and on to Black Butte Road in Inwood. Overall there will be a great variety plants to see.

We strongly encourage carpooling although it is not required. Limited to 15 participants. To reserve a space, please sign up on our Meetup site and sign the waiver to attend if you have not already done so in 2024. Meet at the Holiday Market parking lot near CVS pharmacy at Placer and Buena Ventura. If you do not want to go on to Black Butte Road, you can head back to Redding at any time. Bring camera, hat, water and snacks. From vernal pool plants to lower montaine, lots of great wildflowers, shrubs, and trees will be in bloom

For more information email david@ecoshasta.org

"A Search for Special Beauties" Walk (Horsetown-Clear Creek Preserve)
2024-04-14 09:30 - 11:30
April 14 (Sun.) 9:30 a.m. “A SEARCH FOR SPECIAL BEAUTIES”
Join Barbara Peck on a morning hike on the Cloverdale trails. She will lead the search for a
Rufous-Crowned Sparrow, Pearly Marble Butterflies, and Jewel Flowers. Barbara is a local expert with a Masters in Wildlife Biology and Ecology. She will point out and identify other birds, butterflies, and flowers as well. Bring binoculars if you have them. We have some to share.
Meet at the Horsetown-Clear Creek Preserve trailhead.

Clear Creek Wildflowers and Wild Plants (Horsetown-Clear Creek Preserve)
2024-04-07 13:30 - 15:30
April 7 (Sun.) 1:30 p.m. – “CLEAR CREEK WILDFLOWERS AND WILD PLANTS”
“Come walk with David Ledger from the California Native Plant Society and Shasta Environmental Alliance. Enjoy the beauty of blooming wildflowers, the stimulation of a walk in the country, and learn about plants and nature. This will be a great Sunday afternoon hike. David is very knowledgeable about plants in our area.”
Meet at the HCCP parking area on Clear Creek Road, just west of the Clear Creek Bridge.

Cloverdale Waterfalls (Horsetown-Clear Creek Preserve)
2024-04-06 10:00 - 13:00
April 6 (Sat.) 10 a.m. – “CLOVERDALE WATERFALLS”
With a generous gift from Mother Nature in the way of rain, we are thrilled to put on a special hike this spring. Ryan Morris, new HCCP Board member, will lead us north from the HCCP Parking area on BLM trails to enjoy not one, but two waterfalls and wonderful views of the Clear Creek canyon. Bring some friends, walking shoes, and water– a moderate walk of 2 to 3 hours!

Lightning Canyon Ranch Field Trip (hosted by Shasta Birding Society)
2024-04-06 06:00 - 12:00
Shasta Birding Society will be hosting a field trip on Saturday, April 6th from 6 am to 12 pm to the Lightning Canyon Ranch, a private 2,205-acre property located at Lakehead overlooking Shasta Lake. This will be a half-day trip in rugged terrain targeting mid-elevation forest species. The land owner’s local representative will give an outline of the rich history of the property from Native American use, conservation via the Pacific Forest Trust, and the 2021 Salt Fire to current and planned uses. Attendees will then take a 1-2 mile birding hike along rugged logging and fire roads culminating with lunch (please bring your own) at a hunter’s camp area. There are no bathroom facilities, wear layers of clothing and stout hiking boots, bring water and lunch, also trekking poles, bear spray and/or whistle if you have them. Be also alert for poison oak, rattlesnakes, bear, and mountain lion.
Carpooling with high clearance AWD/4WD vehicles due to limited parking and unpaved access roads. If you are interested, please contact webmaster@shastabirdingsociety.org to register and participate in the trip, receive detailed directions, eBird protocols, and obtain trip waivers to be signed and returned at least 5 days prior to the trip.
Persistent rain/snow prior to or the day of will cancel the trip due to unpaved road conditions.

Shade Tree Planting
2024-03-30 09:00 - 12:00
Shade Tree Planting
Saturday, March 30, 9 am
SEA will be resuming its Shade Tree Program on March 30, planting shaded trees in the front yard of homes within Redding city limits. We usually have the help of a few young people from the CCC but could use a few more volunteers to help out. If you do not want to do the physical work, we could use someone with good organizational skills to help manage the program.
If you attend, please bring water, snacks, and gloves, we will provide all of the equipment to dig the holes. For more information, and to sign up to help, contact David Ledger at david@ecoshasta.org

Waters Gulch Trail Field Trip
2024-03-23 09:00 - 13:00
Waters Gulch Trail Field Trip
Saturday, March 23rd, meet at Chase Bank on Dana Drive at 9 am

This botanically-diverse trail never fails to disappoint and this year we will catch early spring blooming wildflowers. This four-mile hike is easy to moderate difficulty and is fairly level with a few steep sections. We will see a wide diversity of plants as we walk through different habitats, oak woodland, chaparral, riparian, and mixed hardwood/conifer forests.

Bring closed-toe shoes, water, and lunch or snacks. Please go to our Meetup site to reserve a space and be sure to sign our waiver on our website. You must sign the waiver to attend unless you have earlier this year. Waiver: https://www.ecoshasta.org/events/trip-event-waiver/

Meet at the Mt. Shasta Mall Parking lot near Chase Bank and we will carpool/caravan to the trailhead. For more information contact walk leader David Ledger at david@ecoshasta.org

Adopt-a-Highway Clean-Up (Horsetown Clear Creek Preserve)
2024-03-23 09:00 - 12:00
Adopt-a-Highway Clean-up (Horsetown Clear Creek Preserve)
March 23rd at 9am (if rainy, the date changes to March 30)

Meet at the Horsetown parking area on Clear Creek Road at 9 am. Bring gloves and water. We have bags, vests, and grabbers. We will spend about 3 hours cleaning up a stretch of Clear Creek Road with lunch/snacks provided afterwards. No heavy lifting is necessary.

Clear Creek Trail Cleanup
2024-03-09 09:30 - 12:30
Clear Creek Trail Cleanup
Saturday, March 9th, 9:30 am
Clear Creek Gorge Parking Lot

Clear Creek Trail Cleanup: We were rained out last month, so we will try this again.
SEA will be conducting a quarterly cleanup and trail maintenance day on a two-mile section of trail In the Clear Creek Greenway. This will be a light cleanup, no homeless campsites. Meet at the Clear Creek Overlook Parking lot on Saturday, March 2 at 9:30 am. Bring gloves and water. This will be about a 2 ½ hour cleanup. Work as long or short as you wish. Heavy rain cancels. For more information, contact david@ecoshasta.org or go to our Meetup.com

Waiver: https://www.ecoshasta.org/events/trip-event-waiver/

Trail 58 Field Trip
2024-02-24 09:30 - 11:30
Trail 58 Field Trip
Iron Mt. Road, Keswick
Saturday, February 24, 9:30 am

This is a trail on BLM land just west of Redding that follows the south side of Middle Creek to Old Shasta in a former oak woodland, now recovering from the Carr Fire. This is a fairly level trail that follows an old water ditch from the gold mining era for much of the way with a footbridge across a small creek in a ravine. We will catch early-blooming wildflowers and identify many of the trees and shrubs along the trail. This is a 3 ½ mile easy hike with a steep and rocky section near the end requiring some agility and balance.

This will be a fun trail with lots to see, but unfortunately, many of the trees were burned in the fire. This opens up greater vistas of the canyon and hillsides. If you want to participate, make sure you sign up on Meetup.org here and make sure you sign the waiver once for all field trips in 2024. This is a Leave No Trace field trip, carry out what you bring in, and do not collect plants, mushrooms, etc. on our public lands. Dogs on leash okay but bring a poop bag. We will meet at the trailhead off Highway 299 on Iron Mt. Road. Limited to 20 people who have signed up on Meetup. For more information contact walk leader David Ledger at david@ecoshasta.

SEA Clear Creek Trail Cleanup
2024-02-17 09:30 - 11:30
SEA Clear Creek Trail Cleanup
Saturday, Feb. 17, 9:30 am
Clear Creek Greenway
SEA has adopted a 2-mile segment of the Clear Creek Trail from the Gorge Overlook Parking lot to Horsetown Preserve. This is our quarterly cleanup of the trail of scattered trash and any fallen limbs. You can work a 1-mile segment or the entire trail. We previously cleaned this trail in November, so we do not expect a lot of trash or any homeless camping sites.
If you wish to come, please sign up at our Meetup site and sign the waiver on our website. If you have previously signed the waiver this year, you do not need to again.
Do your part to keep our local trails clean and meet us at the Gorge Overlook parking lot, 5 miles west of Highway 273 on Clear Creek Road. Rain will postpone cleanup until Sunday at 1:30 pm or a later date if needed.
For more information, contact David Ledger at david@ecoshasta.org

Audubon Conservation Ranching Program event (hosted by Shasta Birding Society)
2024-02-14 19:00 - 20:30
Audubon Conservation Ranching Program
February 14 at 7:00 pm
Shasta Birding Society invites members of the Shasta Environmental Alliance and the Shasta Chapter of the California Native Plant Society to join us in a Zoom meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87589708925 on Wednesday evening, February 14, at 7:00 pm.
Matt Allshouse of Audubon California will present a program on the Conservation Ranching Program, the goal of which is to halt the conversion of grassland ecosystems and improve the ecological functions of rangelands by partnering with ranchers.
Program Description:
California has roughly 40 million acres of rangelands that provide food production, carbon sequestration, water infiltration, and habitat for a wide range of species. However, this historic land use is under threat with an average of 20,000 acres a year being lost to development or crop conversion. Climate change, invasive species, aquifer depletion, and outdated grazing practices also degrade large portions of grasslands, increasing economic and ecological vulnerability. This in turn has contributed to steep declines in grassland bird species across California and the United States.
Audubon launched its Conservation Ranching program (ACR) here in California in 2019. This program is designed to stem the conversion of grassland ecosystems and improve the ecological functions of rangelands by partnering with ranchers to transition to more regenerative grazing approaches via a ranch certification program. This presentation will highlight the ACR program components which includes the development of ranch-specific Habitat Management Plans and a third-party certified set of regenerative grazing practices to increase climate-driven drought resiliency, rebuild soil organic matter, enhance plant diversity
and cover, increase water infiltration and carbon sequestration, and increase overall biodiversity. This ecological resilience can translate to economic resilience, as participating producers are able to use the Audubon certification logo on their product – providing a market incentive to landowners to enroll in this program through increased sales or revenue. This presentation will highlight program practices, early results and opportunities for enrollment.
Matt Allshouse came to Audubon California from Wyoming and has been the Conservation Ranching Program Manager for the state since September 2019. As a rangeland ecologist, he has 15 years of experience associated with land policy, management, and science. Previously, Matt served as Ranch Manager for Antelope Springs Land and Cattle in Wyoming, as a Biologist for the Peregrine Fund in Belize and Guatemala directing conservation field research, and as Ecologist with the consulting firm Trihydro Corporation focusing on restoration ecology. Matt holds a dual bachelor’s degree in Environment and Natural Resources, and Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management from University of Wyoming.

Bark Beetles: An Interesting Part of Our Local Forest Ecology
2024-02-13 18:00 - 19:30
Join us for this free, public talk on Tuesday, February 13th from 6 pm – 7:30 pm for a presentation by Dr. Donald R. Owen at the Redding Public Library Community Room
Don will start his talk with an overview of native bark beetles and their impacts, including their response to climate change. He also will explore the concept of “pest” using bark beetles and some lesser-known forest insects as examples. Finally, he will talk about some local insects with fascinating life histories – insects that can be observed simply by stepping outside and being observant.

Don is a retired Forest Entomologist with degrees from Penn State and UC Berkeley. At the start of his career, he worked for the USDA Forest Service in New Mexico, Alaska, and California. In 1991 he switched permanently to the CA Dept. of Forestry and Fire Protection, where he served as Forest Heath Specialist and the Department’s lead on forest insects. He has a broad background in forest insects and diseases, both native and invasive, and their impact on forest ecosystems.

He enjoys exploring the lives of insects through photography. His photographs appear on the FORESTRY IMAGES website and have been featured in publications of the Entomological Society of America.

**Related to this talk, SEA will be organizing a field trip in late April to the Phillips Brothers Mill, established in 1897 and the only steam powered lumber mill in the United States still operating. The 1000-acre forest surrounding it is under a conservation easement and supplies much of the lumber for the mill, bark beetles or not. The last tour SEA led in 2019 was sold out at $25 a ticket. If you come to this Bark Beetle talk you will have the first chance to sign up for this over 120-year-old mill tour. Please sign up at the Bark Beetle meeting!

Cloverdale Trail Ecology and Restoration Field Trip
2024-02-10 09:00 - 12:00
Cloverdale Trail Ecology and Restoration Field Trip
Saturday, February 10 at 9 am
Meet at CVS parking lot on Placer Street in Redding
Bureau of Land Management Ecologist Brooke Thompson will lead this field trip and give an explanation of the restoration work BLM has been doing in this area and the effects man has had on the area as we walk several of the trails. This will be an easy walk of about three miles lasting up to three hours.
Meet at the Holiday Market Parking lot at 9 am to carpool to the trailhead and save GHG or meet at the trailhead at 9:20 am.
Brooke is really enthusiastic and knowledgeable about restoring and protecting BLM lands.
Look for more details on our website at ecoshsata.org or here in mid-January for more details. Limited to 20 participants. You must signup on our Meetup website and sign the online waiver that covers all events for 2024 (must sign again if you signed in 2023!). Dogs on leash at all times are okay, but please ensure you bring poop bags.

Redding Seed Swap at the NEW Shasta Seed Library (hosted by Farmily Project)
2024-02-04 13:30 - 16:00
Redding Seed Swap at the NEW Shasta Seed Library (Farmily Project)
Sunday, February 4th, 1:30 pm – 4 pm
Redding Library Community Room

“Brought to you by the Farmily Project in cooperation with the coming son Shasta Public Library Seed Library

Join us for Redding’s first city-wide seeds, plants, bulbs, cuttings, rhizomes, and scions swap!

Bring any of the above, even if you don’t have any to swap, there will be ways to share.

Local food, plant, and agriculture businesses and groups will have information available.

Come and participate in the growth of our community around plants and food!

Contact: Text or leave a message for Laurie at 530-440-2924”

Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop & Orchard Hands-on Work Day with Rico Montenegro
2024-01-27 13:00 - 15:00
Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop & Orchard Hands-on Work Day
Shasta Meadows Elementary School – 2825 Yana Av., Redding
 Saturday, January 27
 1 PM to 3:30 PM
This is a community event, so bring family and friends. Dress casually and bring bypass pruners, loppers, pruning saw, gloves as well as wheelbarrows, bow rakes, and bailing forks to spread mulch.

Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop & Orchard Hands-on Work Day with Rico Montenegro
2024-01-27 08:30 - 11:00
Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop & Orchard Hands-on Work Day
Lassen View Elementary School – 705 Loma Vista Dr., Redding
 Saturday, January 27
 8:30 AM to 11:00 AM
This is a community event, so bring family and friends. Dress casually and bring bypass pruners, loppers, pruning
saw, gloves as well as wheelbarrows, bow rakes and bailing forks to spread mulch.

Plant Talk: Fruit Tree Selection and Cultivation by Rico Montenegro
2024-01-20 10:00 - 12:00
Plant Talk: Fruit Tree Selection and Cultivation
11555 Old Oregon Trail, Redding
Rm 4000 at the Shasta College farm
-Saturday, January 20
-10 AM to 12 PM

Tree Selection, Placement and Cultivation for Hot Climates with Rico Montenegro
2024-01-18 18:00 - 20:00
Shasta Lake Garden Club
Tree Selection, Placement and Cultivation for Hot Climates
Clair Engle Park Community Center
1525 Median Av., Shasta Lake
 Thursday, January 18th
 6 PM to 8 PM

Chamise Peak Native Plant Field Trip
2024-01-14 09:00 - 13:00
Chamise Peak Native Plant Field Trip
DATE CHANGE: Now on Sunday, January 14 from 9am to 1 pm
The Chamise Peak Trail is an easy to moderate-difficulty trail of 4 ½ miles with a 700 elevation climb. On this hike we will teach participants how to identify native shrubs and trees in winter and a little about their natural history. Walk leader David Ledger will give the most logical reason why there is no chamise along the trail, but the plant is found in the surrounding area. This trail follows an oak woodland and chaparral habitat with scattered conifers.
We will meet at the Holiday Market parking lot near the CVS store on Placer and Buena Ventura at 9 am to carpool to the trail or at the trailhead at 9:30 am. We try to reduce our greenhouse gases by carpooling, but it is not required. To sign up, please go to the SEA Meetup.com website and be sure to sign the waiver for all of 2024. For more information, contact david@ecoshasta.org
Drizzle or sprinkles, bring umbrella, rain cancels.
Email david@ecoshasta.org for any questions

Plant Talk: Fruit Tree Selection and Cultivation by Rico Montenegro
2024-01-13 10:00 - 12:00
Plant Talk: Fruit Tree Selection and Cultivation
Meet at the Arboretum & Botanical Gardens Office
1135 Arboretum Drive, Redding (Next to Greenhouse in Nursery)
-Saturday, January 13, 2024
-10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
https://www.turtlebaynursery.org/events/plant-talk-fruit-tree-selection-and-cultivation

Plant Talk: Fruit Tree Selection and Cultivation by Rico Montenegro
2024-01-11 18:00 - 20:00
Plant Talk: Fruit Tree Selection and Cultivation by Rico Montenegro
Located upstairs in the conference room at Orchard Nutrition Center
-Thursday, January 11thth
-6 to 8 pm

New Year's Day Hike
2024-01-01 09:30 - 11:30
New Year’s Day Hike
Monday, January 1, 2024 at 9:30am
Westside Trail
Start the New Year off right on our 12th annual joint CNPS/SEA hike up the Westside Trail, a four-mile roundtrip, easy-to-moderate hike to the “Top of the World” with views of Mt. Shasta, Trinity Alps, Mt. Lassen, and the northern Sierras.

Field trip leader David Ledger has led this hike for the Shasta Chapter of the California Native Plant Society for 12 years and is continuing on as a joint CNPS/SEA field trip.

This is a fun hike, and we will identify some of the native plants as we hike up the hill and observe the regrowth and recent brush removal by BLM for fire safety following the Carr Fire. We will also identify the invasive stinkwort plant now infesting wildlands of California. Meet at the west end of Kilkee Drive near Mary Lake at 9:30 am. We usually have 15 to 20 friendly people on this fun field trip with a toast of wine at the top.

Please RSVP on our Meetup website and sign a waiver which is good for all field trips in 2024 at https://www.ecoshasta.org/events/trip-event-waiver/ . Limit 20 people.
