Auburn Ravine Park home to 120 new trees

Auburn Ravine Park has 120 new trees, thanks to 85-plus volunteers Saturday.The nonprofit Lincoln Open Space Committee organized the tree planting and four species of trees were added along Auburn Ravine at the park's west end, close to the Moore Road entrance."We planted four different varieties of native trees that are used to being right there next to the creek," said Cammie Morales, one of the event's organizers. "It's to stabilize the creek because it's caving in. We have soil erosion going on because the beavers have been chopping down the trees."The tree planting event was a two-week project.On Oct. 22, at least 100 volunteers turned out to weed eat, dig six inch trenches and install PVC pipe for irrigation, according to Morales.On Saturday, volunteers planted the four species, installed drip lines to help water the trees and installed cages to prevent beavers from damaging the new trees, according to Morales."I think it's great," Morales said about Saturday's activities. "We've got all kinds of people out here and everybody seems to be working away."The Lincoln-native trees planted were Rebud, California sycamore, live oak and valley oak, according to Morales.Sacramento Tree Foundation provided the trees, Morales said.This is not the first year for tree planting in Auburn Ravine Park. Last year, 50 trees were added next to the dog park, according to Morales."I watered them all summer and we only lost one tree," Morales said.The trees will not be watered during the winter, Morales said, but she will start watering them next summer.The trees were planted in October for a better survival rate, according to Lincoln Open Space Committee co-chair Paul Denzler."October tends to be the best for survival rates in our area because of the summer heat," Denzler said. "We are entering the wet season so it gives them a good seven months of establishment before we have to water with the drip system."The 85 volunteers were from service groups, including the Rotary Club, Lion's Club, the California Conservation Corp and Lincoln High School's Interact-Key Club, or were individuals wanting to help.Joey Ireland and Enrique Agurre said they heard about the event at their church."It's good for the community," Agurre said. "It will be helpful because it will be better for the earth, with less smog and a healthier environment."Adam Gilbert, 17, mentioned the future."In addition to planting trees, we can come back when we are old and can say to our grandkids that we planted these," said Gilbert, an Interact-Key Club member.Karen Johnson was at the tree planting event as a Rotary Club member."It helps our environment, protects the Auburn Ravine and it provides a community cohesiveness," Johnson said.Morales had similar sentiments to Johnson's."I think the most important thing is getting the community involved in something like this," Morales said. "All of these people are getting together, volunteering and taking ownership of these trees because they planted them. It builds community bonding and builds a connection between them and the environment."Morales partnered with the Lincoln Open Space Committee.Committee member Joan Brant-Love said the committee meets at 6 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at the Twelve Bridges Library."Our mission is to identify, protect, preserve and reserve open space, wetlands and woodlands in the Lincoln area," Brant-Love said.At each meeting, a guest speaker talks about open space topics relevant to Lincoln and the committee discusses ongoing projects and concerns.Denzler said that between 12 and 30 community members attend meetings and everyone is welcome.