“From Floodplain to State Park: Dos Rios Emerges as California’s Newest Natural Gem”

California’s Central Valley has a new addition to its landscape – Dos Rios, the state’s newest state park. Located along the San Joaquin River, Dos Rios is a floodplain that has been transformed into a lush 2.5 square mile park bursting with native trees, bushes, and animals. Named for the Tuolumne and San Joaquin rivers that meet at its edge, Dos Rios is the first new California state park in over a decade.

The park’s unique design focuses on nature-based climate solutions that reinvigorate native wildlife and restore the natural floodplain. By allowing the rivers to flood the area, Dos Rios helps mitigate flooding that threatens nearby communities like Stockton. The park acts as an escape valve, absorbing floodwaters and reducing flood risk downstream.

Julie Rentner, president of the nonprofit organization River Partners, has been instrumental in transforming Dos Rios from laser-leveled fields into a thriving floodplain. The restoration process has brought back native plants and animals that thrive in occasional flooding, creating a diverse ecosystem within the park.

For communities like Grayson, located near Dos Rios, the park offers not only flood-risk mitigation but also a new recreational space. Lilia Lomeli-Gil, a community leader in Grayson, recalls the devastating floods of 1997 and sees Dos Rios as a place for families to gather, barbecue, and appreciate nature, benefiting their mental health.

Dos Rios also aims to be a place for Indigenous communities to gather plants for cultural practices. Austin Stevenot, a member of the Northern Sierra Miwok tribe, has helped design a Native Use Garden within the park, where tribal members can gather native plants with permission.

Looking ahead, Dos Rios serves as a model for future projects in the Central Valley. Governor Gavin Newsom’s “30 x 30” initiative aims to conserve 30% of California’s lands and coastal waters by 2030, inspiring plans for more projects like Dos Rios in the coming years. Rentner envisions creating “10 more Dos Rioses” in the next decade, scaling up the benefits of restoring floodplains and creating green spaces for communities to enjoy.