California restores 67 acres farmland into wetlands & grasslands; restored landscape opens Sept 20

The project is designed to recreate a historic wetland landscape that existed in the area more than a century ago California is turning 67 acres of land once used for agriculture into a restored floodplain with wetlands, grasslands and public trails. The restoration area at Ensen Community Park in Salinas is being developed by Big Sur Land Trust in partnership with the City of Salinas and other community organisations.According to Big Sur Land Trust, the project is designed to recreate a historic wetland landscape that existed in the area more than a century ago. Much of the land had previously been drained for agriculture. During the restoration work, crews moved and reshaped more than 172,000 cubic yards of soil to change the landscape and create areas that can hold water.The reshaped land includes basins for ponds and slow-moving waterways, along with higher ground for public trails. The project includes 1.7 miles of trails and three bridges with a combined length of 240 feet. The restored area is scheduled to open to the public with a grand opening event on September 20.The work is part of an effort to bring wetlands and other native habitats back to the floodplain while also c...