It’s been many years since either Shasta Chapter CNPS or Shasta Environmental Alliance has held a field trip in the Nur Pon Open Space (formerly Henderson Open Space). Since the area has now been fenced off and cleared of trash and illegal camping, and regular police patrols have been established, this field trip was quite enjoyable.
We had about 22 people show up and, as most participants were new to native plants, this educational walk focused on the basics of native plant identification. Walk leader David Ledger identified many of the native and non-native plants and provided participants with a plant list.
This area was once the site of a lumber mill and then, up until the 1970s, a concrete plant. Before that, it may have been used for agriculture. Because of these intrusions into this area, there was a profusion of non-native plants to be found—from lowly puncture weeds to tall pecans, silverleaf maples, and many pistache trees. Pokeweed and jimsonweed were also found.
However, the area will recover. Mature Fremont cottonwoods, black willows, Oregon ashes, and valley oaks provided shade for parts of the walk. Interestingly, there is a sandbar next to the Sacramento River that had silver bush lupine, coyote brush, naked buckwheat, gray pine, and interior live oak all growing within 100 feet of the river. These are all plants usually found on the hot dry hillsides of our area.
The Bureau of Reclamation put in a fish channel and there were two bridges over it providing nice views. You can see a 20-foot-tall concrete abutment from the east side of the old Freebridge, which was used until the Cypress Street bridge was built.
Nur Pon Open Space is a nice, close-in location to learn a few native plants or just take your dog for a walk. The City is now allowing dogs off leash in the area.
~David Ledger