Nur Pon Plant Identification Field Trip, September 15, 2022

Nur Pon Open Space. J. Hernández
Nur Pon Open Space, on the Sacramento River, Redding. Photo taken by José Hernández on September 15, 2022.

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.

Nur Pon Open Space. J. Hernández.
Nur Pon Open Space, on the Sacramento River, Redding. Photo taken by José Hernández on the September 15, 2022, field trip.

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.

Field trippers. J. Hernández.
Field trip attendees gathering for orientation before heading off to identify plants at Nur Pon Open Space, on the Sacramento River, Redding. Photo taken by José Hernández on September 15, 2022.

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.

Bull thistle. J. Hernández.
Bull thistle, Circium vulgare, is a noxious weed found at Nur Pon Open Space, on the Sacramento River, Redding. Photo taken by José Hernández on the September 15, 2022 field trip.

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.

Nur Pon Open Space tract. J. Hernández.
A tree-shaded path running through Nur Pon Open Space, on the Sacramento River, Redding. Photo taken on the September 15, 2022, field trip by José Hernández.

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.

Bridge over fish channel. J. Hernández.
Field trip participants enjoying the view from one of the new bridges over the fish channel at Nur Pon Open Space, on the Sacramento River, Redding. Photo taken September 15, 2022, by José Hernández.

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