Join the Alta Peak Chapter on September 1, 2023, at 6:30 pm at River Ridge Ranch in Springville for a talk about native plants on the Kern Plateau by Nina House, Jepson Herbarium Museum Scientist. House received her master’s thesis at Claremont Graduate University while studying plants in the Manter and Salmon Creek watersheds, an understudied area of 51 square miles in the southeastern corner of Tulare County. She documented 590 species, 28 of which are rare. She will discuss her discoveries along with the threats she documented.

For anyone interested in picnicking on the River Ridge Ranch with BYO dinner and beverages, the gates will open at 5 pm. You can enjoy the grounds and take a short stroll to the North Fork of the Tule River before the talk begins.

Location address is 37675 Balch Park Rd, Springville, CA 93265
River Ridge Ranch is located 1.6 mi. North of Hwy 190 on Balch Park Rd.

House will also lead a field trip the following day, September 2 to Salmon Creek Falls Trail. This will be an all day trip. House will lead the group to part of her study site in the Salmon Creek watershed. We expect travel time each way to be 2 ½ hours and involve detailed directions. If you are interested in attending and for more information and directions, please contact us at altapeakcnps1@gmail.com.

Sierra foxtail pine
photo © Nina House