https://testplotlog.cargo.site Test Plot Log Fri, 27 Mar 2026 17:44:27 +0000 https://testplotlog.cargo.site en https://testplotlog.cargo.site/03-26-Breaking-Ground-Jefferson Thu, 26 Mar 2026 22:06:19 +0000 Test Plot Log https://testplotlog.cargo.site/03-26-Breaking-Ground-Jefferson <img width="4032" height="2268" width_o="4032" height_o="2268" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/69fe0e624224ff9330ebcd1d30d87bdbd264185b542f7e352cbef166e37808fd/Figure-1.-Planting-Day.JPG" data-mid="246577766" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/69fe0e624224ff9330ebcd1d30d87bdbd264185b542f7e352cbef166e37808fd/Figure-1.-Planting-Day.JPG" /> BREAKING GROUND AT JEFFERSON TEST PLOT By Andre Grospe, Test Plot Designer, and the Jefferson Test Plot Youth Fellows: Lydia Young, Emily Salazar, Hazel Daniel, Gaby Chavez Abrego, Lizbeth Villalobos, Ashley Gramajo, Dayanara Munguia, Alexia Galbraith, Ruby Villalobos, Isabella Galbraith, Aiden Gonzalez DATE: March 26, 2026 TEMP/WEATHER: HOT FOLLOW ALONG:&nbsp;Maintenance journal Over 100 plants were planted this past month at the Jefferson Test Plot, a former oil drilling site between the Adams-Normandie and Exposition Park neighborhoods. Thanks to the efforts of Redeemer Community Partnership (RCP), the RCP Youth Fellows, Los Angeles Neighborhood Land (LANLT), Theodore Payne Foundation (TPF) and dedicated volunteers, we were able to gather and plant part of this block for the first time in over 60 years. The following log is a history and reflection written by the cohort of youth fellows who were instrumental in starting and stewarding this plot. Redeemer Community Partnership, Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust, and the Test Plot Youth Fellows Redeemer Community Partnership (RCP) is a non-profit supporting children and young adults in South Los Angeles by creating a network of programs that advocate for public health and safety, environmental justice, and career development. RCP and Test Plot have created a cohort of 11 local high school students, youth fellows, to steward the Jefferson Test Plot. The youth fellows meet weekly at Greenhouse South LA, a community gathering space in Exposition Park that also promotes sustainable home electrification and youth workforce development. South Los Angeles is an overlooked community where many youth feel they don't have a voice, and this space allows them to express themselves creatively and explore different career paths. LANLT and RCP partnered to purchase the site with a $10 million state budget allocation secured by Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer. Together,&nbsp; RCP and LANLT steward the site, now known as the Jefferson Park and Affordable Housing Project. LANLT is currently in the process of remediating underground pollution (though the site is currently safe to gather and work on) and finalizing the design of the future park and housing. Test Plot was brought on in this interim period to create a temporary native plant garden that would inform the final plant palette while also giving the community a chance to engage and build a relationship with native plants and the site itself. The Jefferson Test Plot is generously supported by EJ Ready, a partnership by Liberty Hill Foundation and Resources Legacy Fund. <img width="3000" height="1595" width_o="3000" height_o="1595" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/dcdfad3a6cb30f18c58cb3b251ef9d3b68cd9fe1e4b8fd1e0a9c22c61a31056f/Figure-2.-Jefferson-Test-Plot-Youth-Fellows.jpg" data-mid="246577776" border="0" alt="Figure 2: Bz Zhang (LANLT) Andre Grospe and Jen Toy (Test Plot), the Jefferson Test Plot Youth Fellows and their fearless leader Wendy Salvador, and Sammy Sisitsky and Klara Parang from UCLA's EJ Now club" data-caption="Figure 2: Bz Zhang (LANLT) Andre Grospe and Jen Toy (Test Plot), the Jefferson Test Plot Youth Fellows and their fearless leader Wendy Salvador, and Sammy Sisitsky and Klara Parang from UCLA's EJ Now club" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/dcdfad3a6cb30f18c58cb3b251ef9d3b68cd9fe1e4b8fd1e0a9c22c61a31056f/Figure-2.-Jefferson-Test-Plot-Youth-Fellows.jpg" /> Jefferson Drill Site History (Slideshow) <img width="1220" height="934" width_o="1220" height_o="934" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ae0bcc4f46695ba1c9a0806c4c807d8c1a13f1f7ec7e51a314c2ec76ed0a11a2/Figure-3.-Historic-Trails.png" data-mid="246577818" border="0" alt="Figure 3. The future Jefferson drill site overlaid on a map of historic roads from the Los Angeles Landscape History Project. What would become South LA is located on the eastern edge of the Ballona Creek Watershed, a rich network of wetlands that stretched from Santa Monica to Crenshaw.&nbsp; South LA hosted a number of Gabrielino-Tongva trails cutting through Coastal Sage Scrub habitat, connecting villages around Elysian valley to the Ballona wetlands and sea. " data-caption="Figure 3. The future Jefferson drill site overlaid on a map of historic roads from the Los Angeles Landscape History Project. What would become South LA is located on the eastern edge of the Ballona Creek Watershed, a rich network of wetlands that stretched from Santa Monica to Crenshaw.&nbsp; South LA hosted a number of Gabrielino-Tongva trails cutting through Coastal Sage Scrub habitat, connecting villages around Elysian valley to the Ballona wetlands and sea. " src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/ae0bcc4f46695ba1c9a0806c4c807d8c1a13f1f7ec7e51a314c2ec76ed0a11a2/Figure-3.-Historic-Trails.png" /> <img width="788" height="717" width_o="788" height_o="717" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9615ecd741b751b2248b207ba4bc76b8bc08a49e4d66144310ecfd6e3fe30ac7/Figure-4.-Western-Addition.png" data-mid="246577819" border="0" alt="Figure 4. 1896 Adams-Normandie neighborhood, including the future Jefferson Drill Site, is annexed into the City of Los Angeles, which encouraged the land&rsquo;s development. " data-caption="Figure 4. 1896 Adams-Normandie neighborhood, including the future Jefferson Drill Site, is annexed into the City of Los Angeles, which encouraged the land’s development. " src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/788/i/9615ecd741b751b2248b207ba4bc76b8bc08a49e4d66144310ecfd6e3fe30ac7/Figure-4.-Western-Addition.png" /> <img width="1283" height="915" width_o="1283" height_o="915" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8666f619e54d4b80eec8ffbdebffc94f1509529bcc2d32ca32194583765cbdba/Figure-5.-Adams-Normandie-Advertisement.jpg" data-mid="246577947" border="0" alt="Figure 5. During the early 20th century, South LA neighborhoods were subdivided and developed with beautiful Victorian and Arts and Crafts homes. " data-caption="Figure 5. During the early 20th century, South LA neighborhoods were subdivided and developed with beautiful Victorian and Arts and Crafts homes. " src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/8666f619e54d4b80eec8ffbdebffc94f1509529bcc2d32ca32194583765cbdba/Figure-5.-Adams-Normandie-Advertisement.jpg" /> <img width="2152" height="2155" width_o="2152" height_o="2155" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/442cba27c4a20f1ad520e812f541a4f034db8b082e870593fe11d75431c58a81/Figure-6.-1956-Pre-Drill-Site-Aerial.png" data-mid="246577828" border="0" alt="Figure 6. Aerial photo from 1956 of the neighborhood prior to demolition" data-caption="Figure 6. Aerial photo from 1956 of the neighborhood prior to demolition" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/442cba27c4a20f1ad520e812f541a4f034db8b082e870593fe11d75431c58a81/Figure-6.-1956-Pre-Drill-Site-Aerial.png" /> <img width="702" height="800" width_o="702" height_o="800" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f48550418768b042b24079900b7117445e444e7d34bbdf35e729db0d87b94581/Figure-7.-Aerial-of-Demolished-Site.png" data-mid="246577845" border="0" alt="Figure 7. In 1965, the Union Oil Company demolished 12 residential lots to begin exploratory drilling. Community members and neighbors endured 50 years of oil drilling. The site held a total of 36 oil wells." data-caption="Figure 7. In 1965, the Union Oil Company demolished 12 residential lots to begin exploratory drilling. Community members and neighbors endured 50 years of oil drilling. The site held a total of 36 oil wells." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/702/i/f48550418768b042b24079900b7117445e444e7d34bbdf35e729db0d87b94581/Figure-7.-Aerial-of-Demolished-Site.png" /> <img width="719" height="559" width_o="719" height_o="559" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8bb33e81343312f2c05f7a2d1d19834e574320ce6a1bdbb63b6908e17bd774fc/Figure-8.-Map-showing-underground-extent-of-the-Jefferson-Oil-Wells.png" data-mid="246577851" border="0" alt="Figure 8. From 1965-2013, the site owners and operators changed several times. Wells were continually redrilled deeper and farther away to tap into oil reserves. This map shows the extent of the underground wells from the early 2000s. " data-caption="Figure 8. From 1965-2013, the site owners and operators changed several times. Wells were continually redrilled deeper and farther away to tap into oil reserves. This map shows the extent of the underground wells from the early 2000s. " src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/719/i/8bb33e81343312f2c05f7a2d1d19834e574320ce6a1bdbb63b6908e17bd774fc/Figure-8.-Map-showing-underground-extent-of-the-Jefferson-Oil-Wells.png" /> <img width="1100" height="733" width_o="1100" height_o="733" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/99275252e2cfe394abb9a994cbfa8ac92213f80606e7b0184f90b5a7dd1c8819/Figure-9.-View-of-Drill-site-in-the-2014.jpg" data-mid="246702908" border="0" alt="Figure 9. In 2013, Redeemer Community Partnership (RCP) began to advocate for the closure of this oil drill site.&nbsp; RCP and various community members came together at City Hall in order to protest the site operators' new applications for more oil wells. The protest was successful and overtime, more and more residents and community members organized against the oil drill site. This protest branched out to other organizations like STAND-LA to give testimonies against the oil drill site and obtain necessary health protections against the negative impacts of the site." data-caption="Figure 9. In 2013, Redeemer Community Partnership (RCP) began to advocate for the closure of this oil drill site.&nbsp; RCP and various community members came together at City Hall in order to protest the site operators' new applications for more oil wells. The protest was successful and overtime, more and more residents and community members organized against the oil drill site. This protest branched out to other organizations like STAND-LA to give testimonies against the oil drill site and obtain necessary health protections against the negative impacts of the site." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/99275252e2cfe394abb9a994cbfa8ac92213f80606e7b0184f90b5a7dd1c8819/Figure-9.-View-of-Drill-site-in-the-2014.jpg" /> <img width="1100" height="733" width_o="1100" height_o="733" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b3813c5c48dce7dca0d2e84d745c162860fea42ee5bb82053ebbf7b2a9a53a30/Figure-10.-Canary-Protest.JPG" data-mid="246578613" border="0" alt="Figure 10. RCP led demonstrations against the Jefferson Boulevard drill site " data-caption="Figure 10. RCP led demonstrations against the Jefferson Boulevard drill site " src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b3813c5c48dce7dca0d2e84d745c162860fea42ee5bb82053ebbf7b2a9a53a30/Figure-10.-Canary-Protest.JPG" /> <img width="1080" height="1080" width_o="1080" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ceff27d559b994c4eb63c27201bbba34cce056f5e87c09896cbc159eb6a88497/IMG_8531.JPG" data-mid="246702920" border="0" alt="Figure 11. After years of protest and advocacy, the city mandated several health and safety measures within the site. The oil operators opted to close the drill site rather than comply. RCP partnered with LANLT to conduct community visioning workshops between 2019-2021 to envision the future use of the site, with community members overwhelmingly identifying as a community park, housing, and a community center. By 2022, all operations were removed from the site, and after due diligence in the acquisition process, LANLT purchased the site in 2023 in partnership with RCP and with a state budget allocation secured by Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer. A community celebration in 2024 welcomed neighbors onto the site for the first time in over half a century." data-caption="Figure 11. After years of protest and advocacy, the city mandated several health and safety measures within the site. The oil operators opted to close the drill site rather than comply. RCP partnered with LANLT to conduct community visioning workshops between 2019-2021 to envision the future use of the site, with community members overwhelmingly identifying as a community park, housing, and a community center. By 2022, all operations were removed from the site, and after due diligence in the acquisition process, LANLT purchased the site in 2023 in partnership with RCP and with a state budget allocation secured by Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer. A community celebration in 2024 welcomed neighbors onto the site for the first time in over half a century." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/ceff27d559b994c4eb63c27201bbba34cce056f5e87c09896cbc159eb6a88497/IMG_8531.JPG" /> <img width="6000" height="4000" width_o="6000" height_o="4000" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0ae1454050dbf73889ff008b29093db23f67d48eff918115d43f2b35d748ccee/Figure-11.-Bz-and-Kaitlyn-Site-Visit.JPG" data-mid="246579645" border="0" alt="Figure 12. Bz Zhang (LANLT) and Kaitlyn Ray (Test Plot) Site Visit in August 2026 " data-caption="Figure 12. Bz Zhang (LANLT) and Kaitlyn Ray (Test Plot) Site Visit in August 2026 " src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/0ae1454050dbf73889ff008b29093db23f67d48eff918115d43f2b35d748ccee/Figure-11.-Bz-and-Kaitlyn-Site-Visit.JPG" /> 2026 — Where we are now Now that the Jefferson Drill site is fully closed, as of January 2026 RCP and LA Neighborhood Land Trust have been meeting at the Jefferson site regularly with community members to discuss remediation and the futre park and housing design concepts. In November of 2025, Test Plot was brought on to lead a temporary restoration garden in the interim years before the final housing and park project can be built. Process&nbsp; In January of 2026, the youth fellows met on site to brainstorm and sketch possible layouts. The initial designs consisted of symbolic images such as flowers, spirals, suns, bugs, smiley faces, and more. We wanted to make the plot an icon that people looking down from their apartments and second stories could recognize. We wanted to incorporate features like a central gathering area and log stumps that would give people to walk, rest in the shade, or run and play. This test plot will be accessible to all ages. <img width="2131" height="1976" width_o="2131" height_o="1976" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/cd019e97f5b2dcb8f875ee6fd8a4135cc1a1690f1607f26cda7c78e054983b7e/Figure-12.-Sketches.jpg" data-mid="246579662" border="0" alt="Figure 13. Sketches by the Youth Fellows" data-caption="Figure 13. Sketches by the Youth Fellows" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/cd019e97f5b2dcb8f875ee6fd8a4135cc1a1690f1607f26cda7c78e054983b7e/Figure-12.-Sketches.jpg" /> <img width="3000" height="4000" width_o="3000" height_o="4000" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/aa7168904fa3dffcb708e0e30b68364b97310a0dacc59489f48050737f039184/Figure-13.-Discussion.jpg" data-mid="246579671" border="0" alt="Figure 14. Discussions" data-caption="Figure 14. Discussions" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/aa7168904fa3dffcb708e0e30b68364b97310a0dacc59489f48050737f039184/Figure-13.-Discussion.jpg" /> <img width="3000" height="4000" width_o="3000" height_o="4000" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d84c34a651b5f63168756c4885db925cf04c344c26e3d35c12459e95a6686bdb/Figure-14.-Youth-Fellows-Pacing-the-Site-.jpg" data-mid="246579674" border="0" alt="Figure 15. Measuring the site using our steps" data-caption="Figure 15. Measuring the site using our steps" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/d84c34a651b5f63168756c4885db925cf04c344c26e3d35c12459e95a6686bdb/Figure-14.-Youth-Fellows-Pacing-the-Site-.jpg" /> We ultimately decided to use the shape of the flower as it symbolized turning something negative and harmful, into something beautiful for our community. For the location, we wanted the plot to be highly visible to the community, where people could walk by and see all of the beautiful native plants. This area was also teeming with lush spontaneous vegetation, mostly mallow and Stork’s bill, which was a good sign that things could grow in our future garden. We first cleared the space by weeding and picking out rocks. Jen led us through a design exercise, where we calculated the length of our steps as a way to figure out an appropriate scale of the plot. Using rope and flags, we walked out each petal, making sure they were large enough to work and plant in. <img width="5472" height="3648" width_o="5472" height_o="3648" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e2d3d692866f7eee1083b7be50ffed922892379e0563f6b36f60a35b7b545725/Figure-15.-Testing-Scale.JPG" data-mid="246579681" border="0" alt="Figure 16. Testing layout ideas with rope. " data-caption="Figure 16. Testing layout ideas with rope. " src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/e2d3d692866f7eee1083b7be50ffed922892379e0563f6b36f60a35b7b545725/Figure-15.-Testing-Scale.JPG" /> <img width="3024" height="3024" width_o="3024" height_o="3024" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2648006ba9933b94f4222e97359e155bff41c798ebdefb9e1aa76c4ee7ec8318/Figure-16.-Soil-Test.jpg" data-mid="246579690" border="0" alt="Figure 17. Soil testing " data-caption="Figure 17. Soil testing " src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/2648006ba9933b94f4222e97359e155bff41c798ebdefb9e1aa76c4ee7ec8318/Figure-16.-Soil-Test.jpg" /> Before we planted, we sampled the soil and learned of its high pH and low nitrogen and organic matter content. Much of the soil appears to be backfill, full of rocks, concrete, bricks, and asphalt rubble, remnants of its industrial use and demolition, potentially contributing to its high 8.0 pH. The soil was highly compacted and difficult to dig by hand. Facing this challenge we had to use water to soften it up for digging, weeding, and installing the fence posts. Because the soil is so compacted, we drilled several vertical mulch holes to help water infiltrate deeper into the site. Plants were organized around each of these holes. With time, as these plants grow, the soil will soften and reach proper nutrient levels. <img width="4320" height="2880" width_o="4320" height_o="2880" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b9d13e48112dc2beee2f54870741544810ca558f90614bc81d612aa6b76a161f/Figure-17.-Craig-Planting-Demo_.JPG" data-mid="246579746" border="0" alt="Figure 18. Thank you to Craig, Tim, and Erik from the Theodore Payne foundation for donating and advising our planting plan. " data-caption="Figure 18. Thank you to Craig, Tim, and Erik from the Theodore Payne foundation for donating and advising our planting plan. " src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b9d13e48112dc2beee2f54870741544810ca558f90614bc81d612aa6b76a161f/Figure-17.-Craig-Planting-Demo_.JPG" /> Plant Selection With consultation from the Theodore Payne Foundation, we selected a variety of California native grasses and coast sage scrub plants that would be suitable for such a tough site. We tried to prioritize pioneer species like Isocoma menziesii (goldenbush), Artemesia californica (california sagebrush), Encelia californica (bush sunflower), and alkaline tolerant species like Distichlis spicata (salt grass), and Atriplex canescens (saltbush). We also included flowering plants like Diplacus auranticus (sticky monkey flower), Epilobium canum (California fuschia), and Helianthus annuus (common sunflower) to add visual interest to the plot. The five petals of our flower are broken into two grassland plots, two coastal sage scrub plots, and one desert plot. With soil tests, plant palettes, and layouts done, we were eager to finally break ground at the plot. We hosted our first community planting day on February 8th with over 40 neighbors and supporters. It was definitely a party with lots of effort and good vibes.&nbsp; But breaking ground proved harder than we had hoped. Despite the weeks of rain in December thorugh the new year, the ground had quickly returned to its dry, stubborn, impenetrable state. With shovels alone, no one could get past a few inches. By the end of our first planting day, only a handful of plants made it into the ground. Thank you to the volunteers that dug the holes! Learning from this first session, we diligently prepped the site ahead of our next planting day, our last opportunity to plant this season. We weeded, installed fences, and saturated the ground with water, allowing us to focus all our energy on mulching and planting. As our March 14th event grew closer, the forecasted temperature continued to rise. We moved our event to the early evening to dodge this unseasonable, unwelcome heat wave. Thankfully, an eager crowd of volunteers returned to help plant the remaining plants. As the sun set, with auger in hand, we were able to get over 100 plants and several vertical mulch holes in the ground. Craig and Erik from the Theodore Payne foundation graciously taught volunteers how to plant and water. Esteban and Mireya from the LANLT installed a shed for tools and hoses. In the end, we planted 3 of the 5 petals with grassland and coastal sage scrub species. We were also happy to see that the handful of plants that we planted in February were not only alive, but thriving.&nbsp; <img width="3024" height="4032" width_o="3024" height_o="4032" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/70d7a90f5d4d625241cabc8d95e20d8c142d209ef8001d68b35ee3b9ca2afa88/Figure-19.-Fence-Install_.JPG" data-mid="246579776" border="0" alt="Figure 19. Fence Installation" data-caption="Figure 19. Fence Installation" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/70d7a90f5d4d625241cabc8d95e20d8c142d209ef8001d68b35ee3b9ca2afa88/Figure-19.-Fence-Install_.JPG" /> <img width="4320" height="2880" width_o="4320" height_o="2880" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c2ffdd6b249b3fbf99268fdbed25e36cc5d3efb517369788712b87cfd146625f/Figure-20.-Aidan-and-Auger_.JPG" data-mid="246579780" border="0" alt="Figure 20. Youth fellow Aidan Gonzalez digging plant and vertical mulch holes with the auger. " data-caption="Figure 20. Youth fellow Aidan Gonzalez digging plant and vertical mulch holes with the auger. " src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/c2ffdd6b249b3fbf99268fdbed25e36cc5d3efb517369788712b87cfd146625f/Figure-20.-Aidan-and-Auger_.JPG" /> <img width="4320" height="2880" width_o="4320" height_o="2880" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/92c7bbea1117667065aabf9afaf955e3eb1833dab38e171049b0c9637ba1a940/Figure-21.-Erik-watering-demo_.JPG" data-mid="246579787" border="0" alt="Figure 21. Erik from TPF advising watering the plants." data-caption="Figure 21. Erik from TPF advising watering the plants." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/92c7bbea1117667065aabf9afaf955e3eb1833dab38e171049b0c9637ba1a940/Figure-21.-Erik-watering-demo_.JPG" /> Jefferson test plot is our first properly urban site, not situated in or next to an extensive park system. Yet despite the lack of recreational foot traffic, folks have continually stopped, stared, and struck up conversations with us on our workdays. There is an encouraging and clear interest for people to work and contribute to the rehabilitation of this abandoned lot. It’s a promising sign, especially since the road ahead will be tough. That planting day came late in the season. The days following the event have been brutally hot and dry, not ideal for establishing these plants. From now until the fall, we plan to water weekly, to give the babies a fighting chance. And there is still more to be done, mulching, adding signage, wayfinding, and other features to enhance the garden. The best is yet to come at the Jefferson Test Plot! https://testplotlog.cargo.site/03-08-Getting-Started-Simi-Valley Fri, 27 Mar 2026 17:44:27 +0000 Test Plot Log https://testplotlog.cargo.site/03-08-Getting-Started-Simi-Valley <img width="2048" height="1536" width_o="2048" height_o="1536" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ba892a0ba73085eaa8b64d299a82f39816bbaa29114a503d099b24403b3d9a3f/IMG_6997.JPG" data-mid="246577746" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/ba892a0ba73085eaa8b64d299a82f39816bbaa29114a503d099b24403b3d9a3f/IMG_6997.JPG" /> GETTING STARTED, SIMI VALLEY TEST PLOT By Isaac Trejo Simi Valley Test Plot Lead DATE: March 08, 2026 TEMP/WEATHER: beautifully sunny, a bit windy IG @testplot_simi Maintenance journal The Simi Valley Test Plot lies at the base of the foothills between Rocky Peak and Chumash Park. Started by local residents concerned about the fire resiliency of their surroundings, the plot collaborates with MRCA and the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District to address the current, invasive and highly flammable fuel-type and investigate the performance of locally adapted, slower to burn native species. The project is situated at the intersection of a rich scrub of predominantly Bush Sunflower, California Sagebrush, and Chamise and a primarily invasive grassland featuring mustard, oat, and brome dotted with a mix of native wildflowers such as Blue Dicks, Lupine, Fiddleneck, and Tarweed. The plot mimics the native vegetation found in the surrounding area by creating a combination of scrub and grassland increasing the biodiversity, beauty, and resiliency of the landscape. VOLUNTEERS:&nbsp; A great turnout of volunteers from both LA and Simi, the donuts were a big hit. PLOT + CONTROL PLOT: The goal was to plant and water about 87.5 plants in Plot 1. We planted 85! And would not try to plant a whole lot more in Plot 1. We had such a great turnout some volunteers were able to completely establish the Control Plot. I noticed two plots create quite the visual impact and show how much progress made together with just a little bit of time (and calories, as one said). Fences were built, water was administered. PLANTS: Some of the perennial shrubs to be planted looked a little sad, largely due to the wind. Pretty amazing how quickly they dry out in their little pots. Overall we planted ~85 plants and 11 different species in our little 20’-wide blob, with about half of them being purple needle grass, the historic vegetation series found on the site. The purple needle grass was planted in groups of 5-6 somewhat per Bert Wilson’s recommendation and infilled with some of the scrub species that mirror the hills nearby, a way of hedging our bets. I personally have a lot of faith that there is a wealth of native species waiting to pop up, whether by seed or bulb (or maybe even scat). WEEDS: The Control Plot is another 20’-wide blob that has been weeded and nothing else. As opposed to the “pull-and-drop” approach of weed management on Plot 1 (where annual weeds were pulled and dropped to create a thatchy mulch), this Control Plot will have none. The Control Plot will also not be watered (though my over zealous self gave it a spray down, I will show restraint in the future). Again, my intuition says that there will be lots of natives popping up in this one as well. Weed management will be tricky but key, in establishing our hybrid little grassland. I am thankful that the weeds on site are easily pullable (largely mustard, oat, and brome) and nothing tedious like oxalis or nutgrass. Work for the majority of the year will just be to weed. WILDLIFE: While the site has LOTS of wildlife, being located right on the WUI Interface (residents regularly see coyotes, quail, hummingbirds, owls, deer, and even mountain lions) there was not much to be seen this morning. One volunteer reported seeing a tiny mouse run for cover while weeding the Control Plot, so insofar we are at a net loss for wildlife habitat :/ STEWARDSHIP: We are still looking for local and long-term stewards aside from myself. The site receives lots of foot traffic and loads of recreation and is in and of itself great promotion. TO DO: Lots to do. I want there to be a large focus on how the project faces the public, providing appropriate signage and communication about the project to anyone who walks by. The site gets so much attention from everyone who passes by it, I never realized how popular the park and trails around here were. While there is not much more planting to be done (aside from replacing any losses) I would like to have programs that engage people with the site, a plant walk comes to mind but am open to ideas! <img width="2048" height="1536" width_o="2048" height_o="1536" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7f2ff3ec44268bfff7131a920778e117ff49876ac0a590866a0763484365c5d5/IMG_4442.JPG" data-mid="246577753" border="0" alt="The plot sits at the base of the foothills between Rocky Peak and Chumash Park" data-caption="The plot sits at the base of the foothills between Rocky Peak and Chumash Park" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/7f2ff3ec44268bfff7131a920778e117ff49876ac0a590866a0763484365c5d5/IMG_4442.JPG" /> <img width="2048" height="1536" width_o="2048" height_o="1536" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/cf38b39140ecf7472da07569bbcd508e8cc2cd1492092098b3aa0a12109adfc7/IMG_4430.JPG" data-mid="246577752" border="0" alt="Weeding the control plot" data-caption="Weeding the control plot" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/cf38b39140ecf7472da07569bbcd508e8cc2cd1492092098b3aa0a12109adfc7/IMG_4430.JPG" /> <img width="4032" height="3024" width_o="4032" height_o="3024" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/56845ab2e7ffd99a3b1e4a22567e03e08907dbff3a7b7583ba54734b83d8b077/IMG_0706.JPG" data-mid="246577748" border="0" alt="Plot 1 (foreground) Control Plot (background). Need more fences :)" data-caption="Plot 1 (foreground) Control Plot (background). Need more fences :)" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/56845ab2e7ffd99a3b1e4a22567e03e08907dbff3a7b7583ba54734b83d8b077/IMG_0706.JPG" /> <img width="2048" height="1536" width_o="2048" height_o="1536" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1e7057bc4d242eb043ad4d9e24ee1423b061a41bbc7e6c61ccfd5674a92ce4ce/IMG_4426.JPG" data-mid="246577751" border="0" alt="Teo and Mavi planting Plot 1 " data-caption="Teo and Mavi planting Plot 1 " src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1e7057bc4d242eb043ad4d9e24ee1423b061a41bbc7e6c61ccfd5674a92ce4ce/IMG_4426.JPG" /> <img width="3024" height="4032" width_o="3024" height_o="4032" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8fce7dff44d766ed3156c66efa9d3cc6470a02d03d4855784c20aff19a8012ee/IMG_0987.JPG" data-mid="246577750" border="0" alt="Sunsets and Rainbows at Plot 1" data-caption="Sunsets and Rainbows at Plot 1" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/8fce7dff44d766ed3156c66efa9d3cc6470a02d03d4855784c20aff19a8012ee/IMG_0987.JPG" /> <img width="3024" height="4032" width_o="3024" height_o="4032" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/79509ad466bf3d0098883052a7eded063ecab6f99b1628de4bf75a693eedc9b4/IMG_0942.JPG" data-mid="246577749" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/79509ad466bf3d0098883052a7eded063ecab6f99b1628de4bf75a693eedc9b4/IMG_0942.JPG" /> <img width="2048" height="1536" width_o="2048" height_o="1536" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/94018fce295fe0705e6447e375b0028043dfe86be5ff24b4548818275da7a035/IMG_0651.JPG" data-mid="246577757" border="0" alt="Little frogs hop across Plot 1 every night, likely a Western Toad (Anaxyrus boreas)" data-caption="Little frogs hop across Plot 1 every night, likely a Western Toad (Anaxyrus boreas)" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/94018fce295fe0705e6447e375b0028043dfe86be5ff24b4548818275da7a035/IMG_0651.JPG" /> https://testplotlog.cargo.site/01-15-Rains-and-Recovery Wed, 21 Jan 2026 02:29:48 +0000 Test Plot Log https://testplotlog.cargo.site/01-15-Rains-and-Recovery <img width="5184" height="3456" width_o="5184" height_o="3456" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/656cd1f4d0a826d660f3e8501e0a7be7187bcd84b95a2c713cbde67f34962060/Fig-14_Close-up-1.JPG" data-mid="246557289" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/656cd1f4d0a826d660f3e8501e0a7be7187bcd84b95a2c713cbde67f34962060/Fig-14_Close-up-1.JPG" /> RAINY DAYS AND RECOVERY Rainbow Canyon Test Plot By Andre Grospe Test Plot Landscape Designer Date: Jan 15 2026 If you returned to Rainbow Canyon after these winter storms you may have noticed some changes. There are several new washes of sand, new patches of litter and debris, extra ruts in the ground, traces that something powerful came through. It can feel like forensics, seeing what’s left after a big rain and deducing what might have caused these changes. They are subtle reminders of how dynamic Rainbow Canyon can be. <img width="2240" height="1312" width_o="2240" height_o="1312" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1992f5ff984433efb458c832f3710e621292f31b02eef4e82fc14c2f49985e3c/Fig-1_Drone-Aerial-2026.png" data-mid="243702756" border="0" alt="Fig 1. Post storm drone scan 2026" data-caption="Fig 1. Post storm drone scan 2026" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1992f5ff984433efb458c832f3710e621292f31b02eef4e82fc14c2f49985e3c/Fig-1_Drone-Aerial-2026.png" /> Obviously this is not a unique event and heavy rains can be more a nuisance and hazard than a wondrous experience, especially to those living downstream. Previous documentation clearly shows more severe debris flows than I had seen. But these gentle and moderate rains gave me a chance to document and appreciate the nuances of a stream and what they offered to the overall experience of the lower canyon (as opposed to just focusing on the awesome and terrifying high flow events).&nbsp; What kind of aesthetic experiences do we gain if we implemented best management practices (BMPs) and other channel modifications? <img width="6000" height="4000" width_o="6000" height_o="4000" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/bab8fa2b33e7f28c5f454eb50b9c27813e4c41cddd2bac5dfc54b2a520777645/Fig-2_Riparian-Flow-.JPG" data-mid="243703166" border="0" alt="Fig 2. Gentle riparian flow. Photo Credit: Alex Robinson" data-caption="Fig 2. Gentle riparian flow. Photo Credit: Alex Robinson" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/bab8fa2b33e7f28c5f454eb50b9c27813e4c41cddd2bac5dfc54b2a520777645/Fig-2_Riparian-Flow-.JPG" /> <img width="3456" height="5184" width_o="3456" height_o="5184" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/089b9de92d972906cd800346fe2ea93abe10d4245733329e710e90eae5d242c2/Fig-3_Riparian-Plot-Flow-2.JPG" data-mid="243703172" border="0" alt="Fig 3. Water flowing through the Riparian Plot November, 2025" data-caption="Fig 3. Water flowing through the Riparian Plot November, 2025" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/089b9de92d972906cd800346fe2ea93abe10d4245733329e710e90eae5d242c2/Fig-3_Riparian-Plot-Flow-2.JPG" /> I would suspect that most who wander in and out of Rainbow Canyon see its heavily eroded channel as an ugly scar, an obstacle to jump across, or a problem to be solved. While it is these things, it is also the product and home of an ephemeral stream that has shaped the way we design and work with the lower canyon plots.1&nbsp;The entrance trails into the lower canyon are defined and continually eroded by stream diversions and have stymied and frustrated our mulch truck drivers and resulted in more than one twisted ankle. During heavy rain events sediment, logs, and other debris wash out directly onto Ave 45. Suffice it to say, this stream is a blessing and a curse and currently, with the help of a grant from the Water Foundation and Rose Foundation, we have been trying to understand and mitigate these problems. These storms have been an amazing opportunity to rigorously document these stream dynamics, testing out new methods and technologies along the way. <img width="4032" height="3024" width_o="4032" height_o="3024" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/cf29a85dfa7b9874ea7b9a473103608c0ddfd19132a76fd9f2dd92a68abab498/Fig_4_2022_Storm_Event_.jpg" data-mid="243703179" border="0" alt="Fig 4. Flow from Nov. 8, 2022. 1.71&rdquo; that day. Photo Credit: Alex Robinson" data-caption="Fig 4. Flow from Nov. 8, 2022. 1.71” that day. Photo Credit: Alex Robinson" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/cf29a85dfa7b9874ea7b9a473103608c0ddfd19132a76fd9f2dd92a68abab498/Fig_4_2022_Storm_Event_.jpg" /> <img width="5472" height="3648" width_o="5472" height_o="3648" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1664cd126737ede2e8521f0b10c6d2feb31c6a8957bdfce896c998ddb8ba152d/Fig-5_February-2025-Drone-.JPG" data-mid="243703184" border="0" alt="Fig 5. Aerial post February 13, 2025 storm. Nearly 2.8&rdquo; of rain. The lack of grasses reveal the extent of the flow and perhaps affected the watercourse? Photo Credit: Alex Robinson" data-caption="Fig 5. Aerial post February 13, 2025 storm. Nearly 2.8” of rain. The lack of grasses reveal the extent of the flow and perhaps affected the watercourse? Photo Credit: Alex Robinson" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1664cd126737ede2e8521f0b10c6d2feb31c6a8957bdfce896c998ddb8ba152d/Fig-5_February-2025-Drone-.JPG" /> <img width="661" height="1014" width_o="661" height_o="1014" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3fe6a0b8e41fadcd6312f3cbd77bd1373a1d01e1ed6151865b3dac74a1e60fe7/Fig-6_Logs-in-Street.png" data-mid="243703194" border="0" alt="Fig 6. Several logs flowing out into the street, December, 2025" data-caption="Fig 6. Several logs flowing out into the street, December, 2025" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/661/i/3fe6a0b8e41fadcd6312f3cbd77bd1373a1d01e1ed6151865b3dac74a1e60fe7/Fig-6_Logs-in-Street.png" /> During the November 15th rain event, we ended up getting 1.65” of rain.2&nbsp; When I arrived to document, the canyon wasn’t the raging river I had expected, with no water actively running through the channel. Not too long after I had arrived however, I heard a light gurgling sound and saw the fresh grasses growing in the channel begin to fold over. The smell of fresh soil filled the air. Excitedly, I was able to capture the first flush through the canyon. The water was a dark, opaque brown (think hot chocolate) but was relatively relaxed, tumbling over the roots and rocks. I followed the water out to the entrance and watched it pour over the stone steps you pass when you enter the canyon, creating a lovely set of waterfalls before emptying out onto the street. <img width="2210" height="510" width_o="2210" height_o="510" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f006bf10665cb23743ef5ba07b71c97ca0a3bed26e62bebb1bddbb06f7e2e7b2/Fig-7.-First-Flush-Time-Lapse.png" data-mid="243703201" border="0" alt="Fig 7. First Flush of water, caught just north of the riparian plot" data-caption="Fig 7. First Flush of water, caught just north of the riparian plot" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/f006bf10665cb23743ef5ba07b71c97ca0a3bed26e62bebb1bddbb06f7e2e7b2/Fig-7.-First-Flush-Time-Lapse.png" /> <img width="6000" height="4000" width_o="6000" height_o="4000" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/50d22a6ab74ce2933bf675d78b1e4df14c1505e9e028ae172d94b07bff5c993f/Fig-8.-Water-Down-Steps-Alt-.JPG" data-mid="243703204" border="0" alt="Fig 8. First flush down the steps " data-caption="Fig 8. First flush down the steps " src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/50d22a6ab74ce2933bf675d78b1e4df14c1505e9e028ae172d94b07bff5c993f/Fig-8.-Water-Down-Steps-Alt-.JPG" /> Elsewhere in the site, small springs and pipes burbled out water. I wondered if these were some of the bits of infrastructure we had found digging through city datasets or just gopher holes being flushed out. Either way, they were cute curiosities closer to the entrance of the canyon. <img width="3024" height="4032" width_o="3024" height_o="4032" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e86149b00ae2f2130cdd2823f6b5cfc8cf8b94bc9a4293fdfe7e2405e5dda10c/Fig-10.-Hole-2.JPG" data-mid="243703206" border="0" alt="Fig 9,10. Small holes near the entrance gush with water." data-caption="Fig 9,10. Small holes near the entrance gush with water." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/e86149b00ae2f2130cdd2823f6b5cfc8cf8b94bc9a4293fdfe7e2405e5dda10c/Fig-10.-Hole-2.JPG" /> <img width="3456" height="5184" width_o="3456" height_o="5184" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b63e5f9058ee8354dc0813fe2bb3017a27ab79c4dce13108e599ace7e3e3c730/Fig-9.-Hole-1.JPG" data-mid="243703205" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b63e5f9058ee8354dc0813fe2bb3017a27ab79c4dce13108e599ace7e3e3c730/Fig-9.-Hole-1.JPG" /> I left before the rains got heavy, but when I returned the following week, more changes than I had witnessed had obviously occurred. Over the course of the storm, water had carved a third diversion whose path left a trail of bent grass and new sand. This was a particularly useful and reassuring confirmation of our numerical modelling, which, while rough, had similar flow patterns during lower and higher flow events. <img width="5184" height="3456" width_o="5184" height_o="3456" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8bb3f4182da610e13012a4ba9cca779b986366576a7816ac1ddd4310783cb27f/Fig-11_New-Path-1.JPG" data-mid="243703213" border="0" alt="Fig 11" data-caption="Fig 11" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/8bb3f4182da610e13012a4ba9cca779b986366576a7816ac1ddd4310783cb27f/Fig-11_New-Path-1.JPG" /> <img width="5184" height="3456" width_o="5184" height_o="3456" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/28aa952a7f6fa5efac9fa6aabb6ce44d71f733332a9b530a65a26d911f729fbd/Fig-12_New-Path-2.JPG" data-mid="243703212" border="0" alt="Fig 12" data-caption="Fig 12" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/28aa952a7f6fa5efac9fa6aabb6ce44d71f733332a9b530a65a26d911f729fbd/Fig-12_New-Path-2.JPG" /> <img width="10800" height="4674" width_o="10800" height_o="4674" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/61e84d13125ab8cfe3841478f05a63bec6b08b2eb915c6559542b9739b40253a/Fig-13_Celeris.jpg" data-mid="243703214" border="0" alt="Fig 13. Numerical model showing similar stream branches as seen after the storm " data-caption="Fig 13. Numerical model showing similar stream branches as seen after the storm " src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/61e84d13125ab8cfe3841478f05a63bec6b08b2eb915c6559542b9739b40253a/Fig-13_Celeris.jpg" /> The water had also left an array of beautifully complex depositional forms, some sinuous and fan-like, showing where water crossed and flowed around different obstacles. Others were soft, dramatic, pillowy ripples, particularly in the stone steps at the entrance, where the waterfalls created stirring eddies that caused sediment to slowly accrete in the pool. Some parts of the channel seemed to fill up with sand. <img width="5184" height="3456" width_o="5184" height_o="3456" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e047df3b9b47925f353c66dc95d9afe0f2038f26918cb2b6f84ce2342a4be360/Fig-14_Close-up-1.JPG" data-mid="243779091" border="0" alt="Fig 14. Closeups" data-caption="Fig 14. Closeups" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/e047df3b9b47925f353c66dc95d9afe0f2038f26918cb2b6f84ce2342a4be360/Fig-14_Close-up-1.JPG" /> <img width="5184" height="3456" width_o="5184" height_o="3456" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d9f6eba9b89ac1473832e85dbf11bdc9164144921e6204356b12cc39406d0816/Fig-15_Close-up-2.JPG" data-mid="243703218" border="0" alt="Fig 15. Closeups" data-caption="Fig 15. Closeups" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/d9f6eba9b89ac1473832e85dbf11bdc9164144921e6204356b12cc39406d0816/Fig-15_Close-up-2.JPG" /> <img width="5184" height="3456" width_o="5184" height_o="3456" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d2b2bf9fb3b66a529dc04a0e6bbcadd3a9dcb346084f9b96f4721ea9f87d0b25/Fig-16_Closeup-3.JPG" data-mid="243703219" border="0" alt="Fig 16. Closeups" data-caption="Fig 16. Closeups" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/d2b2bf9fb3b66a529dc04a0e6bbcadd3a9dcb346084f9b96f4721ea9f87d0b25/Fig-16_Closeup-3.JPG" /> <img width="2880" height="4320" width_o="2880" height_o="4320" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b400cfb46b2443381186892ae42f16cf0f631a1a7f5762b789454682f80fe658/Fig-17_Closeup-4.JPG" data-mid="243703231" border="0" alt="Fig 17. Closeups" data-caption="Fig 17. Closeups" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b400cfb46b2443381186892ae42f16cf0f631a1a7f5762b789454682f80fe658/Fig-17_Closeup-4.JPG" /> The next rain event of 2025, on Christmas Eve, was a much larger one, almost 2.6 inches in the area. Following the LA County Hydrology Manual, that would make this an almost exact 2-year rain event in the Mount Washington area.3 With November’s fieldwork in the back of my mind, I returned with a better camera (a mistake) and a focus to try to capture the nuances of the flow. I had a goal to connect the flow of water to some of the depositional forms I saw in November. I also wanted to try a new monitoring technique, using an iPad’s lidar scanner and Polycam to stitch together a plan of the flow path which worked well even despite some of the tall grass and standing waves confusing the software a bit. &nbsp; &nbsp; <img width="2388" height="1288" width_o="2388" height_o="1288" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/52987438651f12a1fe69c2eda56fbb08cd418ca5e9e9bb21646821df63d988d2/Fig-18_Polycam-Scan.jpg" data-mid="243703223" border="0" alt="Fig 18. Polycam scan of 2025 Christmas Eve Storm Flow" data-caption="Fig 18. Polycam scan of 2025 Christmas Eve Storm Flow" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/52987438651f12a1fe69c2eda56fbb08cd418ca5e9e9bb21646821df63d988d2/Fig-18_Polycam-Scan.jpg" /> <img width="1904" height="1063" width_o="1904" height_o="1063" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b5b1210e158d06a20043706dec728646618805e2a390a3e2eb1b1a27049e8c89/Fig-19_Fast-Flows.png" data-mid="243703237" border="0" alt="Fig 19. Fast flows out of the riparian plot" data-caption="Fig 19. Fast flows out of the riparian plot" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b5b1210e158d06a20043706dec728646618805e2a390a3e2eb1b1a27049e8c89/Fig-19_Fast-Flows.png" /> <img width="1904" height="1063" width_o="1904" height_o="1063" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/033067e5485a537c8c3be4297bb0afa50109577988795caade4d076d01b35133/Fig-20_Stream-diversion.png" data-mid="243703241" border="0" alt="Fig 20. Stream diversions in the lower canyon." data-caption="Fig 20. Stream diversions in the lower canyon." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/033067e5485a537c8c3be4297bb0afa50109577988795caade4d076d01b35133/Fig-20_Stream-diversion.png" /> Christmas Eve’s storms were intense and unpredictable. The channel was nearly full to the brim with water whipping around rocks and logs. The stone steps at the entrance were overflowing, spilling out onto either side of its walls. Large flashes of water came in pulses, signaled first by sound, then by color as the stream darkened with new sediment. When I returned after the storms, on our first workday of 2026, the canyon had again been noticeably rearranged. A tire lodged itself in front of the riparian plot, causing an extreme buildup of sediment, creating a new sand bridge to cross the channel. But the tire had also diverted water onto the trail between the riparian and fire buffer plots, further degrading it. Upstream of the riparian plot, the channel continued to transform into a gulley with a defined headcut that continues to erode and deepen the channel. Left unchecked, this section will continue to deepen and retreat upstream. <img width="4320" height="2880" width_o="4320" height_o="2880" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f20862377f55aa0d43c85fe38345b6b9f9e2112e8cd110d0fc23227f9854f35f/Fig-21.-Tire.jpg" data-mid="243703244" border="0" alt="Fig 21. Tire clogging up the works" data-caption="Fig 21. Tire clogging up the works" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/f20862377f55aa0d43c85fe38345b6b9f9e2112e8cd110d0fc23227f9854f35f/Fig-21.-Tire.jpg" /> <img width="2880" height="4320" width_o="2880" height_o="4320" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b21da5107ac21b2fd90a2dad391b577144dd77d4bfae06ff23d16fdb3a2e4594/Fig-22.-Headcut.png" data-mid="243703245" border="0" alt="Fig. 22 Eroding headcut" data-caption="Fig. 22 Eroding headcut" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b21da5107ac21b2fd90a2dad391b577144dd77d4bfae06ff23d16fdb3a2e4594/Fig-22.-Headcut.png" /> Further downstream past the riparian plot was a new deposit of sand. Logs and debris seemed to have blocked the typical flow path, redirecting the water further away from the trails. Formerly this tributary would only flow during higher storm events, but with the current debris blocking the way this could be the start of a new flow direction. It will be something to keep an eye on during the next rains. How will water interact with this loose material? It will be an unpredictable and exciting experiment. Will we remove the newfound debris or leave it in place to train a new flow path? To be determined. <img width="4320" height="2880" width_o="4320" height_o="2880" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e81d67013253967c04afddc91335d11ebc90095f2a4156ce87b417c5c4f95fc2/Fig-23.JPG" data-mid="243703263" border="0" alt="Fig 23. Sand and debris left in the wake of a stream path" data-caption="Fig 23. Sand and debris left in the wake of a stream path" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/e81d67013253967c04afddc91335d11ebc90095f2a4156ce87b417c5c4f95fc2/Fig-23.JPG" /> <img width="2388" height="1288" width_o="2388" height_o="1288" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0b2a4a946f5dcbe307531b8ac4621f9b92c4c0f25307fb843ad3eb27222e7d7c/Fig-24_New-Debris.png" data-mid="243703268" border="0" alt="Fig 24. Polycam scan of new debris" data-caption="Fig 24. Polycam scan of new debris" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/0b2a4a946f5dcbe307531b8ac4621f9b92c4c0f25307fb843ad3eb27222e7d7c/Fig-24_New-Debris.png" /> <img width="4320" height="2880" width_o="4320" height_o="2880" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2598b02281b4d33cf5ae106784f2011b387925b9a3dba4922a0627d608b7be2d/Fig-25-Trail-reinforcement.JPG" data-mid="243703269" border="0" alt="Fig 25. Trail reinforcement" data-caption="Fig 25. Trail reinforcement" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/2598b02281b4d33cf5ae106784f2011b387925b9a3dba4922a0627d608b7be2d/Fig-25-Trail-reinforcement.JPG" /> <img width="4320" height="2880" width_o="4320" height_o="2880" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b925c5c01cf547c925a8959aac0c7c8518ddeb527640a100c4cd981562deebec/Fig-26.JPG" data-mid="243703878" border="0" alt="Fig 26. Trail reinforcement" data-caption="Fig 26. Trail reinforcement" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b925c5c01cf547c925a8959aac0c7c8518ddeb527640a100c4cd981562deebec/Fig-26.JPG" /> In the meantime, volunteers at the 1/10 event, mostly returning visitors, got right back to work mulching and weeding the switchback plots. Alex and Isaac installed logs and drainage to reinforce the switchbacks. Alex sprinkled wildflower seed in trail spoil. The elderberries are sprouting new leaves and flowers are beginning to bloom. I look forward to tracking their progress through the spring. After our work session finished, a family came down to the new sand wash and started to make sand castles. The next few sessions will focus on recovering and repairing from these storms and preparing for the next, whether they be next month or next year. Storm flows in Rainbow Canyon are no joke with flash floods being fast, unpredictable, and dangerous. But in a moderate rain event canyons like Rainbow Canyon activate in surprising ways. I hope some of you get a chance to swing through and maybe even linger (the dense branches of the elderberry and palm tree make good site umbrellas). Open spaces like these give us Angelinos a way to observe rain and flowing water in a different way, not just rushing past curbs and concrete lined channels, but as dynamic natural features that continue to alter the landscape. Fingers crossed for more rains in 2026. When they come you know where I will be! <img width="5712" height="4284" width_o="5712" height_o="4284" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0875cad9db7c0c583f4706ff30a730d8ddce95145d467addf1d8d77b0710db40/Fig_27_Maintanence_Day.jpg" data-mid="243703883" border="0" alt="Fig 27. Jan 10 Maintenance day" data-caption="Fig 27. Jan 10 Maintenance day" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/0875cad9db7c0c583f4706ff30a730d8ddce95145d467addf1d8d77b0710db40/Fig_27_Maintanence_Day.jpg" /> <img width="2880" height="4320" width_o="2880" height_o="4320" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/380bedc7c264ac0b7d448a63c15b4c5e779251ddac1f7855ce2b424a30456358/Fig-28_Venegasia-Bloom.jpg" data-mid="243703274" border="0" alt="Fig 28. Canyon sunflower seedling" data-caption="Fig 28. Canyon sunflower seedling" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/380bedc7c264ac0b7d448a63c15b4c5e779251ddac1f7855ce2b424a30456358/Fig-28_Venegasia-Bloom.jpg" /> <img width="3024" height="3024" width_o="3024" height_o="3024" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/fb831f2bd5178d986a320619e35daf9bd73b90baa7e90f44a9a525fe3a74239f/Fig-29_Sand-Castle.jpg" data-mid="243703280" border="0" alt="Fig. 29 Sandcastles" data-caption="Fig. 29 Sandcastles" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/fb831f2bd5178d986a320619e35daf9bd73b90baa7e90f44a9a525fe3a74239f/Fig-29_Sand-Castle.jpg" /> 1 From the EPA, “An ephemeral stream has flowing water only during, and for a short duration after, precipitation events in a typical year. Ephemeral stream beds are located above the water table year-round. Groundwater is not a source of water for the stream. Runoff from rainfall is the primary source of water for stream flow.” This is opposed to an intermittent stream which relies on groundwater and is only supplemented by rain. The more you know! https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2016-02/documents/realestate_glossary.pdf 2 https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=lox 3 https://www.arcgis.com/apps/PublicInformation/index.html?appid=cd5ec68b636f4e47bbba5b8e9307be1ehttps://lacreekfreak.wordpress.com/2010/12/22/how-to-figure-out-a-fifty-year-storm-and-other-storms-too/ https://testplotlog.cargo.site/12-01-Kaitlyn-Post Tue, 16 Dec 2025 01:39:13 +0000 Test Plot Log https://testplotlog.cargo.site/12-01-Kaitlyn-Post <img width="6000" height="4000" width_o="6000" height_o="4000" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e33b77514d8d0bc7b0a17d2ccadcd12f21c63deb6056122f8b72b9109aeb71bd/instagram-introduction-photo.jpg" data-mid="241849576" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/e33b77514d8d0bc7b0a17d2ccadcd12f21c63deb6056122f8b72b9109aeb71bd/instagram-introduction-photo.jpg" /> 5 MONTHS WITH TEST PLOT By Kaitlyn Ray Cal Poly SLO landscape architecture intern DATE: Dec 01 2025 ON ART + CARE.... There is art in stewardship, in smallness, in care, in recognizing how that art becomes inscribed on a place. In short, this is what I saw at Test Plot: art inscribed upon a landscape as a result of many hands who care about their common home and about each other. The soul in the land’s caretakers, the sweetness in their interactions, and the buzzing life that springs forth from it all. These, surely, are all metrics of an artful place. Interventions need not be immediately impressive or very large to make a difference. Small, piecemeal interventions done with Great Care mean infinitely more in the scheme of social landscapes to be loved rather than simply admired. Such interventions reach success on account of their radical outpourings of care: investment in a place paired with a desire for it to be excellent. The land needs people who care about it, listen to it, and who can form a kinship with it. This idea of small kinship is actually very big and very meaningful; this, I have understood more than ever during these last five months at Test Plot. ON A PRACTICAL NOTE.... I became intimately familiar with the plants on our plots, refining my understanding of their character beyond identification. I was involved in cataloging and mapping existing plants, setting up iNaturalist profiles, designing ethnobotanical plant tags, and creating a huge Test Plot plant list with useful attributes for stewards. These, among other tasks, allowed me to better understand the nuance and character of ecological interconnectedness, as well as where people + care fit into it all. This interconnectedness, the relationality of plants with humans, with each other, and with the rest of the environment, became most evident during the plant list creation. Plant-human relationships revealed themselves through a study of naming, propagation, care, and ethnobotany. A study of plant communities, ecosystems, and reproduction became a lesson in plants’ relationships with each other. A late addition, what species the plant hosts, revealed how specific plants and animals interact with and rely upon each other. Each, in some way, informed the way I see how environmental relationships develop and sustain themselves. Plant-human, plant-plant, and plant-environment: each an ecotone, representative of immense richness and diversity that can only be found in their intersections. Understanding this made the work of land restoration so much richer; rather than simply knowing and designing for the end result, I can know and design for the interconnectedness + relationality that precedes and produces that result. It is a necessary step back; in a way, it is a way to see the bigger picture. Though, paradoxically, this “bigger picture” exists in knowing the nuance of the smaller pieces that make up that picture. Maybe “smaller picture” is better vocabulary. Naturally, this idea also plays out in the necessity of care and the respect for labor that goes into land restoration, a manifestation of the human-land (or terrapersonal as my dear friend Ruth puts it) relationality. This, too, is something that the good folks of Test Plot uniquely practice. ON ANOTHER PRACTICAL NOTE.... I unexpectedly became familiar with web design, (a tiny bit of) coding, marketing, social media, volunteer management, spreadsheets, procreate animation, and laser cutting. Being in such a tiny company was incredible, as it afforded me a ton of unexpected problem-solving opportunities. Did I know how to do everything that Jen asked me to do? No! Did I eventually figure them out though? Most of the time, yes! This proved to be rather empowering; while I may not have known exactly how to accomplish some tasks, I felt increasingly confident in my ability to problem solve my way through them. I am certain that, even later in my career, I will never know how to do everything; for that reason, I am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to leverage my inexperience as a way to learn and to grow in confidence. ACADEMIC APPLICATIONS.... Working here was the first time I had really come to understand what a seed bank entails. The concept was fascinating enough to inspire a term research project comparing passive revegetation strategies using native seed banks and active revegetation strategies using calculated seed mixes. The internship also sparked a newfound interest in ethnobotany (which is good, because I spent good, quality time with the La Esquinita tags) Our Fall studio project was located on Chumash land in Santa Ynez, and, after speaking with some tribal members at the local museum, I decided to explore ethnobotany as it relates to the Chumash culture. My proposal of an ethnobotanical “mother plant” garden responded to the joint tribal desires to revitalize pathways of TEK transmission and restore ecological integrity. That idea would not have been possible without having first learned how Tongva and Kizh peoples understood their community’s kinship with their environment. As I embark on my senior thesis project, (eek, scary!) I am more influenced by the Test Plot framework than ever, particularly as it relates to the social dimensions of land care. My time at Test Plot made it clear to me that I want to work closely with local organizations + nonprofits + charities. I absolutely adored the social aspect of my work, and I found so much joy and purpose in attending events and workdays where people can come together for a purpose larger than the individual. Going forward, I want to continue practicing “human care through land care,” building upon it to include themes of interpersonal relationships and social + environmental justice.&nbsp; TO CLOSE... I want to express my gratitude for the entire Test Plot family. From graciously moving my first interview while I was in Nepal to not be at 2am, to letting me hold onto the internship for three months longer than agreed upon, and every micro-lesson in between, they have truly been a blessing. I am exceptionally thankful for the last five months, for every lesson and wise bit of knowledge that Jen has gifted to me, and for the groundedness + care which I look forward to taking into my career. Thank you Test Plot, I love ya! <img width="5712" height="4284" width_o="5712" height_o="4284" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d9b0c471e25b3eaf9cb62e105ffff7042cdc6570f3b03aed9c058ac05fa9813e/IMG_0095.JPG" data-mid="241849652" border="0" alt=" La Esquinita Workshop: Toyon poptarts, elderberry syrup, mugwort facials. " data-caption=" La Esquinita Workshop: Toyon poptarts, elderberry syrup, mugwort facials. " src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/d9b0c471e25b3eaf9cb62e105ffff7042cdc6570f3b03aed9c058ac05fa9813e/IMG_0095.JPG" /> <img width="4032" height="3024" width_o="4032" height_o="3024" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8c5e905c3001705c41df86821aad4452eb54ee1d45dd936619caa41d439c9ae8/Image-65.jpeg" data-mid="241849655" border="0" alt="Mulch volcanoes. I hope they (the plants) erupt (grow really, really big)" data-caption="Mulch volcanoes. I hope they (the plants) erupt (grow really, really big)" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/8c5e905c3001705c41df86821aad4452eb54ee1d45dd936619caa41d439c9ae8/Image-65.jpeg" /> <img width="6000" height="4000" width_o="6000" height_o="4000" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/cc1c8cf83abb35c46fd63377d217f91826f1cf08059a13c9e0d9b1048cf3372c/R0003526---EDITED.JPG" data-mid="241849653" border="0" alt=" Puente Hills Youth at Work made the most beautiful lifecycle zines!" data-caption=" Puente Hills Youth at Work made the most beautiful lifecycle zines!" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/cc1c8cf83abb35c46fd63377d217f91826f1cf08059a13c9e0d9b1048cf3372c/R0003526---EDITED.JPG" /> <img width="6000" height="4000" width_o="6000" height_o="4000" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d141a81605ce6f0e755f8dd906b449142998a3eb8f137de0e4538ee3d5bb0ab6/IMG_2751.JPG" data-mid="241849654" border="0" alt="Mural loading&hellip;" data-caption="Mural loading…" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/d141a81605ce6f0e755f8dd906b449142998a3eb8f137de0e4538ee3d5bb0ab6/IMG_2751.JPG" /> <img width="1337" height="2376" width_o="1337" height_o="2376" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/83b7187e3fb704e8fc175c04007f150080b2d98d5155afe78bf34aab2c953324/puente-hills-caterpillar.JPG" data-mid="241849675" border="0" alt="Puente hills caterpillar" data-caption="Puente hills caterpillar" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/83b7187e3fb704e8fc175c04007f150080b2d98d5155afe78bf34aab2c953324/puente-hills-caterpillar.JPG" /> <img width="3024" height="4032" width_o="3024" height_o="4032" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9d0006ae6eb29dd7a4e5585206376ef0036150f673af5d4021bdc48a53d2af64/maple_syrup_-_pearly_everlasting.jpg" data-mid="241849674" border="0" alt="Maple syrup pearly everlasting" data-caption="Maple syrup pearly everlasting" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/9d0006ae6eb29dd7a4e5585206376ef0036150f673af5d4021bdc48a53d2af64/maple_syrup_-_pearly_everlasting.jpg" /> <img width="3024" height="4032" width_o="3024" height_o="4032" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2b1ae95d34fa9d18ca9c99066a27d937127ea225a2349de5a41d28e99578cb30/precious_baby_opuntia_with_cochineal.jpg" data-mid="241849661" border="0" alt="Precious baby opuntia (with cochineal)" data-caption="Precious baby opuntia (with cochineal)" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/2b1ae95d34fa9d18ca9c99066a27d937127ea225a2349de5a41d28e99578cb30/precious_baby_opuntia_with_cochineal.jpg" /> <img width="2716" height="3621" width_o="2716" height_o="3621" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3709795dc7c30b9a53ef946d335b004a9dd805c092a4f2d5459b4630d25dbf9e/precious_baby_opuntia_two.jpg" data-mid="241849673" border="0" alt="Precious baby opuntia" data-caption="Precious baby opuntia" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/3709795dc7c30b9a53ef946d335b004a9dd805c092a4f2d5459b4630d25dbf9e/precious_baby_opuntia_two.jpg" /> https://testplotlog.cargo.site/12-6-Stormwater-Workshop-1-at-Rainbow-Canyon Fri, 16 Jan 2026 03:06:36 +0000 Test Plot Log https://testplotlog.cargo.site/12-6-Stormwater-Workshop-1-at-Rainbow-Canyon <img width="3300" height="2550" width_o="3300" height_o="2550" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/fd557a693d26ae0051c4ea60601c76e93c5f5435bc717486d07b50a8dbce3636/flood_simulation_layoutupdated.jpg" data-mid="243380363" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/fd557a693d26ae0051c4ea60601c76e93c5f5435bc717486d07b50a8dbce3636/flood_simulation_layoutupdated.jpg" /> STORMWATER WORKSHOP #1 Rainbow Canyon Test Plot&nbsp; DATE: December 07 2025 An Oral History by USC Students in Arch546 “This event felt genuinely healing and grounding for me. The mix of tired muscles, dirt on our hands from pulling weeds, and easy conversations with people who’d been strangers a few minutes earlier made being outside feel quietly joyful in a way I didn’t expect. It was really lovely to see Rainbow Canyon so alive. I also got to put my architecture school education to use by building a birdhouse with friends. It took all three of us, which felt both grounding and humbling, and I really hope the birds end up loving its slightly crooked, handmade charm.” <img width="2000" height="1500" width_o="2000" height_o="1500" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9923103af8cf96823d0150219342c8c54942f7c766b8c006fa537bbb79a3a291/20251207_RainbowCanyonTestPlot_Favorites-026.jpg" data-mid="243347283" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/9923103af8cf96823d0150219342c8c54942f7c766b8c006fa537bbb79a3a291/20251207_RainbowCanyonTestPlot_Favorites-026.jpg" /> “Presenting our check dam proposal at the Test Plot community event on Sunday was one of the highlights of my semester. After weeks of finals and studio deadlines, it felt refreshing to step outside the classroom and talk with people who actually live near Rainbow Canyon. I enjoyed explaining our ideas and hearing how residents experience flooding, erosion, and changes in the landscape firsthand. Their reactions were thoughtful and encouraging, and it was exciting to see that people were genuinely interested in how design could improve the canyon. The experience reminded me why architecture and landscape design matter beyond drawings and models̶they can become part of real conversations and real places. It was also a nice break from academic pressure to engage with the community in a relaxed, open setting and see our work spark curiosity and discussion.” <img width="2000" height="1500" width_o="2000" height_o="1500" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9b270330cfbb429715ea33337ecb883e19c35c3bde39399fe41cc6d68f00b950/20251207_RainbowCanyonTestPlot_Favorites-008.jpg" data-mid="243347325" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/9b270330cfbb429715ea33337ecb883e19c35c3bde39399fe41cc6d68f00b950/20251207_RainbowCanyonTestPlot_Favorites-008.jpg" /> <img width="3300" height="2550" width_o="3300" height_o="2550" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/59e155a3b67ca412c042bbd78ed1473ca794f09976e15195614dfdaf79a4a365/UPDATED_REGULAR_RAINEVENT.jpg" data-mid="243347333" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/59e155a3b67ca412c042bbd78ed1473ca794f09976e15195614dfdaf79a4a365/UPDATED_REGULAR_RAINEVENT.jpg" /> <img width="3300" height="2550" width_o="3300" height_o="2550" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2428d8078d8fb27ab8e04f7afbf7cb76f3c58f8e77b5a71c02ab2eb34207001c/UPDATED_LARGE_RAIN.jpg" data-mid="243347329" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/2428d8078d8fb27ab8e04f7afbf7cb76f3c58f8e77b5a71c02ab2eb34207001c/UPDATED_LARGE_RAIN.jpg" /> “What a long and fruitful day. I had such a great experience not only being able to see our map sign-in board with the diversity of visitors from areas around LA, SoCal, and internationally, but to get my hands dirty and meet new people. The best moments were when I’d see an untouched pile of dirt and a plant besides it, signifying it needed to be planted. Someone else would be planting nearby, and I asked how they heard about the event. I learned about people who were friends with my classmates, people who attended last December’s workshop and kept up to date with the Testplot instagram, and people who came because their friend lived in the neighborhood and also came to volunteer. These were just beginnings of conversations until I got to meet two costume designers who appreciated spending time with people passionate about the outdoors and a recent grad in the California Climate Action Corps. The event was an opportunity to connect with people over a shared process of planting. For fun, if the day was named after a Spotify playlist, it’d be Beaming Grind Community Sunday Afternoon.” <img width="2000" height="1500" width_o="2000" height_o="1500" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/53a29d90ba128172b805bf19f887b4b40e16f2ee8641a6e717adba791e6c43e1/20251207_RainbowCanyonTestPlot_Favorites-013.jpg" data-mid="243347337" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/53a29d90ba128172b805bf19f887b4b40e16f2ee8641a6e717adba791e6c43e1/20251207_RainbowCanyonTestPlot_Favorites-013.jpg" /> <img width="2000" height="1500" width_o="2000" height_o="1500" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b465a1a4a06ea7b253130585d9419a661595571343116ef7812a46ef5aba8862/20251207_RainbowCanyonTestPlot_Favorites-032.jpg" data-mid="243347336" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b465a1a4a06ea7b253130585d9419a661595571343116ef7812a46ef5aba8862/20251207_RainbowCanyonTestPlot_Favorites-032.jpg" /> “During the activities, the flood simulation felt really meaningful, and the mapping exercise was just as important. Marking where everyone came from helped me see how different perspectives shape the way we understand the site. Over the semester I watched Rainbow Canyon slowly grow from barren land into an ecosystem. and it added another layer of meaning to the work we did throughout the day. The tree-planting activity was also memorable—especially having to wrap the plant bases with netting to keep the roots from getting damaged. Building the birdhouses was probably the most fun, and it helped me understand structure in a very hands-on way. And since I worked in digital modeling and integrating information, seeing water move through the physical model made me realize how valuable real, tactile experience is for understanding flood patterns and the site itself.” <img width="3300" height="2550" width_o="3300" height_o="2550" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/bf9c425f4158a4182a5a1d52f20af774a0083676b43fb645ceaecbc84235f7fb/flood_simulation_layoutupdated.jpg" data-mid="243347334" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/bf9c425f4158a4182a5a1d52f20af774a0083676b43fb645ceaecbc84235f7fb/flood_simulation_layoutupdated.jpg" /> “I loved expanding the existing plots with new plants. We’ve been learning what’s growing well and what hs taken longer to etablish. We currently have 7 mini plots that focus on different microclimates and purposes: Two fire buffer plots alongside the homes that border the lower plots contain evergreen species and species that have a low leaf burn rate (see Las Pilitas for data), a riparian plot, two walnut woodland understory plots and two hillside plots that will stabilize the steep access point that connects to Ave 44. In total we planted over 240 native plants donated from Community Nature Connection and Chaminaude Nursery. I’m particularly excited to see how the Canyon Sunflower (Venegasia carpoides) does in the woodland plots as it seems like it should be right at home in this shady, protected canyon. It will add much needed color and brightness.”&nbsp; <img width="2000" height="1500" width_o="2000" height_o="1500" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/fe6fd421b6889d40d557b1fe4fbb6f73d9f60d18d160e3d978b5d921b3919926/20251207_RainbowCanyonTestPlot_Favorites-009.jpg" data-mid="243347366" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/fe6fd421b6889d40d557b1fe4fbb6f73d9f60d18d160e3d978b5d921b3919926/20251207_RainbowCanyonTestPlot_Favorites-009.jpg" /> <img width="2000" height="1500" width_o="2000" height_o="1500" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/bb15c524fe19b3bfbce5542a4708e00f185c5fc382392fa1e486275db2182fe0/20251207_RainbowCanyonTestPlot_Favorites-003.jpg" data-mid="243347381" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/bb15c524fe19b3bfbce5542a4708e00f185c5fc382392fa1e486275db2182fe0/20251207_RainbowCanyonTestPlot_Favorites-003.jpg" /> <img width="2000" height="1500" width_o="2000" height_o="1500" 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<img width="2000" height="1500" width_o="2000" height_o="1500" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b6cd3254c7ffd6fe802eff38353dfc252ebbcfadad785e4a9cdd67d5442a9b22/20251207_RainbowCanyonTestPlot-017.jpg" data-mid="243347388" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b6cd3254c7ffd6fe802eff38353dfc252ebbcfadad785e4a9cdd67d5442a9b22/20251207_RainbowCanyonTestPlot-017.jpg" /> <img width="2000" height="1500" width_o="2000" height_o="1500" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e3824eb180bbb2f2e9f3f66c8442e99d2d45f36d6cd98ed2220a4c6b1ab9a4f7/20251207_RainbowCanyonTestPlot-070.jpg" data-mid="243347389" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/e3824eb180bbb2f2e9f3f66c8442e99d2d45f36d6cd98ed2220a4c6b1ab9a4f7/20251207_RainbowCanyonTestPlot-070.jpg" /> <img width="2000" height="1500" width_o="2000" height_o="1500" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/70eff800a51027dde31c8a3fee487d483deae0acf99a7629cac4922ba035422b/20251207_RainbowCanyonTestPlot_Favorites-014.jpg" data-mid="243347383" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/70eff800a51027dde31c8a3fee487d483deae0acf99a7629cac4922ba035422b/20251207_RainbowCanyonTestPlot_Favorites-014.jpg" /> <img width="2000" height="1500" width_o="2000" height_o="1500" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2825cc5760c811a20755a86ce37d69213b566154679a08d0285e9cf35f7a8047/20251207_RainbowCanyonTestPlot-009.jpg" data-mid="243347387" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/2825cc5760c811a20755a86ce37d69213b566154679a08d0285e9cf35f7a8047/20251207_RainbowCanyonTestPlot-009.jpg" /> <img width="2000" height="1500" width_o="2000" height_o="1500" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ca40477122f5c557f51695234f1039839bbf738e638b54f62b65343f45c96276/20251207_RainbowCanyonTestPlot-078.jpg" data-mid="243347390" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/ca40477122f5c557f51695234f1039839bbf738e638b54f62b65343f45c96276/20251207_RainbowCanyonTestPlot-078.jpg" /> <img width="2000" height="1500" width_o="2000" height_o="1500" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6da5fa48040e98905dc60da2bb8e3b255815e827f967908ad47be40fa4e2727c/20251207_RainbowCanyonTestPlot-086.jpg" data-mid="243347392" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/6da5fa48040e98905dc60da2bb8e3b255815e827f967908ad47be40fa4e2727c/20251207_RainbowCanyonTestPlot-086.jpg" /> <img width="2000" height="1500" width_o="2000" height_o="1500" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/edb4ec50b620706b5462a724e7e7df9832933253b4a0391308915f071d828f68/20251207_RainbowCanyonTestPlot_Favorites-006.jpg" data-mid="243347378" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/edb4ec50b620706b5462a724e7e7df9832933253b4a0391308915f071d828f68/20251207_RainbowCanyonTestPlot_Favorites-006.jpg" /> <img width="2000" height="1500" width_o="2000" height_o="1500" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e68ddbee4a132e32d756c097f822b106f187795d14076c7fce7b89a5c36985a5/20251207_RainbowCanyonTestPlot-118.jpg" data-mid="243347393" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/e68ddbee4a132e32d756c097f822b106f187795d14076c7fce7b89a5c36985a5/20251207_RainbowCanyonTestPlot-118.jpg" /> <img width="2000" height="1500" width_o="2000" height_o="1500" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/709b0442a57458074d728c84d4dd07fbc4fd79e414288fff3d0863eae3addb08/20251207_RainbowCanyonTestPlot-111.jpg" data-mid="243347394" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/709b0442a57458074d728c84d4dd07fbc4fd79e414288fff3d0863eae3addb08/20251207_RainbowCanyonTestPlot-111.jpg" /> https://testplotlog.cargo.site/11-09-OAK-GROVE Thu, 13 Nov 2025 00:47:06 +0000 Test Plot Log https://testplotlog.cargo.site/11-09-OAK-GROVE <img width="4032" height="3024" width_o="4032" height_o="3024" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/67d89874f2f0b5d076113a1a312f93480cae2030ed366c0a0957d22355ab40f0/Volunteers-at-rest.jpeg" data-mid="240587111" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/67d89874f2f0b5d076113a1a312f93480cae2030ed366c0a0957d22355ab40f0/Volunteers-at-rest.jpeg" /> PLANTING AN OAK GROVE Rio de Los Angeles Test Plot&nbsp;By Tom Hurst DATE: Nov 09 2025 <img width="2083" height="1348" width_o="2083" height_o="1348" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/5065bb15348d157c2c7fbd63ccf0c53c90f47c1a40fa26e135c12704a39363e3/Screenshot-2025-11-12-165359.jpg" data-mid="240587108" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/5065bb15348d157c2c7fbd63ccf0c53c90f47c1a40fa26e135c12704a39363e3/Screenshot-2025-11-12-165359.jpg" /> <img width="2077" height="1342" width_o="2077" height_o="1342" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/377f206e2d69675c815144272fa83606b31e96918cd255b2594ea7e9def554fe/Screenshot-2025-11-12-165440.jpg" data-mid="240587068" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/377f206e2d69675c815144272fa83606b31e96918cd255b2594ea7e9def554fe/Screenshot-2025-11-12-165440.jpg" /> <img width="2076" height="1342" width_o="2076" height_o="1342" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/5ef100ca060330410e19149b92d1b79f89bb8c486a021f57cb7c47de0d91dce4/Screenshot-2025-11-12-165507.jpg" data-mid="240587069" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/5ef100ca060330410e19149b92d1b79f89bb8c486a021f57cb7c47de0d91dce4/Screenshot-2025-11-12-165507.jpg" /> <img width="2077" height="1339" width_o="2077" height_o="1339" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b1cb9b3aa3d834006a64061a9df4824a30ecd035e48da78097c0095df5706e72/Screenshot-2025-11-12-165536.jpg" data-mid="240587070" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b1cb9b3aa3d834006a64061a9df4824a30ecd035e48da78097c0095df5706e72/Screenshot-2025-11-12-165536.jpg" /> <img width="2380" height="2975" width_o="2380" height_o="2975" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7dfaa798cd208d51102311bff5c4eeec2d8679ee3983d57d007069e790ba8605/Luis-inspecting-oaks.jpeg" data-mid="240587075" border="0" alt="Luis inspecting the oaks" data-caption="Luis inspecting the oaks" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/7dfaa798cd208d51102311bff5c4eeec2d8679ee3983d57d007069e790ba8605/Luis-inspecting-oaks.jpeg" /> <img width="3024" height="3780" width_o="3024" height_o="3780" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ba1190b2fcb5d10e5e4c612756a98bef11d11a63d9a63c712e7ef4ea55436750/Nicolette_s-sapling.jpg" data-mid="240587073" border="0" alt="Nicollete, sapling" data-caption="Nicollete, sapling" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/ba1190b2fcb5d10e5e4c612756a98bef11d11a63d9a63c712e7ef4ea55436750/Nicolette_s-sapling.jpg" /> <img width="2952" height="3330" width_o="2952" height_o="3330" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/bad2aa57bd0e4cf0bfdcd4e503c404d3f1452055fb047dabf26f0f60ed934ff1/Connor-moving-mulch.jpeg" data-mid="240587071" border="0" alt="Connor moving mulch" data-caption="Connor moving mulch" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/bad2aa57bd0e4cf0bfdcd4e503c404d3f1452055fb047dabf26f0f60ed934ff1/Connor-moving-mulch.jpeg" /> <img width="2531" height="2531" width_o="2531" height_o="2531" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8b4e423f6af10115ebd0168006c255c832d80947d5e3bef0cbf27d6fa4fb01be/Lorena-and-Georgia-prepping-the-site.jpeg" data-mid="240587072" border="0" alt="Lorena and Georgia prepping the site" data-caption="Lorena and Georgia prepping the site" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/8b4e423f6af10115ebd0168006c255c832d80947d5e3bef0cbf27d6fa4fb01be/Lorena-and-Georgia-prepping-the-site.jpeg" /> <img width="4032" height="3024" width_o="4032" height_o="3024" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/df3bfc7328b907d96321d036e90500ed23b83a336dbd120bd21f7e26612f08ae/Volunteers-at-work.jpeg" data-mid="240587074" border="0" alt="Volunteers at work, thank you!" data-caption="Volunteers at work, thank you!" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/df3bfc7328b907d96321d036e90500ed23b83a336dbd120bd21f7e26612f08ae/Volunteers-at-work.jpeg" /> https://testplotlog.cargo.site/10-4-Site-Sensory-Event-Oral-History Fri, 10 Oct 2025 23:57:39 +0000 Test Plot Log https://testplotlog.cargo.site/10-4-Site-Sensory-Event-Oral-History <img width="5712" height="4284" width_o="5712" height_o="4284" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/52e7edc2af1f4231122e61e9be569f79b6f909542645747486b197af9f0d6e26/IMG_0049.JPG" data-mid="239256992" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/52e7edc2af1f4231122e61e9be569f79b6f909542645747486b197af9f0d6e26/IMG_0049.JPG" /> SITE SENSORY EVENT, AN ORAL HISTORY Rainbow Canyon Test Plot&nbsp; DATE: October 04 2025 During the process of introducing students to the canyon I led them on a few site sensory exercises. These ranged from basic meditation, that we call “Look and Listen”, to measuring exercises, like soil analysis. These were fun, relaxing, and enlightening, so we decided we should share these with the community. In the end, the students conceived of, and prepared, twelve site sensory exercises. These were enacted on Saturday morning on October 4th, 2025 with a great group of volunteers, including a contingent of high school students brought by Community Nature Connection. In the morning, before everything started, a local young birder from the neighborhood, Surya, led a well attended birdwatching walk. The day was sweet and beautiful. Everyone was a bit surprised how much they enjoyed it. After spending most days working in the canyon, it was a treat to spend time just tuning into the place. — Alexander Robinson <img width="6000" height="4000" width_o="6000" height_o="4000" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/32131cd055b06b1598d210fe67338bc66b5716a94feff9481abb58ffb6a58ebd/R0003753.JPG" data-mid="239257001" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/32131cd055b06b1598d210fe67338bc66b5716a94feff9481abb58ffb6a58ebd/R0003753.JPG" /> I did a 2:30 hour bird walk through the canyon while practicing deep listening through birding. One thing I noticed was around the end people were more quiet and we found more birds. This shows how listening and focusing on the environment can help you notice more. I also showed the importance of citizen science by submitting a list of the birds seen to a database. — Surya Jeevanjee I helped people discover their cognitive preferences with sun versus shade measuring. I expected people to have a preference towards the heat, but it was largely voted for the shaded area as it gave a more calming sensation. I expected to not be able to form a general analysis of temperature preferences, but I noticed while repeating in other spots, there would be a general shift in how long people would want to stay in a shaded v. sunny spot, which was interesting. People seem to prefer a counter temperature to an environment they were raised in (So-Cal heat). — Alejandro Vasquez <img width="6000" height="4000" width_o="6000" height_o="4000" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/5b4e040040c4e4c81b61394c1a2bed98d50e16816488696f4879a65a0dd7c8ab/R0006036.JPG" data-mid="239413895" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/5b4e040040c4e4c81b61394c1a2bed98d50e16816488696f4879a65a0dd7c8ab/R0006036.JPG" /> We practiced embracing imperfection and letting go by making art from dried plants, then intentionally destroying it afterward. I went in expecting most participants to make simple circles or grids with the dried plants they collected. Instead, they gravitated toward sculptural pieces shaped by intuition and background. The architects worked systematically: they started at the center, built a boundary, then stacked, and ended up with something like a primitive hut. The kids were bolder and more instinctive, hauling big logs and leaning them together to “build” what they pictured: a large house or a bridge. High school and college students were playful but liked to test the rules, mostly gathering leaves in different colors and arranging the patterns suggested by the reference images. It was also funny watching kids haul logs taller than they were. Lynden grabbed two huge logs and decided each one, on its own, was his artwork. Watching how personal experience steered each approach, and how many different outcomes emerged, was the best part. — Anh Bui <img width="6000" height="4000" width_o="6000" height_o="4000" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/cf25735cb5ed10c54fe04fd58be6e289dbe29e81149684edf057a99f9a0e7f91/R0006033.JPG" data-mid="239413864" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/cf25735cb5ed10c54fe04fd58be6e289dbe29e81149684edf057a99f9a0e7f91/R0006033.JPG" /> The event we have is exactly what I was expecting, it was fun, engaging and it’s nice to see how much attention this site receives from its surrounding community. We met Lynden, an interesting 9th grader from a neighboring high school, he sure have a lot of opinions on things and often be the funniest one in our group. —&nbsp;Jianjun Xu <img width="6000" height="4000" width_o="6000" height_o="4000" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/fe578c9b54650e492c55903b9318ac132259e7c636b684fb7bf7036ad5bd6b95/R0006001.JPG" data-mid="239414018" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/fe578c9b54650e492c55903b9318ac132259e7c636b684fb7bf7036ad5bd6b95/R0006001.JPG" /> The sensory activity was a guided blindfolded walk where participants used hearing, smell, touch, and sight to experience the site. I expected the plan was to have them walk through the site four times, each time focusing on one sense, but after the first group, I found it worked better when they stayed in front of the same object and used each sense on the same project. What interested me most was how different relationships changed the experience. Couples and parents with kids moved smoothly. Friends, on the other hand, kept bumping into things, but they were laughing the whole time and having fun. Everyone said they really enjoyed the activity also for me. At first, it felt strange to only rely on other senses, but once I got used to it, it became really fun. We all felt that everything around us seemed closer and more alive than usual. — Jianye Wang <img width="6000" height="4000" width_o="6000" height_o="4000" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/60eeae58bf7ae356d14061b1baa0a48162f3382f1b8a8f520f84b3febb6a8ebd/R0006018.JPG" data-mid="239256995" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/60eeae58bf7ae356d14061b1baa0a48162f3382f1b8a8f520f84b3febb6a8ebd/R0006018.JPG" /> The Collaborative Atmosphere Collage slowly came to life as people walked through Rainbow Canyon, pausing to sketch places that felt meaningful to them. Each drawing was added to a line stretched between trees, turning into a quiet collection of impressions shared across the site. When sunlight came through the canyon and touched the papers, it felt like the drawings became part of the landscape. That moment — when everyone stood together, looking at what had been created, with the sketches moving gently in the wind — felt like a small exhibition, briefly held in the land itself. — Jiya Yuan I helped people create a contour and flow mapping of the test plot. During my activity, the participants were engaged to a surprising extent. They worked fairly hard to map out the creek's contours, too, which I didn't expect to happen and once I explained things to the participants, they were autonomous. I believe the activity thrives in its simplicity and the immediate tactile and visual feedback it produces. I could see participants holding discussion as they methodically worked sideways through the canyon. — Josiah Hickman <img width="4284" height="5712" width_o="4284" height_o="5712" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ae2f1bf84ee4019af5306def572c6ae281ffecf5e936907f61df07369dded6a0/IMG_0056.JPG" data-mid="239257003" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/ae2f1bf84ee4019af5306def572c6ae281ffecf5e936907f61df07369dded6a0/IMG_0056.JPG" /> <img width="4284" height="5712" width_o="4284" height_o="5712" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/beb7b1bab7a4c375fe6867b76afb1faadcd41ba62ccae839187e374f85c22a2b/IMG_0062.JPG" data-mid="239256997" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/beb7b1bab7a4c375fe6867b76afb1faadcd41ba62ccae839187e374f85c22a2b/IMG_0062.JPG" /> Stream study was conducted where different participants helped measure depth and width at 3 different points in one area, proceeded by the following group conducting the same activity 10 ft away from the previous spot. Following the measurement participants also gave notes on anything they noticed. One observation that was interesting was the amount of litter that is imbedded into the stream, from bottles to shoe inserts. There was also evidence of asphalt which had some participants questioning if there used to be a road in that segment or if it was runoff from rainfall. Participants had fun and were very invested in the exercise. The exercise felt like it was more efficient and enjoyable when people worked in pairs rather than alone. The best part was seeing how people found out about the event through so many different channels and seeing people from different backgrounds come together for this activity. — Navid Rodd <img width="6000" height="4000" width_o="6000" height_o="4000" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/45815029e7e782cd82e0865f175d3e54141c981d731253991b6358e42dcdbc96/R0006004.JPG" data-mid="239256996" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/45815029e7e782cd82e0865f175d3e54141c981d731253991b6358e42dcdbc96/R0006004.JPG" /> My main site sensory activity was tree hugging, while the secondary one was the feedback tree. I was a bit nervous going into the event because I wasn’t sure if people would be highly engaged. There were some kinks in the activity when Richard &amp; I tested it the second time we visited Rainbow Canyon, and then we tested it again and had more edits. I was thankful we were able to work together. We had a high school freshman participate, and his personality and engagement were so fun! I considered Richard and I splitting off to run the exercise with different people separately, but we decided to stay together in groups of three. This enhanced the tree-hugging experience because three people hugged one tree at the same time; as they experienced the comfort (or discomfort) from hugging the tree, there was a greater community aspect in doing it together. I laughed a lot, and it was interesting seeing which tree each person chose at the end that they identified with the most comfort with a circle of red string. — Sara Eyassu <img width="6000" height="4000" width_o="6000" height_o="4000" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/da85d085181b83390b2cee6bff8740e0025c733b08bad3a51a1d3fb6c8bc2fb1/R0003741.JPG" data-mid="239256998" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/da85d085181b83390b2cee6bff8740e0025c733b08bad3a51a1d3fb6c8bc2fb1/R0003741.JPG" /> I instructed people on how to complete 15-minute "look and listen" sessions lying down. Many told me that they felt relaxed and took notice of how quiet the canyon was. One thing that surprised me was how many people said that the contours of the canyon felt good for their back pain. A land stewardess shared that she spends so much time taking care of the land, she never stopped to consider how the land could take care of her. — Zoelli OrtizI ran a soil analysis station at saturday’s workshop, in which i encouraged guests to conduct both pH and qualitative texture tests. most participants were surprised to learn that the soil pH was consistent across the site, despite variation in soil sample colors, textures, or locations! —&nbsp;Haleluya Wondwosen <img width="6000" height="4000" width_o="6000" height_o="4000" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/cbc376ad10e0805290c150e45c7a03c17387d0474dcc1ea585f8ffc39fd55ac0/R0006040.JPG" data-mid="239256999" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/cbc376ad10e0805290c150e45c7a03c17387d0474dcc1ea585f8ffc39fd55ac0/R0006040.JPG" /> I worked with Hal. More people joined the soil activity because it was simple and fun to test the soil. The litter mapping started slowly, but after some time, people joined in. The kids were more interested in storytelling and discovery than in cleanup. They preferred to talk and act things out rather than write. I had to ask them again and again to try. One kid named Unni found an old tyre laying around and started making up stories about it. The children liked talking and telling stories more than writing or picking up trash. The adults, on the other hand, were more comfortable participating in both mapping and writing. They engaged once they understood the purpose of the activity. Overall, the litter mapping exercise worked, but it needs to be simpler and more fun — maybe more talking or drawing instead of writing. — Sai Ravikumar Walking through the canyon blindfolded meant I had to completely trust Sarah. She guided my hand up towards things to touch and handed me things to smell. I became aware of the gentle slope of the canyon floor, noting I had to pick up my feet more! I liked how the small groups of people chatting became anchors that helped me orient myself.&nbsp; Despite being blindfolded, it felt carefree, like a return to childhood.&nbsp; — Jen Toy <img width="4284" height="5712" width_o="4284" height_o="5712" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/35976d31ac39582e438e09048dafaf66f3ae288bd32f1284070c5541d6a739bf/IMG_0078.JPG" data-mid="239257005" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/35976d31ac39582e438e09048dafaf66f3ae288bd32f1284070c5541d6a739bf/IMG_0078.JPG" /> <img width="4284" height="5712" width_o="4284" height_o="5712" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7d014226e2f8135e97c0a050b2803f637874a88c6d09f513993c0d6be3466d05/IMG_0047.JPG" data-mid="239257000" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/7d014226e2f8135e97c0a050b2803f637874a88c6d09f513993c0d6be3466d05/IMG_0047.JPG" /> https://testplotlog.cargo.site/9-10-Under-Pressure Tue, 14 Oct 2025 23:40:25 +0000 Test Plot Log https://testplotlog.cargo.site/9-10-Under-Pressure <img width="4032" height="3024" width_o="4032" height_o="3024" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8f94ac820bd513df5aba99ceeeb0c5a8a6f569651ecf097ff329026360caa15c/IMG_3537.jpg" data-mid="239619870" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/8f94ac820bd513df5aba99ceeeb0c5a8a6f569651ecf097ff329026360caa15c/IMG_3537.jpg" /> UNDER PRESSURE Catalina Island Test Plot&nbsp;By: Alex Robinson DATE: September 10 2025 Traveling to Catalina Island, or nearly any of the islands off the coast of Southern California, can be an exercise in time travel. For a resident of the mainland bight, it is a multi-threaded journey. Yes, time goes back, rhythms slow, but time also jumps ahead and sideways. The day I visited the Test Plot at the Wrigley Marine Science Center, had a touch of foreshadowing. After our indeterminably long and late hot summer, I enjoyed what everyone agreed, was the first day of Fall, weeks ahead of the mainland. Talks of cutting back and layoffs were in the air. In the wake of our president’s agenda, research money was drying up and USC was looking to cut research-related staff on the island, many of whom rely on their job to maintain residence on an island mostly owned by either the Catalina Company or Conservancy. Due to a mild but persistent drought, the plants in this Test Plot have subsisted only by rain and water harvested in rain barrels around the campus. While the channel concentrates moisture, it also bakes, sheltered from coastal breezes by the surrounding dorms. The drought has reduced forage on the island, inducing (introduced) deer and the native squirrels especially to munch the plants. The delicious ones are “topiared” into the shape of their protective steel cages, if they are so lucky to have one. After this year’s devastating fires, the fire department reassessed all building adjacent plantings. Now nearly all the plants we had planted were “trespassing.” If they had their way they would clear all vegetation within a 100 feet of all structures. <img width="3024" height="4032" width_o="3024" height_o="4032" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ff19893dd35e223eb3222ae69aa68f6e2d35d56f2767cc981fc10eb341d2d320/IMG_3633.jpg" data-mid="239619863" border="0" alt="milkweed seedpods are the best" data-caption="milkweed seedpods are the best" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/ff19893dd35e223eb3222ae69aa68f6e2d35d56f2767cc981fc10eb341d2d320/IMG_3633.jpg" /> <img width="3024" height="4032" width_o="3024" height_o="4032" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/5d8de7b45bcdbf9c4d2d749e0f80f4c1f6dbb4d396c2ef0fbf9f931d48fbbbee/IMG_3632.jpg" data-mid="239619852" border="0" alt="narrowleaf milkweed" data-caption="narrowleaf milkweed" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/5d8de7b45bcdbf9c4d2d749e0f80f4c1f6dbb4d396c2ef0fbf9f931d48fbbbee/IMG_3632.jpg" /> As I conducted my inventory, I could see and feel the pressures on the plot that its steward had skillfully been deflecting. As many islands are, Catalina is small, isolated, and exposed; it is simultaneously a place apart and precariously sensitive to ecological and political turbulence. Yet, thanks to her determined care, the plants are hanging in there and even thriving. The native milkweed has spread out triumphantly, shimmering in the sunlight, and seeding itself. The Catalina Ironwood, my favorite, was both being munched and had flowered, even though its planting pit had required an electric spade to excavate. Mugwort and Tule, two water loving species, were happy behind the check dams, we assembled two years ago. Many small plants, ones you would expect to be the first to go, were hanging on: yarrows, buckwheats, and Yerba Buena. The Catalina Manzanita was making a surprising sprint to its tree form. &nbsp; All in all, perhaps more than 85% of the plants had survived. Casualties included the ever lovely St Catherine’s Lace buckwheat and the dudleyas, that while alive, had been nibbled to nubs. (All the plants were donated by the Catalina Conservancy over the last two years.) <img width="3024" height="4032" width_o="3024" height_o="4032" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/061589cfd0708bb4996f37a709c12f57612aec70b3cda0881794110ebaaabd72/IMG_3652.jpg" data-mid="239619889" border="0" alt="tule" data-caption="tule" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/061589cfd0708bb4996f37a709c12f57612aec70b3cda0881794110ebaaabd72/IMG_3652.jpg" /> <img width="3024" height="4032" width_o="3024" height_o="4032" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d96252e1d6c86b9f51655d4acc41dce6dbabeab7295446f031d12742c544c51d/IMG_3612.jpg" data-mid="239619858" border="0" alt="catalina ironwood" data-caption="catalina ironwood" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/d96252e1d6c86b9f51655d4acc41dce6dbabeab7295446f031d12742c544c51d/IMG_3612.jpg" /> What is the future of this plot and its plants? Of this island and research station? More than most years, it is in flux. Some of the pressures may subside. There is a plan to remove the deer from the island, that may actually be implemented; it would come with divisions and trauma, but would bring back biodiversity and radically improve all future restoration efforts.&nbsp; Meanwhile, I wonder whether our island steward will survive the cuts. I worry for her and I worry for this plot. The whole situation speaks to how much persists by the constant care of steward(s). They are needed to manage the pressures, but here we can see limits, however complex. The fate of the plants and the people are precariously entangled, and particularly on this outpost. In ways they tell us how to care: when to care for each and when we must tackle the pressures themselves. I finished my plant inventory and went down to jump in the water. Later I headed back to the mainland on the Miss Christi USC boat. A few weeks later I heard our local steward would be laid off. <img width="4032" height="3024" width_o="4032" height_o="3024" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/eea5a558c26b4ffffd6f792115f08bb2f7988590402d73799e57afcf96c9765e/IMG_3650.jpg" data-mid="239806197" border="0" alt="mugwort" data-caption="mugwort" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/eea5a558c26b4ffffd6f792115f08bb2f7988590402d73799e57afcf96c9765e/IMG_3650.jpg" /> <img width="4032" height="3024" width_o="4032" height_o="3024" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7943c83024c6aff0910c17eb50509f8c0573e52c784528c5c5d1f5a092877391/IMG_3662.jpg" data-mid="239619913" border="0" alt="catalina mazanita" data-caption="catalina mazanita" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/7943c83024c6aff0910c17eb50509f8c0573e52c784528c5c5d1f5a092877391/IMG_3662.jpg" /> https://testplotlog.cargo.site/7-27-HEAVY-HITTERS Wed, 13 Aug 2025 00:19:41 +0000 Test Plot Log https://testplotlog.cargo.site/7-27-HEAVY-HITTERS <img width="1513" height="1161" width_o="1513" height_o="1161" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/45f67e6386bae652976117cd58b3b5fcab4fd7de788081f3466e85aff0496872/Test-Plot-1-and-2---Jenny-Jones.png" data-mid="236973071" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/45f67e6386bae652976117cd58b3b5fcab4fd7de788081f3466e85aff0496872/Test-Plot-1-and-2---Jenny-Jones.png" /> HEAVY HITTERS Rio de Los Angeles Test Plot&nbsp;By Tom Hurst DATE: July 27 2025 Overview On an overcast Sunday, I started an informal itinerary of successful species at the Rio de Los Angeles Test Plots. This living document is dubbed Heavy Hitters. We will maintain this evolving record of change at the site, focusing first on individuals before considering future categorization. I hope this document helps inform the ongoing restoration efforts at Rio de Los Angeles State Park. It is also fun to record the wellbeing of plants we care about. Observations Test Plot 1: The dense shrubs at Rio de Los Angeles thrive in the early summer sun. Hardy plants produce expectant buds, including Baccharis pilularis (Coyote Bush) and Isocoma menziesii (Coastal Goldenbush). Rabbits shuffle between them. The proud structure of Malosma laurina (Laurel Sumac) and Heteromeles arbutifola (Toyon) sets them apart from the crowd. Their branches shelter smaller species. The Plot is densely planted and there is a sense of communion. Change is also visible through death; many of the staggered plantings of Encelia californica (California Brittlebrush) failed while Monardella villosa (Coyote Mint) is dry and defeated. Test Plot 2: At the younger Plot, Ceanothus thrysiflorus and Elymus condensatus (Giant Wildrye) break free of their gopher cages, their wire pants. Spent Salvia apiana (White Sage) stalks are relics of a warm Spring. In the throes of immaturity, Epilobium canum (California Fuschia) competes with Solidago californica (California Goldenrod). Their exchanges spill over the picket fence to a pile of harvested weeds. These weeds were cut low after the rain before they went to seed; their roots remain in place to minimize soil disturbance. This pile, we hope, provides habitat for insects. The ground feels cooler here than in Test Plot 1. Landcare Water immature plants strategically through the summer without watering mature species unnecessarily.Cut back lone weeds (though few remain after successful volunteer outings). Evaluate the relative success of species to inform planting decisions for the fall. Prune struggling species in late summer to encourage regrowth. Keep mulch to an absolute minimum. Brief Bio Tom studies Landscape Architecture and works as a gardener. As a design student, he believes in the role of ecological regeneration to help rehabilitate public and private spaces. He is interested in design that makes the process of change visible, and the landscape legible. His voluntary work at Test Plot: Rio de Los Angeles is a manifestation of use, time, and connection. His favorite plant this month is Baccharis pilularis. <img width="768" height="1024" width_o="768" height_o="1024" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8c1a7ae7a89b088e94ccf96df31b9c74321453806c3d339dfb88bc1160dcd869/Profile-Pic---Tom-Hurst.jpeg" data-mid="236973076" border="0" alt="The author, Tom Hurst" data-caption="The author, Tom Hurst" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/768/i/8c1a7ae7a89b088e94ccf96df31b9c74321453806c3d339dfb88bc1160dcd869/Profile-Pic---Tom-Hurst.jpeg" /> <img width="3024" height="4032" width_o="3024" height_o="4032" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e228cacf35df5a96d64aeab20efd760b3ee082e987d355c3769b8cf0c4e215a5/Salvia-apiana-and-Epilobium-canum-in-July---Tom-Hurst.jpeg" data-mid="236973077" border="0" alt="Salvia apiana and Epilobium canum in July" data-caption="Salvia apiana and Epilobium canum in July" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/e228cacf35df5a96d64aeab20efd760b3ee082e987d355c3769b8cf0c4e215a5/Salvia-apiana-and-Epilobium-canum-in-July---Tom-Hurst.jpeg" /> <img width="2048" height="1536" width_o="2048" height_o="1536" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ba44c4108d0bbf020a91ef4be541148d0ea29fc7abca27b8e46bd5c6c6ab0479/Baccharis-pilularis-in-July---Tom-Hurst.jpeg" data-mid="236973083" border="0" alt="Baccharis pilularis in July" data-caption="Baccharis pilularis in July" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/ba44c4108d0bbf020a91ef4be541148d0ea29fc7abca27b8e46bd5c6c6ab0479/Baccharis-pilularis-in-July---Tom-Hurst.jpeg" /> <img width="2048" height="1536" width_o="2048" height_o="1536" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/beb3e09c2ed98ea7a9b1cef7475156b1467a518987d923c8c9edf47befa58a48/Isocoma-menziesii-in-July---Tom-Hurst.jpeg" data-mid="236973085" border="0" alt="Isocoma menziesii in July" data-caption="Isocoma menziesii in July" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/beb3e09c2ed98ea7a9b1cef7475156b1467a518987d923c8c9edf47befa58a48/Isocoma-menziesii-in-July---Tom-Hurst.jpeg" /> <img width="1536" height="2048" width_o="1536" height_o="2048" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/5989642bc2aaeadf3772d40d49cdcb7f78a87faaf524a20376daa4883c5986bc/Encelia-californica-in-July---Tom-Hurst.jpeg" data-mid="236973090" border="0" alt="Encelia californica in July" data-caption="Encelia californica in July" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/5989642bc2aaeadf3772d40d49cdcb7f78a87faaf524a20376daa4883c5986bc/Encelia-californica-in-July---Tom-Hurst.jpeg" /> <img width="3024" height="4032" width_o="3024" height_o="4032" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/79e68fc206c9389560a51767866131422015df6e8d427162f11a887c0083bfa2/Dried-Weeds-in-July---Tom-Hurst.jpeg" data-mid="236973089" border="0" alt="Dried weed pile in July" data-caption="Dried weed pile in July" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/79e68fc206c9389560a51767866131422015df6e8d427162f11a887c0083bfa2/Dried-Weeds-in-July---Tom-Hurst.jpeg" /> https://testplotlog.cargo.site/6-13-SEED-COLLECTION-LHS Thu, 19 Jun 2025 01:55:53 +0000 Test Plot Log https://testplotlog.cargo.site/6-13-SEED-COLLECTION-LHS <img width="6240" height="4160" width_o="6240" height_o="4160" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9a3adbd2b8ce004f26739d0340d83202229bb4c9fc6cf48da2b9c0772d745629/DSCF3691.JPG" data-mid="234842569" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/9a3adbd2b8ce004f26739d0340d83202229bb4c9fc6cf48da2b9c0772d745629/DSCF3691.JPG" /> SEED COLLECTION + WORKDAY Ohlone Hillside at Lawrence Hall of Science, Berkeley "xǔčyun"&nbsp; the region that is part of the ancestral and unceded homeland of the East Bay Ohlone (pronounced "HOOCH-yoon" in Chochenyo language) &nbsp;By Will MacfarlaneDATE: June 13 2025 TIME: 12pmTEMP: &nbsp; 60°F – mostly sunny, moderate breeze VOLUNTEERS: 8 My name is Will Macfarlane. I’m a landscape architecture student at UC Berkeley and an intern this summer with Terremoto and Test Plot. I’m interested in slow work – working with the land, building relationships, and supporting spaces where plants, animals, and people can all heal. We began the morning at the roundabout in front of the Lawrence Hall of Science, where Margaret – a longtime volunteer with Skyline Gardens has spent seasons tending and seeding this area with local natives. Skyline Gardens is a 20+ year restoration project led by an amazing team of volunteers and shares the same geology, a high ridge volcanic plateau. Some of the plants were grown from seed gathered in her own backyard, others from Skyline, and some from nearby wild species. A quiet, patient experiment. Some were direct sown. Others were transplanted. All were part of a slow effort to reintroduce local ecology. We harvested what we could, with the intent to process and reapply these seeds within the LHS Test Plot, which is about a 5 minute walk away. Being able to collect from some seed originating from Skyline Gardens, which sits on the same volcanic shelf as the LHS Test Plot, means the seeds carry local adaptation – rooted in the same soil. This kind of hyperlocal sourcing feels essential. A way to deepen our reciprocal stewardship and add resilience. Collected seeds + Methods: – Uropappus lindleyi / Silverpuffs (dandelion like - just grabbed handfuls of puff) – Agoseris grandiflora / CA Dandelion (same method) – Eschscholzia californica / California poppy (crack open the long pods when brown) – Salvia mellifera / Black sage (turn the seed heads upside down into an envelope and tap) – Lupinus succulentus / Succulent lupine (pop open when black) Later in the day, we shifted to the Test Plot itself. We focused on pulling invasive oat grass and watering the established native plantings. A handful of species stood out – still holding strong after a dry spell: – Arctostaphylos manzanita – Pteridium aquilinum – Ceanothus – Stipa pulchra – Achillea millefolium – Gilia capitata – Gilia tricolor – Artemisia douglasiana Beyond the active plot, we noticed a small stand of Eriogonum nudum / Nude buckwheat growing through oat grass on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Bay. Untouched by us, but persisting on its own. Next steps: continue supporting what’s thriving. Maintain the edge between the plot and the surrounding weeds. Begin seed cleaning, and wait for the right season to sow. Timing, as always, matters. <img width="1818" height="1228" width_o="1818" height_o="1228" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/dc74933f08b467ccfecf2560164240f55fd15e7affb911bc668a220a11c3ba87/R1-07034-022A.JPEG" data-mid="234842570" border="0" alt="I grew up in Utah packing mules" data-caption="I grew up in Utah packing mules" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/dc74933f08b467ccfecf2560164240f55fd15e7affb911bc668a220a11c3ba87/R1-07034-022A.JPEG" /> <img width="4376" height="3282" width_o="4376" height_o="3282" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2b9a852b0e95d5a9a09ef28b77056b5b6dd75b2d3e7ed0b769a7c33efe4e1135/test_plot-2025-06-13-lawrence_hall_of_science-15_Original.jpg" data-mid="234932079" border="0" alt="Our treasures packed up for fall sowing (photo credit: Eugene Kim)" data-caption="Our treasures packed up for fall sowing (photo credit: Eugene Kim)" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/2b9a852b0e95d5a9a09ef28b77056b5b6dd75b2d3e7ed0b769a7c33efe4e1135/test_plot-2025-06-13-lawrence_hall_of_science-15_Original.jpg" /> <img width="6240" height="4160" width_o="6240" height_o="4160" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6370845512a94e20c30596bf665befbeef95fe863e243bec87fcbffa04801399/DSCF3673.JPG" data-mid="234842580" border="0" alt="Roundabout plot - our seed source!" data-caption="Roundabout plot - our seed source!" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/6370845512a94e20c30596bf665befbeef95fe863e243bec87fcbffa04801399/DSCF3673.JPG" /> <img width="3456" height="4608" width_o="3456" height_o="4608" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/815e328bd04ab431593dc8884a3adb20fb283b0e0035719ed3d7e0aa66b5eaa3/test_plot-2025-06-13-lawrence_hall_of_science-08_Original.jpg" data-mid="234932098" border="0" alt="Poppin poppies" data-caption="Poppin poppies" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/815e328bd04ab431593dc8884a3adb20fb283b0e0035719ed3d7e0aa66b5eaa3/test_plot-2025-06-13-lawrence_hall_of_science-08_Original.jpg" /> <img width="2296" height="3062" width_o="2296" height_o="3062" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/de3e1e22cf5faaab7543a805a2efba7843b7a47d54f3d6c00fa6256f96616044/test_plot-2025-06-13-lawrence_hall_of_science-10_Original.jpg" data-mid="234932263" border="0" alt="Yellow face bumble bee" data-caption="Yellow face bumble bee" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/de3e1e22cf5faaab7543a805a2efba7843b7a47d54f3d6c00fa6256f96616044/test_plot-2025-06-13-lawrence_hall_of_science-10_Original.jpg" /> <img width="3456" height="4608" width_o="3456" height_o="4608" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ddb1e2bde2dfc1446abce0499bbef7ae4661c2a54d4b34c0c19d7dcf84dd37b5/test_plot-2025-06-13-lawrence_hall_of_science-13_Original.jpg" data-mid="234932308" border="0" alt="8 mo pregnant is the perfect time to collect seeds" data-caption="8 mo pregnant is the perfect time to collect seeds" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/ddb1e2bde2dfc1446abce0499bbef7ae4661c2a54d4b34c0c19d7dcf84dd37b5/test_plot-2025-06-13-lawrence_hall_of_science-13_Original.jpg" /> <img width="3456" height="4608" width_o="3456" height_o="4608" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/34b5cd311fb5a68f4efd9d8ecc40e643a040bd5bc9ae7550712e00db87b341c3/test_plot-2025-06-13-lawrence_hall_of_science-07_Original.jpg" data-mid="234932261" border="0" alt="Silverpuffs" data-caption="Silverpuffs" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/34b5cd311fb5a68f4efd9d8ecc40e643a040bd5bc9ae7550712e00db87b341c3/test_plot-2025-06-13-lawrence_hall_of_science-07_Original.jpg" /> <img width="6240" height="4160" width_o="6240" height_o="4160" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a5a0a7ac125b4c737e3b466688a93a7a3a2e3e65b825a000501845ac634bb650/DSCF3707.JPG" data-mid="234842581" border="0" alt="Hillside plot focus area" data-caption="Hillside plot focus area" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/a5a0a7ac125b4c737e3b466688a93a7a3a2e3e65b825a000501845ac634bb650/DSCF3707.JPG" /> <img width="6240" height="4160" width_o="6240" height_o="4160" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3ff52abad83a14d32f3ece7a1c977e66dc708e0b9727c260a1c486fc1be4db38/DSCF3709.JPG" data-mid="234842583" border="0" alt="Baby Manzanita protected by Bracken Fern - both thriving" data-caption="Baby Manzanita protected by Bracken Fern - both thriving" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/3ff52abad83a14d32f3ece7a1c977e66dc708e0b9727c260a1c486fc1be4db38/DSCF3709.JPG" /> <img width="6240" height="4160" width_o="6240" height_o="4160" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e32517cbf6fe99f74252c5ef732c5ebe24c9e19d7d0b125b179c21aa8596123c/DSCF3715.JPG" data-mid="234842596" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/e32517cbf6fe99f74252c5ef732c5ebe24c9e19d7d0b125b179c21aa8596123c/DSCF3715.JPG" />