Bushy Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bushy Lake |
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 Bushy Lake
Location in California
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| Location | Sacramento, California |
| Coordinates | 38°35′20″N 121°26′04″W / 38.5889°N 121.4345°W |
Bushy Lake is a small lake in Sacramento, California. It's part of the American River Parkway. This area is being restored to help wildlife and offer fun outdoor activities.
The lake area faces challenges like drought (very dry periods), erosion (soil washing away), and wildfires. It's also home to plants and animals that aren't native, which can cause problems. Bushy Lake is a special "Nature Study Area" and is protected by a law called the Bushy Lake Preservation Act.
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Where is Bushy Lake?
Bushy Lake is a small lake found within the American River Parkway. You can find it behind the southeast corner of Cal Expo in Sacramento. It's about half a mile from the Cal Expo parking area and 700 meters from the American River.
History of Bushy Lake
The land around Bushy Lake became state property in the 1940s. In the 1960s, there were plans to build a golf course. This work changed the shape of the lake. However, groups like the Save the American River Association stepped in. They helped pass the Bushy Lake Preservation Act in 1976. This law stopped the golf course project to protect the natural river area.
Today, Cal Expo owns the land, and Sacramento County Parks manages it. The area around Bushy Lake used to be a floodplain for the American River. This means the river would naturally spread out here during floods. But since the Folsom Dam was built, the river's flow is controlled. So, the river doesn't flood this area anymore.
Now, Bushy Lake gets its water from groundwater pumped by Cal Expo. This is done to follow the Bushy Lake Preservation Act. California has a Mediterranean climate with dry summers. This makes many places, including Bushy Lake, prone to wildfires. Large fires happened near the lake in 2014 and 2016. A big goal of the current restoration project is to grow plants that can survive fires better.
Protecting Bushy Lake
The Bushy Lake Preservation Act was created in 1976. Its main goal is to protect the plants and animals living in the area. It also makes sure the floodplains are kept safe for people to enjoy.
Another law, Assembly Bill 889 (AB 889), added more rules to the original act. It requires the California Exposition and State Fair Board to manage Bushy Lake like a state park or natural preserve. This means they must follow the rules of the American River Parkway Plan. AB 889 also helps more people visit the lake by setting aside land for public access and parking.
The Bushy Lake Restoration Project
Students and staff from the Environmental Studies department at CSUS are working on a big project. It's called the Bushy Lake Restoration Project. They are working with Sacramento County Parks to bring the natural river habitat back to life.
This project started in 2014 with help from many groups. Their goals are to plant native plants that can handle fires and droughts. They also want to create better homes for local animals. Plus, they want to teach people about the environment.
Plant Research
A key part of the restoration project is to grow plants that can survive fires. Researchers are studying how to best plant native species like Santa Barbara sedge and creeping wild rye. They found that planting them separately and not too close together works best. This research helps them choose the right plants to make the area more fire-resistant.
Western Pond Turtle Research
Scientists have found both Western pond turtles and Red-eared sliders in Bushy Lake. Western pond turtles are native to the area. Red-eared sliders are an invasive species (not native) that compete with the native turtles for food and places to sunbathe. In 2017, there were more native turtles. But by 2018, there were more red-eared sliders. Plans are being made to move the red-eared sliders to a different place. They also want to tag the Western pond turtles to track them.
Bird Watching and Monitoring
Bird experts regularly count birds at Bushy Lake. They stand in certain spots for 15 minutes and record all the birds they see or hear. This helps them learn which birds use the lake for breeding, finding food, or just passing through. These counts help them understand which bird species live there all year.
Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle Monitoring
The valley elderberry longhorn beetle is a special beetle that is a threatened species. It lives in elderberry trees near the American River. There are many elderberry trees around Bushy Lake. Scientists check these trees for small holes made by the beetles. Finding these holes means the beetle is living in that tree. So far, they haven't found any new signs of these beetles at Bushy Lake.
Plants and Animals
Bushy Lake is home to many different animals. You might spot a western pond turtle, a river otter, or a red-tailed hawk. The Valley elderberry longhorn beetle and the Willow flycatcher also live here, along with many other bird species.
The area around Bushy Lake is a wetland riparian plant community. This means it's a watery area with plants that grow near rivers. Because of things like fire and drought, there are more non-native plants here. These non-native plants often grow well in dry conditions.
A survey of the plants showed that about half are native to the area. These include trees, bushes, and smaller plants. Some native plants are beardless wild rye, Santa Barbara sedge, elderberry, coyote brush, and California blackberry. Other native trees include California grape, sandbar willow, arroyo willow, Goodding’s willow, box elder, and Fremont’s cottonwood.
About half of the plants found are not native. Many of these are invasive species. Invasive plants like Himalayan blackberry, poison hemlock, and prickly lettuce can take over. They crowd out the native plants, making it hard for them to get what they need. This harms the natural variety of life at Bushy Lake.
Fun Activities
Bushy Lake is a great place for outdoor fun! It's located near the American River Bike Trail, perfect for bike riding. You can also go fishing in the lake or the nearby American River. People who fish are asked to share what fish and wildlife they see.
Besides biking and fishing, the area is popular for bird watching, horseback riding, hiking, and picnicking. You can also find organized volunteer opportunities at Bushy Lake. These often involve removing weeds or preparing sites for new research projects.
