A restoration project underway in California’s High Sierra is aiming to strengthen the state’s water supply by bringing a damaged mountain meadow system back to life. Crews are restoring nearly three miles of the West Walker River and surrounding floodplains at Pickel Meadow, located north of Yosemite. The project focuses on restoring the natural flow of water through the meadow, allowing it to better absorb snowmelt and gradually release water into rivers and streams. … Matt Freitas, California headwaters program director for American Rivers, said these mountain ecosystems play a critical role in the state’s water future. “Maybe only 2% to 3% of the Sierra is mountain meadows, but they store a lot of water,” Freitas said. “They help clean that water and help release that water downstream during periods of low flow and drought.”

Other wetland restoration news:

• Imperial Valley Press (El Centro, Calif.): California water officials target Salton Sea Restoration Ponds for new regulatory protections
• Times-Standard (Eureka, Calif.): Eel River Native Plant Network working toward restoration of the watershed