Volunteers planted 250 native trees at Hidden Valley Nature Center on Dec. 5 as part of an effort to restore habitat along the Santa Ana River. The project, organized by Trout Unlimited and the Arbor Day Foundation with support from industrial gas company Linde, replaced invasive species with native cottonwoods, sycamores and willows. … Over time, the trees will shade the river to keep water temperatures cool for wildlife, stabilize soil to reduce erosion and filter pollutants from stormwater runoff. The project is also expected to help mitigate climate change-driven flooding impacts along the Santa Ana floodplain.

Other floodplain and watershed restoration news:

• Richmondside (Calif.): The Watershed Project is greening Richmond in myriad ways
• American Rivers: Blog: Bringing life back to the Van Buskirk wetland