California legislative staffers and environmental advocates took flight Tuesday to get a rare aerial view of watershed restoration in the Sierra Nevada, a project they say is critical to protecting the state’s water supply. Much of California’s drinking water begins in places like the Yuba River Watershed, where decades of fire damage and climate change have left ecosystems fragile. … The restoration work includes removing invasive plants, planting native trees, and clearing sediment from streams and meadows. Some trees removed are repurposed into biochar, which helps filter toxins from the water system. Since 2020, SYRCL has funneled $23 million into local restoration efforts, hiring regional contractors and supporting environmental jobs. 

Other watershed and habitat restoration news:

• Cupertino Today (Calif.): Permanente Creek restoration begins in Cupertino
• The Current (UC Santa Barbara): Protecting nature may depend on where — not just how — we farm