Seeing Sacramento & Beyond
Exploring a City with a Small-Town Feel and World of PotentialArchive for July 7, 2009
Oh, Mighty Marsh Land
Yolo Basin Foundation
The irony may be that hunters are allowed on the land; land which was designated to protect animals. The irony may be that traps are set to protect the little creatures. The irony may be that the land was restored by man to be what it once was before man altered it. The irony may be that Beavers clog the waterways, and people return the next day to unclog them, repeating this behavior like the movie ‘Groundhog Day’.
The irony may seem glaring out here in the Yolo Basin… And yet, it’s just the tip of the iceberg. What at first seems ironic or contradictory may only be partial truths simply submerged.
What’s really going on at the Yolo Basin Foundation, between Sacramento, Davis, Woodland and Winters is really not irony, but exquisite cooperation amongst seemingly-opposite agendas.
When people learn to work together – and bust through the barriers that had seemed indestructible – miracles of compassion and understanding happen. The brilliance and dedication behind the preservation of these wetlands should be inspiration for us all. Believe in a better world until you are living in that better world, and then keep believing, because others will begin to follow.
The Yolo Basin may not look like a miraculous feat to the untrained eye, but looks – as well as our pre-conceived notions – can be deceiving. Just ask the millions of birds that fly overhead each year and stop in for food, shelter and rest. Ask the volunteers who dedicate their days. Ask Bill Clinton. Or just stop into the Yolo Basin Wildlife Refuge for a visit yourself. One conversation with an impassioned tour guide and you’ll begin to see the light.
This is the way to ensure a better future for our children.
www.yolobasin.org
There is something special about Sacramento; the rich land upon which she was built, the rivers that flow through her, the bounty around her and the people who make it their home.
Life is good in California’s Capital City for many reasons, including climate and geography, community and amenities, nature and wildlife, and more. It’s hard to imagine a warmer feeling than a sunshine-drenched morning here, an easier feeling than a refreshing spring day, or a more engaging experience than a night on the town after a cleansing rain.
There’s truly something for everyone and every mood, for Sacramento is a shifting entity itself, with four distinct but relatively mild seasons, diverse neighborhoods and people, a ripening food and restaurant scene, year-round events and outdoor fun, and daytime and nighttime adventures. Its magic is a blend of history and tradition, vision and reinvention. And there’s so much pleasure to be had here – with family and friends, food and wine, adventures and experiences – that they’re likely to create the kind of fond memories that might seem so familiar… but aren’t quite like any other.
