UPDATE: The Canham Trail is now open.

Have you noticed the large gully that runs through Canham Meadow at the East Glenwood Preserve?

Wet meadows, like Canham, are essential to our ecosystem because they collect runoff and help reduce seasonal flooding. They also serve as a filtration system by storing excess nutrients in the meadow’s vegetation, providing a vital food system and habitat for local wildlife. The significant gully erosion you see is threatening to lower the water table and dry out the meadow, leading to increased invasive weed pressure, biodiversity loss, and poor water quality downstream.

So, how did this gully form, you might ask? Well, stormwater runoff from the roads and rural residences concentrated a flow of water into a culvert along Canham Road. The water then funneled as a stream under the road, draining directly into the meadow, where it slowly created the gully that now cuts through the steeper portion of the field.

Thankfully, a project is underway to correct the water flow and restore this unique and much-needed ecosystem! The City of Santa Cruz Water Department was looking for an opportunity to engage in wetland restoration, and thankfully, Canham meadow was identified as a suitable site. The project is designed to correct the meadow’s worsening erosion and improve native plant and animal habitat, while promoting a healthier watershed.

Project construction began July 19th and will continue into the fall. The project aims to repair the gully and restore the seasonal wet meadow to its former function by creating an outlet basin and grading the gully banks into a sunken, marshy place (referred to as a shallow swale). The graded areas will be planted with native plants from seeds collected on-site to help slow the force of water and prevent future gully erosion. Fencing will also be installed to exclude cattle from the planting areas until the vegetation becomes established. The restoration site will be monitored for 5 years after the project is completed to ensure its success.

The equestrian entrance to the preserve will be closed for at least 6 weeks during the first portion of the restoration project. The rest of the preserve will remain open, and while equestrian access will be temporarily restricted, you can still enjoy the East Glenwood Preserve by hiking or running along its trails. During construction, please use the preserve’s main entrance and check our website and social media platforms regularly for updates on closures.