Last week I posted photos of this spot just upstream of the 4th bridge. This area is going to be a "point bar," where the cobbled bank will slope gently down to the water. The point bar will let visitors get right up to the water. In addition, it will allow the stream to spread out during heavy rains, reducing flooding and erosion along the rest of the stream. To create the space for the point bar, the trail is being realigned farther away from the stream. If you know where this drinking fountain is, you can get an idea of the new trail alignment.
This photo shows the current view from the junction of the one- and two-mile trails. As you can see, the whole area has been dramatically opened up. These beautiful sycamores that used to be almost invisible in the thicket of peppers and privet can now be seen in all their glory. You can see the caution tape that the contractor has tied around the trees that are being preserved. Mike Bubalo Construction Company is doing an excellent job of surgically removing the non-native species and leaving the natives--even in some places where they have to literally untangle the invasive species from around and between the natives. A few non-natives are being preserved, like the large palm in the above photo (only the trunk is visible). Even though it is not native, this palm helps stabilize the streambank and removing it would be difficult and costly. Besides, palms are not particularly invasive, so there is little harm in leaving it.
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