Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association

Christmas at the Ranch will not be held this year We are sorry to announce that the popular Christmas at the Ranch Victorian Christmas celebration held each year in the historic Ranch House at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park is being cancelled for the 2020 season due to COVID-19 health concerns associated with indoor events that don’t allow for social distancing. We could not in good conscious encourage the large number of people who come to this event each year to gat...her closely together in the Ranch House. AMIA has been presenting this Christmas event for over 25 years. It features tasty Christmas baked goods, hot apple cider and coffee, and performances by local musicians singing Christmas carols and holiday songs. Santa is always present to greet children of all ages. We hope that by this time next year, we will once again be able to gather together at the Ranch House to enjoy each other’s company and holiday cheer. Meanwhile, everyone please have a safe and wonderful Holiday Season.

AMIA has partnered with State Parks and AmeriCorps volunteers to repair the iconic wooden Boardwalk located on the Cache Creek Nature Trail at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park. Funding has been provided by AMIA, with the assistance of a grant from the California State Parks Foundation. State Parks maintenance crew supervised the project and provided training for the AmeriCorps volunteers. The project is expected to be completed by the end of November.

The pelicans have arrived! Many hundreds of American White Pelicans have returned once more to Clear Lake to stay the winter. The large birds pictured here in Anderson Marsh can weigh up to 30 pounds and have a wingspan of up to six feet. (Photos by Jim Duckworth.) Kayakers have been reporting a large flock of over 100 birds in Anderson Marsh, taking advantage of the low water to fish. American White Pelicans fish together in large groups, herding the fish into shallow wa...ter where they scoop them up in their large beaks, which can be up to 15 inches long. With the low water level, the best place to launch your kayak is at Clear Lake Campground, on Cache Creek across from Anderson Marsh State Historic Park. There is a small charge for launching. Clear Lake Campground California. No kayak? American White Pelicans can often be seen in the water off of the McVicar Trail at the Park. You can download a brochure with a trail map at www.andersonmarsh.org. Big thanks to photographer Jim Duckworth for allowing us to use his beautiful photos.

Anderson Marsh hiking trails are now open! After being temporarily closed due the the effects of the LNU wildfire, the hiking trails at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park are once again open to the public. All are invited to enjoy hiking in the Park. Consistent with Covid-19 guidelines, visitors are asked to wear face coverings and maintain social distance when encountering other hikers. A park brochure containing a trail map may be downloaded at www.andersonmarsh.org. See you there!

The Ballad of the Pied-billed Grebe .... This cute little bird is a Pied-Billed Grebe. Her floating nest is made of tules anchored to water weeds. This year, she decided to build her nest in a channel off of Cache Creek, directly across from Anderson Marsh State Historic Park. This gave us a wonderful opportunity to follow her as she worked to raise her brood.

The COVID-19 crisis has been felt by every individual, family, community, business and industry Anderson Marsh State Historic Park is no exception. Thanks to California State Parks Foundation’s Keeping Parks Whole grant program, AMIA will be able to fund critically needed work to repair the iconic wooden boardwalk on the Cache Creek Nature Trail, which is suffering from serious deferred maintenance. This work will guarantee that the boardwalk will be ready to go when guided nature walks and public-school field trips after when the park fully re-opens. AMIA sends a shout-out to the California State Parks Foundation!

Many of these & other kinds of galls are "caused" by native pollinators. They can be found on the willow & oak tree leaves, stems or branches at Anderson Marsh SHP.