This past weekend, Restore the Delta and the Mormon Slough Restoration Association (MSRA) hosted a public visioning meeting to help finalize a broad vision for restoration of the Mormon Slough and conceptual designs for two pilot sites: the Solari Ranch area and a site behind the Emergency Foodbank near downtown Stockton.
The successful event brought together community members, City of Stockton leaders, and other key stakeholders to share ideas and help shape a collective vision for transforming the long-neglected corridor into a healthier, more resilient community resource.
As Michelle Mendoza, Flood and Land Restoration Program Manager at Restore the Delta, told ABC 10, “We ultimately want to see water running through the slough, but in the short, near term, we can definitely see having local vegetation, native vegetation being put in, removing invasive species, and bringing in park amenities for folks.”
Stockton resident Latoya Fox also expressed her enthusiasm saying, “Seeing that we have projects that we have started to start moving forward to a better future for the community to use for entertainment purposes or just to have fun is great.”
The feedback gathered during this meeting, along with input from the previous public visioning session and additional community outreach including engagement with more than 3,000 households over the past nine months, will now help guide the landscape architecture team as they begin finalizing restoration plans.
Restore the Delta would like to send heartfelt appreciation to everyone who took the time to participate and share their ideas. We’d also like to thank the San Francisco Estuary Institute for helping facilitate productive discussions, as well as the Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians, San Joaquin County Supervisor Mario Gardea, City of Stockton Vice Mayor Jason Lee, and City of Stockton Councilmember Mario Enriquez, for joining us and supporting this important effort.