With a new state park in our backyard, local American Association of University Women (AAUW) members are excited to learn how River Partners has worked for the last 10 years on the restoration of the Dos Reis State Park floodplain, California’s largest floodplain restoration project.

To that end the AAUW Oakdale, Riverbank, Escalon Branch has invited Associate Restoration Scientist, Claudia Quintero Delgado to speak to them at their Thursday, March 13 dinner meeting being held at Aemetis Properties in Riverbank. The recovered floodplains at the confluence of the Tuolumne and San Joaquin rivers support threatened and endangered wildlife and native plants.

“What we’re doing,” said Ms. Delgado, “is giving native plants a fighting chance. If we do nothing, invasives would persist and take over easily. But what we’re doing is giving native plants, and wildlife who depend on them, a chance to come back. That’s pretty incredible.”

A restoration biologist at River Partners, Ms. Delgado received her Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies along with a minor in Anthropology from Sonoma State University. When asked what led her to choose this career she said: “I grew up here in the Central Valley and was fortunate enough to experience the outdoors at a young age when my dad would take my siblings and me out to the mountains where he worked building cattle fences. At a young age, I told myself I wanted a career that involved taking care of the outdoors. I was hesitant to pursue that field as a first-generation college student but I did and now I am back in the Valley learning how to improve our environment and our community.”

Reservations are needed for the meeting. Members, guests and prospective members can do so and get more information about the meeting, which begins at 6 p.m., by emailing membership director, Gail Marganelli at gmarganelli@att.net.

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) advances gender equity for women and girls through research, education, and advocacy. The nonpartisan, nonprofit organization has more than 170,000 members and supporters across the United States, as well as 1,000 local branches and more than 800 college and university members. Learn more at www.aauw.org. Branch information is at http://ore-ca.aauw.net or by emailing the branch at AAUW.ORE@gmail.com. Graduates holding an associates or higher degree from an institution of the AAUW list of qualified institutions and persons holding an honorary degree are eligible for membership in AAUW.