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Eleven years spent planning and planting at one of Southern California?EUR??,,????'?????< This autumn, close to 8,000 native shrubs were in the ground and growing at Bolsa Chica, near Huntington Beach, Calif. What started as a chance meeting has grown into an effort that draws several hundred volunteers most months, bringing close to 10,000 people to the open space since the group launched more than a decade ago. ?EUR??,,????'?????< Along the way, Stivers learned lessons that would influence his career path. The work at Bolsa Chica showed him that a long-term investment in a neglected site can show considerable dividends down the line. ?EUR??,,????'?????< Seeing volunteers make it happen nudged Stivers in the maintenance and sustainability direction in his own career. He became a California Certified Urban Forester and recently joined the engineering and environmental consulting firm Dudek & Associates, Inc. in that capacity.
Eleven years spent planning and planting at one of Southern California?EUR??,,????'?????<
This autumn, close to 8,000 native shrubs were in the ground and growing at Bolsa Chica, near Huntington Beach, Calif. What started as a chance meeting has grown into an effort that draws several hundred volunteers most months, bringing close to 10,000 people to the open space since the group launched more than a decade ago.
?EUR??,,????'?????<
Along the way, Stivers learned lessons that would influence his career path. The work at Bolsa Chica showed him that a long-term investment in a neglected site can show considerable dividends down the line.
Seeing volunteers make it happen nudged Stivers in the maintenance and sustainability direction in his own career. He became a California Certified Urban Forester and recently joined the engineering and environmental consulting firm Dudek & Associates, Inc. in that capacity.
Working for his own firm, Stivers recently supervised plantings along Los Angeles?EUR??,,????'?????< Bolsa Chica remains a top priority, however. The next year will see continued plantings of native shrubs like eriogonum, salvia, artemisia and others. Over the next decade, however, other opportunities may open up. Stivers would like to try establishing coast live oak, California sycamore and Torrey pine in a zone that lies farther from the coastline. Whichever direction the plan takes, volunteers will remain essential for watering, fertilizing and monitoring the juvenile plants. Decades of farming on the site have scraped away topsoil, making it difficult for native shrubs to compete with weed species, Stivers says. The momentum the group has gathered makes it likely that the Stewards will succeed in transforming and restoring the land at Bolsa Chica. Stivers participation means that the project is much more than a feel-good effort. ?EUR??,,????'?????< Learn more about the Bolsa Chica Stewards and the Bolsa Chica Land Trust at www.bolsachicalandtrust.org
Working for his own firm, Stivers recently supervised plantings along Los Angeles?EUR??,,????'?????<
Bolsa Chica remains a top priority, however. The next year will see continued plantings of native shrubs like eriogonum, salvia, artemisia and others. Over the next decade, however, other opportunities may open up.
Stivers would like to try establishing coast live oak, California sycamore and Torrey pine in a zone that lies farther from the coastline. Whichever direction the plan takes, volunteers will remain essential for watering, fertilizing and monitoring the juvenile plants.
Decades of farming on the site have scraped away topsoil, making it difficult for native shrubs to compete with weed species, Stivers says.
The momentum the group has gathered makes it likely that the Stewards will succeed in transforming and restoring the land at Bolsa Chica. Stivers participation means that the project is much more than a feel-good effort.
Learn more about the Bolsa Chica Stewards and the Bolsa Chica Land Trust at www.bolsachicalandtrust.org
Francisco Uviña, University of New Mexico
Hardscape Oasis in Litchfield Park
Ash Nochian, Ph.D. Landscape Architect
November 12th, 2025
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