weed wildlife refuge and
botanical garden project

In early 2006 Vulcan held a meeting with the Mayor of Weed, California, the Weed Finance Director and other community leaders to describe the Military Pass Geothermal Project on the north flank of nearby Mt. Shasta.  During this meeting the Native Restoration Fund was described and a possible recipient of the native plant restoration portion of the NRF was identified.
 
The Weed Wildlife Refuge and Botanical Garden Project (WWRBG) is located on 64 acres at the south end of the Weed city limits. A registered 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Corporation was formed in 1997 to protect a natural marsh area that had been donated to the City of Weed by a developer since the land was not suitable for development.  For many years the project languished due to lack of funding. The NRF held talks with the WWRBG Board and eventually signed an agreement to support the construction of a three acre lake creating more than 20 acres of wetland.  An initial $10,000 was donated to the fund to carry out preliminary work.  Matching funds and grant applications will supplement the NRF contribution.

This wetland area will be planted with native plants for reestablishment with the hope that these plants will thrive and spread to adjacent lands.  The Weed Botanical Garden Board has allowed Vulcan one seat on their board of directors held by Sandy Lonsdale.  This project will utilize native plants from the nearby Menzies’ Natives Garden in the restoration work and hopes to have the new Weed Botanical Garden produce native plant starts to sell for other local restoration projects.  The new wildlife refuge will be a haven for area wildlife, will serve as a showpiece site for area botanical diversity, and will serve the community of Weed as a garden for special events.