Newsom's New State Park: Dos Rios Ranch

0:00Governor Gavin Newsom is dropping big news Friday, with his updated budget, announcing the state will snag 2,100 acres at Dos Rios. Ranch near where the San Joaquin and Tuala May rivers meet. This spot in Stanislaus County, 40 miles east of San Jose, and 10 miles west of Modesto, turns into California's first new state park since 2009. The longest dry spell since the park system kicked off in 1927. River partners scooped up the old hay and alfalfa ranches back in 2012 and 2014 for $32 million, mostly, grants and donations. They've planted over 350,000 trees, shrubs and plants like cottonwoods and willows, tweaking old berms so flood spread. Naturally, recharging groundwater and easing pressure downstream. Folks are buzzing because wildlife's exploding back, San Hill cranes, ducks, Chinook Salmon, deer after 60 years gone, plus over 250.

1:01Bird species on the Pacific Flyway. Stay Parts Director Armando Quintero says, it'll mean trails for hiking, river paddling and fishing, filling a huge gap since the San Joaquin Valley, has the fewest parks around. Newsom's riding budget surplus is to flip the script after past governors like Jerry Brown's short-change parks during tough times. He's already pumped $548 million into local grants and his wife's library pass program for free entry, with more land, deals and the works. Expect a state to grab title by late next year, public access kicking off in late 2023, and parking, restrooms, trails and campsites. Rolling out in under five years to hook millions more into California's wild side, local news powered by AI. This is California News Today.