MENDOCINO COUNTY – Join the Big River Stewards Program of the Mendocino Land Trust and the Mendocino Woodlands Camp Association for the third annual Earth Day Work Weekend at Big River in Mendocino on April 25 and 26.

Come stay a night at the historic Mendocino Woodlands Camp in the redwoods and help with restoration projects at Big River or join us for either day.

Complimentary lodging will be provided to volunteers in rustic private cabins nestled in the redwoods at the Mendocino Woodlands Camp, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression.

Lodging is limited to 25 participants. Funding for this event has been provided by the California State Parks Foundation.

On Saturday, April 25, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., volunteers will remove Ammophila (or European Beach Grass) and other invasive plants from scenic Big River Beach located between the Big River estuary and the historic village of Mendocino.

On Saturday night, a complimentary dinner will be served in the Woodlands historic Camp One dining hall.

On Sunday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., volunteers will work to remove invasive English Ivy from mature stands of redwoods bordering Big River.

For more information, or to RSVP, contact Stewards Coordinator Matt Coleman at 707-962-0470 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

In 2002, Mendocino Land Trust acquired the 7,334-acre former industrial logging property and turned it over to California State Parks. Big River, home to endangered coho salmon and threatened steelhead trout, is also one of the longest undeveloped estuaries in Northern California.

Since 2004, Mendocino Land Trust’s Big River Stewards have been working to remove invasive plants, control erosion and monitor avian and aquatic resources.

For more information about the Big River Stewards program, visit the group's Web site at www.mendocinolandtrust.org.