From Nation Newsworld – On Friday, as part of his revised May budget, Governor Gavin Newsom is scheduled to announce that the state is acquiring 2,100 acres near the confluence of the San Joaquin and Tuolumne Rivers to create a new state park and rich areas with possibilities to reduce flood risk and restore some of California’s lost natural heritage. The Stanislaus County property, 40 miles east of San Jose and 10 miles west of Modesto, is known as Dos Rios Ranch. It will become the first new state park established since 2009. Not only does it restore wildlife such as sandhill cranes, ducks and fallen Chinook salmon, said Julie Rentner, president of River Partners, but it also allows water to circulate and slowly flow back into the ground, recharging aquifers. and reduces downstream flood pressure in Manteca and Stockton. She said her organization has 48 similar flood restoration projects running between San Diego and Redding. (more)