From mavensnotebook.com: “Initially, a single, unassuming twig was observed rising from a sandy gravel beach at the lower Yuba River near Marysville earlier this year.  That lone twig, however, represented something more significant to two U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists after the Yuba River had realigned during the massive storm events in February. It meant that restoration plantings for not just one, but hundreds of twigs had survived.  The Hammon Bar Riparian Enhancement Project, completed last fall, was designed to evaluate and demonstrate the benefits of planting large cuttings of cottonwood and willow trees in the floodplain of the lower Yuba River. The main goal was to create new biologically diverse riparian vegetation to enhance fish habitat through additional shading, cover, and food supply. … ” Read more from US FWS here:  Work on Yuba River’s Hammon Bar earns high honors