Palisadians Encouraged to Adopt Baby Oak Trees in Topanga State Park

By JENNA SITEMAN | Intern

As summer continues on, adoptable baby oaks in Topanga State Park are relying on volunteers to provide them with the water they need to thrive.

At Trippet Ranch, Watershed Stewards Project member Rachel Kieffer and Rosi Dagit, senior conservation biologist at the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains, recently launched the Topanga Oak Team Tree Care Program.

Palisadian volunteer member of Topanga Canyon Docents Melanie Anderson shared that this could be an “enjoyable recreational and educational opportunity” for those who are interested.

One-hundred trees were tagged online on an interactive map, in which hopeful oak tree adopters can look to see where a tree is located and if it has been adopted yet.

“CA State Parks and RCDSMM have been working together to restore 10 acres of oak woodlands that were devastated during the last drought at Trippet Ranch in Topanga State Park,” according to the program’s website. “Over 200 acorns and seedlings have been planted to mitigate for the loss experienced in the park. We have also been growing over 300 oaks in lower Topanga State Park at the old Rodeo Grounds to restore the tree canopy along the creek.”

The website also shows information about the condition of each tree, as it is shared by its adopter to the park staff. Between the end of June and mid-July, approximately 70 trees were adopted and are now being cared for by volunteers.

Due to COVID-19 precautions, the RCDSMM is not able to hold monthly volunteer events to water and care for the trees.

“Usually we have these huge volunteer days and we have such a strong community that shows up and is able to help,” Kieffer said, “but asking people to go on their own and water a tree [is a little harder]. But adoptions have been really exciting, and it’s great to hear from people who have found their tree and are very excited to take care of it.”

The project is still looking for volunteers who are able to adopt a baby oak tree through the month of August. Adopters are asked to water their oak tree a little more than five gallons of water per month, ensure no weeds take over the encaged area the tree is planted in, and protect it from deer or other predators.

The program also offers an alternative adoption method for those who are unable to go into the park themselves, writing in a statement that a monthly donation of $25 will ensure their oak receives the care it needs in order to thrive. They also accept donations at any lower denomination, as all donations help the organization greatly to tend to the oak trees.

They are hoping that all of the trees will be adopted by August, but the care for the tree is set to continue most likely through the beginning of winter.

“We’re hoping to keep this project going until probably about November, when we get our first rainstorm, which in Southern California, can be hard to predict,” Kieffer concluded.

For more information about the program or to adopt a tree, visit rcdsmm.org/tot.