Mowers, Weed Whackers and Goats!
If you’ve walked by the Southeast Greenway recently, you may have noticed something new: a lot fewer weeds—and a lot more goats!
This spring marked the first fire season under City of Santa Rosa ownership of the Southeast Greenway property, and we’re thrilled to share that a well-coordinated weed abatement effort has just wrapped up—thanks to the combined work of the City of Santa Rosa, the Santa Rosa Fire Department, and Parks Maintenance staff, along with support from the Southeast Greenway Campaign and Sonoma Land Trust.
The cleanup happened in stages:
- A tractor mower handled the flat, open areas
- Crews followed with weed whackers in boulder-filled and tree-covered sections
- Finally, a herd of lively, hard-working goats moved in to graze the upper slopes, clearing brush and helping to raise the tree canopy to create healthier, more fire-resilient conditions
For years, CalTrans was responsible for mowing the site, but this is the first year the City has managed the land. While the City is currently facing a serious budget shortfall, our campaign and Sonoma Land Trust stepped in to donate funds to help make sure the work got done before peak fire season. We know how important this is to the neighbors who live near the Greenway, and we’re happy to report that the overgrown weeds are now under control.
These are exactly the kinds of practical, on-the-ground efforts that your donations help make possible. If you’d like to support future projects like this, please consider a gift to the Southeast Greenway Campaign. Every donation makes a difference and is deeply appreciated.
Visit southeastgreenway.org/donate to learn more.
Together, we’re not only building a future park—we’re caring for the land we’ve worked so hard to protect.
Photos courtesy of Greg Cox and Victoria Soto