Mildly Complete: The Fourth Book in the American River Series
After nearly a year, Mildly Scenic can now be found on the shelves of Effie Yeaw Nature Center finally rounding out what to me is the fourth book in a series of books written on the American River Parkway.
Recently, after nearly a year and a some internal struggles, the beloved educational heart of the American River Parkway — Effie Yeaw Nature Center — has opened up it’s doors once again. This time, instead of a few enclosures filled with rescued birds and reptiles, there is a library of curated naturey books.
Three of my favorite river books are exclusively found here, as they were written and published by the American River Natural History Association (ARNHA), the same folks who run the Nature Center itself. In fact, it was because I owned all three of these books that I got to thinking… there’s a missing piece I’d like to know about out here. I wanted to know exactly where the trails and beaches were along the river, and how the seasons affected the experience. And so, I wrote Mildly Scenic to round out the catalog of books on the Lower American River.
But if you’re reading this blog post, you probably already know about Mildly Scenic, so let me tell you a bit about the other three river-specific books on Effie Yeaw’s shelf.
BIKING AND HIKING THE AMERICAN RIVER PARKWAY
This book is a mile-by-mile guidebook on the 23-mile long bike trail (although I like to refer to it a path… because it is paved). There are points of interest sprinkled throughout the book regarding flora and fauna and historical markers. Although the dirt trails are referenced, they are mostly absent from this book, which is where my exploration took off.
THE LOWER AMERICAN RIVER: PREHISTORY TO THE PARKWAY
This little gem will give context to the river and it’s interactions with humans starting with the Nisenan and Miwok up to present day, including hydrollic mining and America’s very first environmental law against this very practice, the cobblestone taken from our river and used to to pave the streets of San Francisco, when and why the dams were built, and many old photographs of the river over the years. A particular favorite is of a group of folks enjoying a picnic at Paradise Beach in the 1800s, complete with parasols and long hoop skirts.
THE OUTDOOR WORLD OF THE SACRAMENTO REGION
This field guide is the perfect reference for anything you spot along the river, including color drawings and bite-sized information about each species. Just enough to identify what you’ve seen and tell your friend something they didn’t already know.
