Scheduled on Tuesday, Oct. 3 at 8:30 a.m., Oakdale city officials will be gathering for a groundbreaking ceremony at the Stanley Wakefield Wilderness Area Salmonid Habitat Restoration project.

“We are extremely grateful for the funding from US Fish and Wildlife and California Department of Water Resources that are making this project possible,” said Oakdale City Manager Bryan Whitemyer.

The ground breaking ceremony will take place near 935 Kerr Park Drive, Oakdale, adjacent to the wilderness area.

Whitemyer said Oakdale received federal and state grants in the total amount of $2,605,548.67 for Phase III of the Salmonid Habitat Restoration Project.

“The City of Oakdale has been working with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Cramer Fish Sciences to implement measures that can help improve habitat for rearing and out-migrating salmonids at the Stanley Wakefield Wilderness Area at Kerr Park,” Whitemyer explained.

The project is designed to restore and enhance the Stanislaus River off-channel and riparian ecosystem processes critical for juvenile fish and other wildlife found in the riparian corridor.

“This project has been in the works since 2019 when the City of Oakdale accepted a planning grant from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife,” added Whitemyer.

With the groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for Oct. 3, the construction work will get underway and is anticipated to continue through Nov. 15, 2023.