Red Willow

Red Willow-Salix laevigata is a very common riparian tree throughout California. They love to grow in and around the creek that runs through the dam site. These are very fast growing trees, so even after a fire, the quickly come back. The tree is mostly deciduous in winter, but they snap back quickly when it warms up. The have catkins that are droopy. In a female tree, the catkins turn into cotton like seeds that might remind you of cottonwoods.