Total number of trees and plants planted and protected reached 2,000

After committing to plant and protect 10,000 trees and plants over the course of 10 years, our stewardship team brought the total up to 2,000.

Proposed Del Puerto Canyon Reservoir that would have destroyed 800 acres of habitat was rejected

Save Mount Diablo contributed funds to the Save Del Puerto Canyon Coalition to support its lawsuit and made comments on the environmental review for the project pointing out important inadequacies. A judge rejected the reservoir proposal, noting the environmental review for the proposed project was inadequate.

Save Mount Diablo purchased option to protect Krane Pond property

The Krane Pond property is part of the “Missing Mile,” on the slopes of Mount Diablo's North Peak, and directly borders Mount Diablo State Park. Protecting Krane Pond expands the open space connected to Mount Diablo and halts potential development in its tracks.

Save Mount Diablo hosted the first Adopt-A-Crag event at Mount Diablo State Park

Volunteers from multiple organizations came together to clean up and steward Mount Diablo State Park.

Save Mount Diablo partnered with East Bay Regional Park District on 768-acre Finley Road Ranch

Finley Road Ranch is one of the largest remaining pristine but unprotected open space landscapes adjacent to Mount Diablo State Park. The proposed acquisition would secure a site for the eventual development of a staging area at the entrance to the canyon, greatly improving recreational access into this relatively remote area.

Third population of critically endangered Mount Diablo buckwheat was discovered on Save Mount Diablo land

Pittsburg City Council rescinded approvals for the Seeno/Discovery Builders Faria project

In August 2022, Pittsburg rescinded approvals for the Seeno/Discovery Builders Faria project after a Contra Costa County Supreme Court judge ordered the city to cancel its approvals.

We completed 12 50th anniversary oral histories

We announced the completion of a series of 12 oral histories that tell the stories of the diverse individuals who helped create Save Mount Diablo.

OpenRoad honored Save Mount Diablo's 50-year legacy with a two-part series

Monarch butterflies were found on Save Mount Diablo's lands

It was the first time we'd seen them, and our staff had been looking for them since 2016.

Contra Costa County Superior Court reaffirmed victory against Seeno to protect hills between Pittsburg and Concord

In April 2022, the Contra Costa Superior Court handed Save Mount Diablo another significant victory when it rejected all of Seeno/Discovery Builders’ arguments and request for a retrial. The court reaffirmed that the environmental impact report for the proposed project violated the law as Save Mount Diablo had originally argued. This ruling upheld Save Mount Diablo’s victory in its decades-long battle against this sprawl development.

Mangini Ranch Educational Preserve was opened to the public

Mangini Ranch Educational Preserve is the first of its kind in Contra Costa County. It is available for reservations free of charge to a variety of local schools and community groups, of all ages and backgrounds, pursuing educational purposes.

Save Mount Diablo won a major legal victory against Seeno to protect Pittsburg’s hills

In February 2022, the Contra Costa County Superior Court ruled that the City of Pittsburg's environmental review of the 1,650-unit Faria/Southwest Hills project was inadequate, handing Save Mount Diablo a major legal win. Faria was proposed by Seeno companies/Discovery Builders, Inc./Faria Investors LLC on the spectacular and highly visible major ridgeline between Pittsburg and Concord and could include grading and houses visible across the ridge. The city and Seeno/Discovery Builders were also required to pay Save Mount Diablo’s legal fees.

CEMEX agreed it will 101 acres of land to Mount Diablo State Park

After six years of collaboration with CEMEX USA, they agreed to donate a 101-acre parcel of land to the state park. This property lies adjacent to Mitchell Canyon, and a portion of Black Point Trail runs through it.

Save Mount Diablo completed purchase of conservation easement for Concord Mt. Diablo Trail Ride Association land

Save Mount Diablo finished raising the $1.04 million needed to protect this critical swath of open space, nearly 154 acres, in Mount Diablo's "Missing Mile."

Save Mount Diablo and our partners began advocating that Tesla Park become a state reserve

Bilingual Spanish-English hikes were included in our Discover Diablo Program

Cleanup and restoration work accomplished throughout the Mount Diablo region

Staff and volunteers hauled 250 pounds of trash from the Thomas Home Ranch and removed debris and graffiti from Pine Canyon. They also planted and protected 1,000 native plants and trees.

Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB/SB 155, permanently preserving Tesla Park and creating a new state park.

This victory came after over 20 years of campaigning by Save Mount Diablo and other organizations who are part of the Friends of Tesla Park coalition.

Elusive American badger sighted at Curry Canyon Ranch

American badgers disappeared from Mount Diablo in the 1970s, but they are starting to make a return to the region.

Endangered California condor returns to Mount Diablo and Contra Costa County for the first time in over 100 years

Pinnacles Condor 828 flew north from Pinnacles National Park and circled around the eastern flanks of Mount Diablo before returning south to Pinnacles, covering over 100 miles each way. Her appearance gives hope that California condors may one day return to Mount Diablo and Contra Costa County.

Save Mount Diablo organized grassroots movement against the City of Concord’s decision to make Seeno Master Developer

After the Concord City Council threw the massive Concord Naval Weapons Station reuse project into jeopardy by choosing Seeno/Discovery Builders as Master Developer, Save Mount Diablo organized to rally Concord residents whose voices were ignored. The petition to reverse the decision got over 18,000 signatures.

Save Mount Diablo teaches course entitled History of Land Conservation Nationally and in the Mount Diablo Area, the Original and Future Stewards, and Careers in the Field at CSU East Bay

More than 28 square miles preserved at Tassajara with the creation of the Tassajara Agricultural Preserve

After eight years of work by Save Mount Diablo, the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors approved the 125-unit Tassajara Parks project. The Board adjusted the urban limit line and created the 17,666-acre Tassajara Agricultural Preserve. They also dedicated 727 acres to the East Bay Regional Park District.

Save Mount Diablo completed $15 million Forever Wild Campaign, permanently protecting 1,681 acres

Two more OpenRoad videos about Save Mount Diablo’s work broadcasted

OpenRoad with Doug McConnell broadcasted a new video about Save Mount Diablo’s work on NBC Bay Area.

Save Mount Diablo commits to planting and protecting 10,000 native plants and trees as part of our Climate Action Plan

Save Mount Diablo passed a comprehensive organization-wide Climate Action Plan

Save Mount Diablo’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) outlines how our organization will use its strengths to accelerate reduction of our carbon footprint and increase our already significant contribution to addressing the climate crisis in the Diablo region. The CAP is organized by outcome-oriented objectives for major programmatic areas, including advocacy, land acquisition, stewardship, education, financial management (finances and fundraising), and organizational footprint. These objectives are associated with numerous actions that when completed will meet the objective.

Save Mount Diablo files a lawsuit against the City of Pittsburg over approval of the Faria/Southwest Pittsburg Hills Annexation project

The project violates Pittsburg’s General Plan, state planning and zoning law, and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). CEQA requires legally adequate environmental review, consideration of appropriate alternatives, and implementation of mitigations to reduce impacts.

Save Mount Diablo continues Nature Heals and Inspires Zoom series, attracting over 2,000 participants

Save Mount Diablo expanded Discover Diablo free public hikes program

Save Mount Diablo expanded its Discover Diablo free public hike series to also include mountain biking and rock-climbing events, bilingual Spanish-English hikes, and a total of 36 events (up from 24).

Save Mount Diablo launched Diablo Range Revealed series

Save Mount Diablo launched a new series with Joan Hamilton of videos, blog posts, and photo galleries exploring the Diablo Range and its recovery from the 2020 wildfires.

Save Mount Diablo voiced support for Contra Costa County’s decision to move forward with a comprehensive agricultural plan

With the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association, Save Mount Diablo created two new Audible Guides

Save Mount Diablo’s “The Morning Side of the Mountain” explores Morgan Territory Regional Preserve and MDIA’s new film, “The Return of the Pine Canyon Peregrines,” features Save Mount Diablo’s project to reintroduce peregrine falcons to Mount Diablo.

Cleanup work was accomplished throughout the Mount Diablo region

Staff and volunteers hauled 300 pounds of trash from the Thomas Home Ranch and removed dangerous bolts and glass shards from Pine Canyon.

A landslide win on Measure T in Antioch

We received a 79 percent yes vote on our Measure T, safeguarding nearly 2,000 acres in the Sand Creek area east of Black Diamond Mines.

Save Mount Diablo spoke out to hold the line on reservoir construction in Del Puerto Canyon and on the expansion of Los Vaqueros Reservoir

New and old trails were built and maintained, including a trail connecting Smith Canyon to Curry Canyon Ranch

Save Mount Diablo made comments supporting the declaration of a Climate Emergency in Contra Costa County

Save Mount Diablo began monitoring the proposed Aramis solar project

The East Bay Regional Park District approved a land-use plan for Concord’s first regional park

Located at the decommissioned Concord Naval Weapons Station, this new regional park is three times the size of Angel Island. The land-use plan designates the park as 95 percent open space with 27 miles of new trails.

Forbes Magazine picked up Save Mount Diablo’s scavenger hunt

Two OpenRoad videos about Save Mount Diablo’s work broadcasted

OpenRoad with Doug McConnell broadcasted a video about Save Mount Diablo’s work to protect North Peak and a video about the Diablo Range on NBC Bay Area.

The Antioch City Council unanimously endorsed Save Mount Diablo’s initiative to save Sand Creek, and the initiative was placed on the November 2020 Antioch ballot

Antioch voters will have the chance to protect the prettiest three miles in Antioch in November 2020.

Save Mount Diablo continued advocating for protection of Tesla Park

Tesla Park is part of a critical wildlife corridor connecting Mount Diablo to the 150-mile Diablo Range.

Save Mount Diablo volunteers and staff began lighting the Mount Diablo State Park Summit Beacon every Sunday as symbol of hope and inspiration during the global coronavirus pandemic

Volunteers and staff will continue to light the Beacon every Sunday evening and put it to rest every Monday morning until the pandemic crisis is over.

Save Mount Diablo launched our Nature Heals and Inspires Zoom series, attracting over 2,500 registrants

Save Mount Diablo acquired 28-acre Smith Canyon, a potential recreational gateway to Curry Canyon and the east side of Mount Diablo State Park

Danville voters passed Measure Y, protecting 381 acres of open space as the Magee Preserve

Bay Nature magazine published an article about the Diablo Range sponsored by Save Mount Diablo and the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority

Save Mount Diablo and Concord Mt. Diablo Trail Ride Association signed an option agreement, 15 years in the making, to protect 154 critical open space acres on Mount Diablo’s North Peak

Save Mount Diablo has two years to raise a little more than $1.04 million to complete the conservation easement.

The first 2,216 acres of the former Concord Naval Weapons Station is conveyed to the East Bay Regional Park District, creating the first regional park in Concord, Concord Hills Regional Park

More than 300 acres will be transferred at a later date; the new regional park will total 2,537 acres.

Danville Town Council voted unanimously to protect 93 percent of the Magee Ranch as the Magee Preserve, including beautiful and ecologically important hills connecting to Sycamore Valley Regional Open Space Preserve

Seth Adams’s oral history published

As part of the California Land Trust Oral History Project the The Bancroft Library, the Institute for the Study of Societal Issues at UC Berkeley published Seth Adams’s oral history, Moving Mountains: Thirty Years of Dynamic Northern California Land Acquisition and Open-Space Advocacy as Land Conservation Director of Save Mount Diablo

Audible Mount Diablo guides became available as podcasts

Two OpenRoad videos about Save Mount Diablo’s work broadcasted

OpenRoad with Doug McConnell broadcasted Save Mount Diablo Conservation Collaborative: A Program Connecting Kids with Nature and An Interview with Seth Adams: Defending the Pittsburg Hills, Youth Advocacy, and Imagining a Summit-to-Sea Trail on NBC Bay Area

Diablo Watch 30th anniversary

Save Mount Diablo celebrated the 30th anniversary of publishing its magazine, Diablo Watch

Measure FF passed with 84.2% of the vote, extending East Bay Regional Park District funding for western Contra Costa and Alameda Counties

Save Mount Diablo published its fourth edition of its Mount Diablo Regional Trail Map

The map is available in both print and mobile versions. The mobile map is georeferenced, allowing people to navigate on their phones.

Antioch City Council adopted the Sand Creek Area Protection Initiative proposed by Save Mount Diablo and its partners, increasing protection for more than 1,200 acres of hills, creek, and rare wildlife habitat in south Antioch

Audible Mount Diablo released a brand new guide (on Black Diamond Mines) and two updated ones

Three Audible Mount Diablo guides released: Black Diamond Mines, Rock City, and Plants of Twin Peaks.

Proposition 68—California Clean Water & Safe Parks Act passed

On June 5, 2018, California voters passed Proposition 68, a $4-billion bond measure called the California Clean Water & Safe Parks Act. Save Mount Diablo worked together as part of a larger statewide coalition to get the word out on multiple fronts prior to the election. Of measures that Save Mount Diablo has supported, this brings our tally to a total of 12 of 12 WINS at the ballot.

Second OpenRoad video broadcasted

OpenRoad with Doug McConnell broadcasted A Vision for Mount Diablo: East Contra Costa County Advocacy in Action on NBC Bay Area.

Save Mount Diablo celebrated the 30th anniversary of its first staff person, Seth Adams (now Land Conservation Director), at a sold-out event at the Lesher Center of the Arts

Save Mount Diablo acquired 95-acre Anderson Ranch

Save Mount Diablo acquired our first perpetual conservation easement

One new Audible Mount Diablo guide and two updated guides released

Three Audible Mount Diablo guides released: Mitchell Canyon (originally released in 2012), Introducing Mount Diablo (originally released in 2010), and A Geology Tour on the Mary Bowerman Trail.

First OpenRoad video about Save Mount Diablo’s work broadcasted

OpenRoad with Doug McConnell broadcasted A 4-Day Trek on the Diablo Trail: Trek Across One of the Largest Wild Landscapes in Urban America on NBC Bay Area.

Save Mount Diablo implemented a new annual free guided public hikes series, “Discover Diablo”

45th Anniversary—Protected land has expanded from 6,788 acres to 110,000

Optioned 88-acre North Peak Ranch

Marsh Creek Trail proposed

Won 11 out of the last 11 ballot measures since 2005

Implemented plan to address Curry Canyon Ranch loan

Achieved national accreditation from Land Trust Accreditation Commission

Created and adopted new rolling three-year Strategic Plan

Won California Nonprofit of the Year Award for Assembly District 16

Implemented new Conservation Collaboration Agreement program

Expanded conservation buyer program, including use of conservation easements

Protected 76-acre Hanson Hills property with East Bay Regional Park District and East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy

Mount Diablo buckwheat rediscovered by botanists Heath Bartosh and Brian Peterson of Nomad Ecology

Trail Through Time, an Audible Mount Diablo guide, released

Restored a volcanic dome on Marsh Creek Road

Total event attendance tops 5,000

10 years working on the Concord Naval Weapons Station reuse plan

Executive Director Ted Clement hired, Ron Brown retires

Audible Mount Diablo guide about Rock City released

Big Bend protected, the most recent protected segment of Marsh Creek. Marsh Creek protection now totals 15 of 33 miles

Created a Dublin Urban Limit Line to protect Doolan Canyon

Two Audible Mount Diablo guides released

Two Audible Mount Diablo guides released: Los Vaqueros and Perkins Canyon.

Finally! 1,080-acre Curry Canyon Ranch acquired for $7.2 million (including a $4.5 million loan)

1,885-acre Roddy Ranch protected near Antioch

Created Mary Bowerman Science and Research Program

Over the next three years, funded a dozen small grants under the new Mary Bowerman Science and Research Program

Morgan Fire burned 3,300 acres

Historic “Eye of Diablo”—Mount Diablo beacon—restored

Audible Mount Diablo guide on plants of Twin Peaks released

Acquired more of Highland Ridge

Removed 20,000 lbs. of debris from Thomas Home Ranch, then transferred it to EBRPD

Co-founder Art Bonwell passed away at age 85

Four Audible Mount Diablo guides released

Four Audible Mount Diablo guides released: Round Valley, Lime Ridge, Curry Point, and Mitchell Canyon.

Helped keep Mount Diablo State Park from being closed again

Defended the Urban Limit Line in Brentwood and San Ramon ballot measures

Opposed a name change for Mount Diablo

First two Audible Mount Diablo guides released

First Audible Mount Diablo guides released, Grand Loop and Introducing Mount Diablo.

165-acre Viera-North Peak purchased—highest private parcel in the county

Restoration at Irish Canyon and Marsh Creek IV

Protected 399 acres

Helped pass EBRPD’s $500 million Measure WW

Two new wildflower species discovered at at Lime Ridge

Save Mount Diablo closed escrow on Irish Canyon and Marsh Creek, preserving a total of 537 acres

East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservation Plan created—providing millions of dollars in the coming years

First Mount Diablo area recreational map created

Our first BioBlitz (at Irish Canyon)

Mangini Ranch protected

Measure L made the Urban Limit Line stronger

Our first Mount Diablo Bike Challenge

Mount Diablo buckwheat rediscovered after being presumed extinct for 69 years

Co-founder Mary Bowerman passed away at age 97

Completed 16 years of work to preserve 3,000-acre Riggs Canyon

Mount Diablo Gateway property protected

First house torn down for environmental restoration in Contra Costa County

Urban Limit Line changes require voter approval now

Morgan Red Corral and Joseph Galvin Ranch protected

Opposed the Los Vaqueros expansion ballot item

4,000 acres added to Diablo preserves, including 3,647-acre Cowell Ranch

Seeno’s 640-acre Morgan Territory Ranch protected and a $1 million fine. SMD continued opposition to FUA #1 and the County Open Space funding measure

Save Mount Diablo expanded area of interest to include Altamont Pass area

Five peregrine falcon chicks fledged in Diablo region

Wright/Curry property protected

30th Anniversary—EBRPD designated crest of Highland Ridge in Morgan Territory as “Founders Ridge”

Aided fundraising efforts at Cowell Ranch

Deal on Cowell Ranch

Contra Costa County’s Urban Limit Line tightened

Silva Ranch acquired

1,123-acre easement at Roddy Ranch

Turtle Rock Ranch Resort protected

Final Blackhawk dedication in the Black Hills, Oyster Point Area

First part of Clayton Ranch protected

Athenian School land dedication

Center of Black Diamond Mines protected

Opposed Pittsburg Southeast Hills annexation, Cowell Ranch and Tassajara developments

Helped preserve Vasco Caves

Save Mount Diablo opens its first office

Brushy Peak Regional Preserve created

Lower Sycamore Canyon protected

Co-founders Arthur Bonwell and Dr. Mary Bowerman received a Chevron-Times Mirror Magazine National Conservation Award

25th Anniversary

Significant acquisitions at Round Valley and Lime Ridge Open Space

Round Valley expanded

Chaparral Spring acquired, first parcel in Black Diamond Mines corridor

Proposed 30-mile “Diablo Trail” from Walnut Creek to Brentwood

Lime Ridge Open Space expanded

More of Riggs Canyon protected

Last year of peregrine falcon reintroduction program

Proposed a Mount Diablo to Black Diamond Mines corridor

Three Springs protected

Stopped development at Chaparral Spring

Stopped development at Clayton Ranch

20th Anniversary

First County Urban Limit Line

Prop. 117—mountain lion initiative—passed

Reintroduced peregrine falcons to Mount Diablo

631-acre Morgan Ranch—first connection from Mount Diablo to Morgan Territory Regional Preserve; fought three Contra Costa landfill proposals; first part of Round Valley protected

Successful referendum of Crystyl Ranch project, resulting in 330 acres of open space

400 supporters grew to 1,500

First significant foundation grant

Helped pass state park bond, then EBRPD’s $225 million Measure AA

Boy Scout Camp Force in lower Rock City protected

Save Mount Diablo hired first staff

Castle Rock protected

Riggs Canyon preservation continued

First Strategic Plan created

Part of Curry Canyon, Coyote Creek, and Morgan Territory Ridge protected

Contra Costa General Plan Congress

More of Pine Canyon protected

Black Point area transferred from the BLM to California State Parks

Protected Soto Ranch—White Canyon

Mount Olympia protected

Emmons Canyon and Rhyne Canyon protected

Mount Diablo designated as a National Natural Landmark

Created Concord’s Pine Hollow Open Space

10th Anniversary

First Blackhawk dedications—largest donation to California State Parks system in history

Supported down zoning in the Tassajara Valley

North Peak and Prospectors Gap preserved

Funding for the Las Trampas to Mount Diablo Trail

Opposed PG&E high tension lines through Black Diamond Regional Preserve and Mount Diablo State Park

Save Mount Diablo opposed Bogue Ranch in Alamo

Protected Oyster Point area and the Falls Trail area

Save Mount Diablo earned Mount Diablo designation as State Historical Landmark

Macedo Ranch protected

Huge fire on Mount Diablo’s northern slopes

Diablo Foothills Regional Park created

Perkins Canyon, Pine Canyon protected

Save Mount Diablo’s first direct acquisition, the 117-acre “Corner Piece”

Morgan Territory Regional Preserve created

Mitchell and White Canyons preserved

Supported Walnut Creek acquisition at Shell and Lime Ridges

Save Mount Diablo helped secure Land and Water Conservation Fund monies.

Pushed for the creation of Morgan Territory Regional Preserve

Opposed the first Blackhawk Plan

Supported the 1974 Park Bond Act

Save Mount Diablo began its first “April on the Mountain” hike series

Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve and Shell Ridge Open Space created

Preserved Donner Canyon, part of Mitchell Canyon

SMD helps preserve Donner Canyon and part of Mitchell Canyon, advocates for Black Diamond and Shell Ridge

SMD helped preserve Donner Canyon, part of Mitchell Canyon, and pushed for the creation of Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve and Shell Ridge Open Space, including support of state and local bonds for acquisition.

Lobbied for County Tree Preservation Ordinance

Save Mount Diablo established priorities

SMD established priorities, including the preservation of the mountain’s major peaks and expansion of Mount Diablo State Park to Morgan Territory and Highland Ridge. Save Mount Diablo also lobbied for creation of the County Tree Preservation Ordinance and opposed the Morgan Territory Estates development.

Save Mount Diablo began lobbying for California State Parks funding

According to the minutes taken at Save Mount Diablo’s founding, that same day, the organization immediately began lobbying for legislative funding, in this case specifically for passage of and funds from the Park Bond Act, AB 3066.

Save Mount Diablo founded

Save Mount Diablo is convened on December 7, 1971, Pearl Harbor Day, at Heather Farms Garden Center in Walnut Creek.

Mount Diablo State Park—the only Diablo park—includes just 6,788 acres