Stewardship Update
Written by Haley Sutton, Land Stewardship Associate and Kendra Smith, Education & Outreach Coordinator
Nurturing Native Plants
Water crew at Marsh Creek 6. Photo by Haley Sutton
We started summer watering this month. On two occasions, volunteers joined staff at Marsh Creek 4 and 6 to water and weed around restoration plantings and then visited the new planting area at Irish Canyon to water tree seedlings there.
Irish Canyon is adjacent to another restoration planting project at Ang.
The trees along the Ang riparian planting areas have been watered for the past several years, so those trees are established enough that staff will keep an eye on them for drought stress this summer.
The watering crew also convened at Marsh Creek 7 to water the new pollinator garden. Volunteers also continued with sheet mulching the garden with coconut blanket and woodchips.
New split-rail fence at Marsh Creek 7. Photo by Sean Burke
Most exciting of all, we installed a split-rail fence around the pollinator garden! The perimeter fence will protect plantings from grazing cattle that visit the property seasonally.
There were over 50 vertical posts to set in the ground before screwing on the railings. Luckily, the tractor with the auger attachment saved us a lot of human energy by creating the post holes for us.
This project is possible with the support of a California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) grant we received last spring to promote wildlife habitat along Marsh Creek.
We are grateful for all the volunteer hands to install the fence and show the native plants some love!
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Stewards in the Field
Caught on camera at Mangini Ranch Educational Preserve: a red-winged blackbird. Photo by Save Mount Diablo staff and volunteers
It is mostly golden and dry across Save Mount Diablo properties. Our stewards continue to help us identify potential projects and hazards, and share exciting observations.
Some deer were found running about at Lot 25, additional fallen trees were found at Curry Canyon Ranch, and there is still water observed in some areas of Marsh Creek.
Staff and volunteers also spent time at Mangini Ranch Educational Preserve
- checking on wildlife cameras,
- removing yellow star thistle from trails,
- mapping and cutting artichoke thistle seed heads from plants, and
- pulling stinkwort from known populations on the property.
Discover Diablo
Beat the Heat participants and leaders. Photo by Steve Balling
Balance in Nature – Yoga at Curry Canyon Ranch, July 14th.
Participants got to enjoy the beautiful view of Mount Diablo’s summit from the back deck of the Curry Canyon Ranch house as they flowed through a restorative yoga practice focused on connecting breath with movement.
Beat the Heat and Hike the Suburban Interface in Walnut Creek Open Space, July 28th.
Though the heat did in fact beat us on the original date of this outing, temporarily closing the Walnut Creek Open Space due to peak temperatures and requiring it to be rescheduled, participants finally braved the summer weather to enjoy a pleasant hike right in our backyard from a narrow green corridor in the suburbs to the expanses of the Mount Diablo foothills.
Connecting with Our Community
Save Mount Diablo table at Lord Richard’s Birthday. Photo by Bruce Erickson
Tabling at Lindsay Wildlife Experience—On Saturday, July 13th, Save Mount Diablo volunteers attended Lord Richard’s 50th Birthday event at Lindsay Wildlife.
Many guests showed up to celebrate this beloved turkey vulture and got to learn about all the ways Save Mount Diablo supports wildlife like Lord Richard throughout the Diablo Range.
We are grateful for our partnership with Lindsay Wildlife!
Lord Richard at Lindsay Wildlife. Photo by Bruce Erickson
Executive Director Speaker Series—On Thursday, July 18th, Save Mount Diablo invited honored guests to attend the first of this year’s Executive Director Speaker Series.
After a warm welcome of refreshments and conversations, guests were invited to sit down, relax, and learn about Save Mount Diablo’s efforts to help people positively transform their relationships with nature through our educational programs.
Executive Director Ted Clement spoke of the importance of strategic land transactions to conserve critical open space and how land acquisition efforts must be matched by efforts to connect people with nature.
He spoke of his work with the Outward Bound School and other cultures over the years.
He explained how he has come to understand the importance of being in relationship with nature and how Save Mount Diablo is doing more to expand their educational efforts to build those relationships for the community.
Save Mount Diablo Board member and Education Committee Chair Robert Phelps then spoke on his work with his tribe, the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians of California, in reclaiming their traditional ancestral lands and how they strive to have those lands be a space for people to recreate and learn about the cultural history of the land.
His work with Save Mount Diablo and his tribe have transformed him into the environmentalist he is today, and he knows how powerful access and education are for building positive relationships with nature.
All and all, it was a thoughtful and hopeful educational evening for all who attended.
