Stewardship Update
Written by Haley Sutton, Land Stewardship Associate and Kendra Smith, Education & Outreach Coordinator
Carondelet High School students at Marsh Creek 6. Photo by Haley Sutton
Watering Crews Hard at Work
Watering crew at Save Mount Diablo’s Marsh Creek 1 and 7 properties. Photo by Haley Sutton
Our watering crews are still meeting up every few weeks to take care of native plantings at multiple properties.
At the beginning of the month, volunteers helped collect brown acorns from valley and blue oaks at Ang and Irish Canyon to be planted in the winter to grow existing restoration sites.
Spooky volunteers watering on Halloween at our Marsh Creek 1 and 7 pollinator gardens. Photo by Haley Sutton
During the watering gatherings at Marsh Creek 1 and 7, volunteers completed mulching the main pollinator garden which will help prevent weeds from growing around the native plantings.
Students from Carondelet High School joined staff at Marsh Creek 4 and 6 to give back to nature by watering native plantings as part of their Frosh Day of Service. We appreciate all our volunteers for their hard work!
New Trails Opening Soon
The Knobcone Trail connection in upper Curry Canyon. Photo by Sean Burke
Stewardship staff have been preparing to open additional trails at Curry Canyon Ranch that connect to Knobcone Point Road.
Existing gates are being removed and additional pedestrian gates installed. Staff have also been pruning back tree branches and shrubs along the trails to increase visibility and safety as well as chipping the biomass.
Once the trails are open, trail users can create multiple loops with steep hills and rewarding vistas in the Curry Canyon area.
Pruning trees along a trail. Photo by Haley Sutton
Stewards in the Field
Stewards have observed a variety of wildlife, including a coyote at Wright Canyon; birds and red-legged frogs at Curry Canyon Ranch; and western pond turtles, an egret, a blue heron, and a covey of quail at Big Bend.
Stewards are keeping an eye on road conditions as we prepare for the winter. Staff also helped a partner landowner chip piles of branches on their property to reduce fuel loads.
Volunteer Appreciation Spooktacular Celebration
Volunteer pinning the Beacon on Mount Diablo. Photo by Kendra Smith
Save Mount Diablo staff put on a spooky-themed celebration to honor all our incredible volunteers.
Volunteers were invited to get festive in their best Halloween costumes, and they did not disappoint, with classic looks ranging from medieval queens and pirates to costumes honoring nature like butterflies and milkweed.
Photo by Kendra Smith
While everyone mingled over drinks and a delicious dinner from Manakish Oven & Grill, a slideshow played with photos and statistics of all the hard work our volunteers have done this year.
Silly games like pin the Beacon on Mount Diablo and pumpkins and skulls bocce ball were played, desserts were devoured, and volunteers went home with a special Save Mount Diablo gift as a thank you for everything they do to support Save Mount Diablo’s mission.
Thanks again to all our volunteers!
Diablo Conservation Experience with Campolindo High School
Campolindo students during the Diablo Conservation Experience program. Photo by Kendra Smith
On Saturday, October 26th, students from Campolindo High School got to attend a field trip at Mangini Ranch Educational Preserve as part of our Diablo Conservation Experience program (formerly the Conservation Collaboration Agreement program).
It could not have been a better day to be outside as the students participated in each component of the program. Starting with the stewardship project, students tackled adding a thick layer of mulch to the pollinator gardens in preparation for winter.
After making quick work of mulching, staff led everyone on an interpretive hike, pointing out the different types of oak trees and other native species in the area.
Campolindo student reflecting during the solo. Photo by Kendra Smith
A relaxing lunch was had at the pavilion before students participated in the solo, giving each of them the opportunity to have a quiet, reflective time to connect with nature and themselves.
Each student who thoughtfully shared about their solo experience demonstrated just how important time in nature is for young people.
Save Mount Diablo is grateful to have the resources and access to open spaces to give students these positive outdoor experiences.
Discover Diablo
Black Diamond Mines Halloween hike. Photo by Jan Diepersloot
Borges Ranch Fall Hike, October 5th. Rescheduled to Saturday, November 2nd.
On Belay – Rock Climbing, October 19th. Canceled.
The Morning Side of Mount Diablo from Morgan Territory, October 20th. Rescheduled for Saturday, November 9th.
Black Diamond Mines Halloween Hike, October 27th. Participants got to enjoy the spooky side of East Bay Regional Park District’s Black Diamond Mines for Halloween season.
In addition to exploring the old Rose Hill Cemetery, it happened to be “Open House Day” at the park, where participants got an extra treat of special interpretive signage and a talk with a park Naturalist.
Additionally, the park was offering free tours of the mines, which some of the hikers signed up to do after the hike. Not a bad way to get in the Halloween spirit!
