Stewardship Update
Written by Haley Sutton, Land Stewardship Associate and Kendra Smith, Education & Outreach Coordinator
Photo by Sean Burke
New Public Trails
New trail map on a new gate at Curry Canyon Ranch. Photo by Haley Sutton
New trail segments at Curry Canyon Ranch are now open to the public! Our team spent many days getting the trails ready for the enjoyment of all visitors.
Two new pedestrian gates were installed for seamless movement between Mount Diablo State Park and Save Mount Diablo lands on the new trails.
We also designed and installed an updated trail map that includes all open trails and connections into the state park.
Staff and volunteers traversed the trails and removed tree branches that obstructed access and chipped the material to increase visibility and safety for trail users.
There are now just over three miles of trails that can be incorporated into explorations on the southeast side of Mount Diablo. Happy trails!
Stewards in the Field
Pruning volunteers at Curry Canyon Ranch. Photo by Haley Sutton
Given the more extreme wind and rain events this past month, stewards at multiple properties reported fallen trees for staff assessment.
Stewards also observed leaves turning into fall hues and water returning to creeks. Curry Canyon Ranch stewards helped install security cameras at the ranch house.
Staff replacing roof at Wright Canyon. Photo by Haley Sutton
Stewardship staff replaced the roof of a building at our Wright Canyon property after discovering rot. Staff also repaired a fence at our Marsh Creek 7 property that was damaged from a car accident.
Lastly, a staff member joined Mount Diablo State Park staff for a couple days of fall prescribed burns at Mitchell Canyon, burning an additional 106 acres from the 45 acres treated in May with successful results.
Prescribed burn at Mount Diablo State Park. Photo by Haley Sutton
Fifth Annual Pine Canyon Cleanup
Volunteers removed invasive plants from Diablo Foothills Regional Park. Photo by Haley Sutton
This year’s Pine Canyon Cleanup engaged 126 volunteers who completed 848 hours of work in two days!
What started as a project to help clean graffiti of beloved climbing crags and trails in Pine Canyon has evolved into an extravaganza of projects to give back to Mount Diablo.
Volunteers at the Balcerzak inholding. Photo by Haley Sutton
On the first day of the event, volunteers joined three different projects: debris cleanup at the Balcerzak inholding, brushing along the Knobcone Point Road trail at Curry Canyon Ranch, and work along the Castle Rock trail in Mount Diablo State Park.
The next day, volunteers chipped biomass along Knobcone Point Road, worked on Little Yosemite Trail in the state park, and removed invasive weeds and litter from Diablo Foothills Regional Park.
Thank you to everyone that joined us, with a special appreciation for our partners: California State Parks, East Bay Regional Park District, Bay Area Climbers Coalition, American Alpine Club, and Mount Diablo Trails Alliance.
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Discover Diablo
Borges Ranch fall hike. Photo by Jim and Sharon Lawrence
Borges Ranch Fall Hike, November 2. Participants experienced the beginnings of fall weather as they enjoyed a beautiful three-mile hike in the Walnut Creek Open Space.
From Borges Ranch into the woodlands and grasslands, and a stop by to visit the farm animals at the end, a good time was had by all.
The Morning Side of Mount Diablo from Morgan Territory, November 9. Participants enjoyed a scenic hike along Bob Walker Ridge to take in the eastern side of Mount Diablo.
Following gentle rolling hills of blue oak forests and taking in views from the cliffs where peregrine falcons nest in the spring, everyone was quite happy with the outing.
Pine Creek and surroundings. Photo by Jean Vieth
Pine Creek and Surroundings, November 10.
Hiking the trail above Castle Rock Recreation Area to Pine Creek and into Mount Diablo State Park, participants took in the sights that abound, including woodland and grassland habitats and the sandstone formations where peregrine falcons nest in the spring.
It was a great day with great weather for all.
Plein Air Painting, November 17. For the final plein air painting outing of the year, participants got to take in the beautiful landscapes of Curry Canyon Ranch.
After a quick jaunt to the pond for the first painting spot, everyone spread out on the back patio of the Curry Canyon house to paint the view of Mount Diablo, making beautiful art on a beautiful day.
Diablo Conservation Experience with De La Salle High School
On Saturday, November 2, 52 students from De La Salle High School got to attend a field trip at Mangini Ranch Educational Preserve for our Diablo Conservation Experience program (formerly our Conservation Collaboration Agreement program).
The students enjoyed a pleasant interpretive nature hike to the pavilion where they worked in teams to mulch the entire picnic area to help with weed abatement during the rainy season.
Photo by Scott Hein
Students also participated in the nature solo experience, an opportunity for them to have quiet, reflective time to connect with nature and themselves.
It was meaningful for the students to hear each other’s reflections from the experience and showed a valuable shift in their energy from before the solo.
Thank you De La Salle students and chaperones for all your hard work!
Executive Director Speaker Series with Kevin Beals
Photo by Mary Nagle
On Thursday, November 7, longtime supporters of Save Mount Diablo gathered to participate in our autumn Executive Director Speaker Series event.
This event featured a conversation with renowned environmental educator Kevin Beals, co-founder and former director of the BEETLES project at the Lawrence Hall of Science.
Kevin engaged attendees in thoughtful and fun scientific practices of making observations, asking questions, and making connections—all through reflection on a single oak leaf.
This practice helped everyone develop and deepen a sense of place and an emotional connection to nature.
Thank you to all who attended this insightful presentation and to Kevin Beals for sharing his joy for environmental education!
