Stewardship Update
Written by Haley Sutton, Land Stewardship Associate and Kendra Smith, Education & Outreach Coordinator
Celebrating Earth Month
Celebrating Earth Month Diablo Restoration Team workday at the East Bay Regional Park District’s Ang property in the northern Diablo foothills. Photo by Haley Sutton
We are always celebrating Mother Earth at Save Mount Diablo!
However, we like to hold a special Earth Month Diablo Restoration Team workday during April.
This year was our second holding this event at our restoration sites at Ang and Irish Canyon, a project in partnership with the East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy and East Bay Regional Park District.
Our volunteers hiked through the property and stopped at each of the planting areas along Irish Creek to check on the trees.
Celebrating Earth Month Diablo Restoration Team workday at Ang. Photo by Haley Sutton
They weeded invasive grasses and other plants from around the base of the native trees and removed any protective tubing the tree had outgrown.
The day got quite warm. With the hardworking crew of volunteers, we were able to stop at each site.
Staff also helped lead a field trip for the Marsh Creek Watershed Council along Marsh Creek Road to present our restoration projects at our Marsh Creek 1 and 7 and Marsh Creek 4 and 6 properties to our partners that work all along Marsh Creek.
Thank you to everyone that celebrated Earth Month with us!
Education & Outreach Coordinator Kendra Smith tabling at Ygnacio Valley High School.
Spring Cleaning at Curry Canyon
De La Salle High School staff weeding at Curry Canyon Ranch. Photo by Haley Sutton
Every year, staff and volunteers conduct a spring cleaning around Curry Canyon Ranch in preparation for the variety of events and activities held there.
This effort includes mowing the parking area and along the roads, weeding the pollinator gardens and gravel surrounding the house, and cleaning up after the many critters that call Curry Canyon their home.
De La Salle High School faculty and staff at Curry Canyon Ranch. Photo by Haley Sutton
This year, a group of faculty and staff at De La Salle High School joined us for a volunteer service day to beautify the ranch house by removing many of the weeds that spread onto the paths and walkways around the house.
They were an enthusiastic bunch, and we are very grateful for their help!
Fire Abatement Begins
Grassy areas that we mowed to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire. Photo by Haley Sutton
April was full of greenery and flowers bursting into bloom, but this also meant that grasses were getting tall and encroaching on trails.
Staff headed out to Mangini Ranch Educational Preserve to clear the trails with line trimmers for visitors.
Instead of the usual fire abatement deadline of June 1 like past years, this year’s deadline was mid-May, so we wrapped up the month focusing on that effort.
Two-Week Public BioBlitz
Caterpillar on native paintbrush. Photo by Mary Nagle
For the second year in a row, Save Mount Diablo invited the public to explore open spaces in all 12 counties of the Diablo Range.
Participants were encouraged to collect observations of species diversity in these public parklands and share them to Save Mount Diablo’s iNaturalist project.
We are excited by all the diversity found throughout the range this year!
Discover Diablo
Early spring wildflower loop hike. Photo by Mary Nagle
Rescheduled Early Spring Wildflower Loop, April 9th.
Participants were excited to search for spring wildflowers after this hike was rescheduled due to rain. They were not disappointed! Mitchell Canyon was showing off its beautiful array of colors on this sunny outing.
Sauntering and soloing at Mangini Preserve. Photo by Ted Clement
Sauntering and Soloing, April 11th.
Save Mount Diablo Executive Director Ted Clement led participants through our Mangini Ranch Educational Preserve for a beautiful outing among the oak woodlands.
Everyone got to experience a deeper connection to nature through a contemplative solo exercise, journaling about what nature means to them and how they can help take care of nature.
Shell Ridge Open Space Loop, April 15th.
Participants enjoyed a beautiful day out on the rolling hills and oak woodlands of Walnut Creek Open Space. With views of Mount Diablo, abundant wildflowers, and a stop by a small lake along the loop, a fun day was had by all.
Camel Rock Hike, April 18th.
Following a single-track trail from North Gate Road, participants hiked through lush grasslands, chaparral, and oak savanna to view Camel Rock. The weather was pleasant and the wildflowers were blooming, making for a lovely outing for all.
Bob Walker Ridge Hike, April 19th.
Morgan Territory Discover Diablo hike. Photo by Laura Kindsvater
Morgan Territory Regional Preserve is one of many people’s favorite East Bay parks. Participants enjoyed hiking there to see expansive vistas, including glimpses of Mount Diablo, a portion of the Sacramento River drainage, and Los Vaqueros Reservoir.
Birding Walk with Mount Diablo Bird Alliance at Mitchell Canyon, April 26th.
Birding walk with Mount Diablo Bird Alliance. Photo by Maren Smith
Save Mount Diablo and Mount Diablo Bird Alliance teamed up for this birding walk in Mitchell Canyon. Participants enjoyed spotting numerous species of birds, including a Cooper’s hawk and California thrasher, along with some spring wildflowers along the trail.
Castles and peregrine falcons hike. Photo by Maren Smith
Rescheduled Castles and Peregrine Falcons, April 29th.
Participants were excited to get out to Pine Canyon in search of our local peregrine falcons.
With guidance from Mount Diablo Interpretive Association’s Peregrine Team, we learned about a pair of peregrines hanging out in the usual nesting spots of the park and were able to spot the female while on the hike.
The group enjoyed seeing other birds and wildflowers as well.
