Stewardship Update
Written by Haley Sutton, Land Stewardship Associate and Kendra Smith, Education & Outreach Coordinator
Wrapping Up Watering for the Season
Our Marsh Creek 7 watering crew. Photo by Haley Sutton
We experienced the first rains of the season in September and are beginning to see the green poking through the duff. The last watering days of the season were held at our Marsh Creek 7 property and Mangini Ranch Educational Preserve.
At Marsh Creek 7, the watering crew also loaded up materials, including cages and T-posts that were removed from plants that have outgrown them, into a trailer for storage off-site.
The last watering day of the year was cancelled at Irish Canyon when a rain event occurred a few days prior. Instead, staff went out to monitor all the riparian planting areas. We are grateful for all the volunteers that helped water this year!
Stewards in the Field
Young valley oak at Irish Canyon. Photo by Haley Sutton
Property stewards are observing water returning to Marsh Creek and Curry Creek and the leaves turning and falling on the sycamores, big leaf maples, and cottonwoods.
Mushrooms are popping up, acorns are scattered around the landscape, and there is a lot of evidence of wild pigs rooting around.
Stewards pulled invasive stinkwort (Dittrichia graveolens), and staff continued mechanical removal of invasive giant reed (Arundo donax) at Big Bend.
The stewardship team members have been preparing the Wright Canyon house for new caretakers, starting with giving the interior a new coat of paint.
Field Trip with Carondelet High School
Photo by Haley Sutton
For the second year, Carondelet students joined Save Mount Diablo for a stewardship workday as part of the school’s annual Frosh Day of Service.
This year’s event was held at Marsh Creek 7, and the 16 students began sheet mulching a new area as an extension to the pollinator garden we have been establishing on site.
Photo by Haley Sutton
Students laid out a patchwork of burlap bags as the first layer over the soil, followed with a thick layer of mulch. This power duo will keep weeds at bay to create a more open area for planting native plants in the future.
Thank you, Carondelet students and staff!
Field Trip with San Ramon Valley High School
Photo by Kendra Smith
On Friday, October 17, 62 students from San Ramon Valley High School participated in an educational field trip at our Marsh Creek 1 and 7 properties.
This was the first year San Ramon Valley High School students got to participate in a field trip with Save Mount Diablo. The morning was divided into two enriching activities.
One group hiked up to the ridgeline with views of Mount Diablo to experience a solo in nature—an opportunity for quiet reflection and a deeper connection with nature.
Mulching! Photo by Haley Sutton
Meanwhile, the second group took on the stewardship project of sheet mulching an area of the property for planting a future pollinator garden. Students also helped remove protective caging and T-posts from established plants and cleared a pile of plant debris, all to help beautify the property.
After switching activities between the two groups, the morning concluded with lunch before everyone headed back to school for the afternoon.
A huge thank you to the San Ramon Valley High School students for their hard work and dedication!
Fall CARES Days
CARES kids remove invasive plants from Curry Creek. Photo by Kendra Smith
Over Mount Diablo Unified School District’s fall break, Save Mount Diablo hosted another round of CARES field trips at Curry Canyon Ranch and Mangini Ranch Educational Preserve.
At the beginning of the week, students from Westwood Elementary and Holbrook Language Academy were guided by their own staff at Mangini Ranch to explore the wonders of nature.
For the latter half of the week, students from El Dorado Middle School, Riverview Middle School, and Oak Grove Middle School helped pull invasive stinkwort from the creek bed.
Through the efforts of 41 students and six adults, about eight contractor trash bags worth of stinkwort was removed from the creek!
In the afternoons, Save Mount Diablo staff guided students up to the pond to observe wildlife through binoculars, plein air paint, or simply explore the surrounding hillsides.
We hope each student felt a little more comfortable in nature and had a fun, memorable experience. Thank you to all the CARES students and staff for their stewardship help and fun energy!
Discover Diablo
Queerness in Nature: A LGBTQIA+ Hike with Branching Out Adventures. Photo by Kendra Smith
Borges Ranch Fall Hike, October 4th.
Participants experienced a beautiful fall day as they enjoyed the 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.
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Queerness in Nature: A LGBTQIA+ Hike with Branching Out Adventures, October 18th.
Photo by Kendra Smith
Save Mount Diablo partnered with Branching Out Adventures for the first time for this queer themed hike in Mitchell Canyon.
It was a lovely day to learn about queer characteristics and behaviors of many plants and animals found in the Mount Diablo area. Participants even got to see a baby gopher snake!
On Belay – Rock Climbing, October 25th.
On belay! Photo by Sean Burke
Participants were lucky to beat the rain for a hike through the Diablo foothills to climb the rocks at Pine Canyon.
Guided by Save Mount Diablo’s Land Programs Director, Sean Burke, everyone got a chance to expand their climbing skills and enjoy a beautiful day on the mountain.
On belay! Photo by Sean Burke
Volunteer Appreciation Celebration
Save Mount Diablo’s volunteer appreciation celebration. Photo by Emily Sherwood
Save Mount Diablo staff kicked off October with an autumnal celebration to honor all our incredible volunteers.
Volunteers were invited to gather outside in the office courtyard for mingling, drinks, and food catered by Sargam Indian Cuisine.
This year, as a special gift for everything they do to support Save Mount Diablo’s mission, volunteers got to design their own tie-dyed Save Mount Diablo t-shirts. Folks had a blast choosing their patterns and colors, leaning into their creative side and childlike joy.
Thanks again to all our volunteers!
