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Stewardship, Education, and Outreach Updates

Written by Haley Sutton, Land Stewardship Associate and Frenchy Hendryx, Education & Outreach Associate

Adopt-a-Crag

Save Mount Diablo led another Adopt-a-Crag event in partnership with Mount Diablo State Park, CAL FIRE, Bay Area Climbers Coalition, and American Alpine Club.

Volunteers helped beautify the Knobcone Point Trail that weaves through Mount DiabloState Park and Save Mount Diablo’s Curry Canyon Ranch.

Staff and 24 volunteers traversed about three quarters of a mile on the Curry Canyon Ranch side, clearing and chipping brush piles along the way.

This effort removed trail obstacles created by fallen trees and branches knocked down during winter storms and provided more safe space for trail users.

Thank you to the American Alpine Club and their Cornerstone Conservation Grant that funded this project, and thanks to all who helped on the trail!

New Tractor at Work

Staff spent most of May completing fire abatement across all necessary properties.

This was our first year utilizing our new tractor, which Save Mount Diablo received through a grant from the Hedco Foundation, and the equipment made a huge difference.

The tractor cleared large flat to mildly sloped areas on properties while weed whips were used to do more detailed work around plantings, fences, and other infrastructure.

Staff, with the help from the Trail Dogs, also cleared the trails and amphitheater picnic area around Mangini Ranch Educational Preserve for all summer visitors.

Staff worked on 14 properties to complete some form of fire abatement during the season.

Stewards in the Field

The Trail Dogs helped Save Mount Diablo with fire abatement at Lot 25, removed erosion control fencing for the East Bay Regional Park District, and contributed to trail work with Mount Diablo State Park.

Wildflowers continue to bloom across our properties. At Young Canyon, winecup clarkias and royal larkspurs were observed, as well as many Mount Diablo fairy lanterns at Curry Canyon Ranch.

Kestrels on Camera

Staff monitored kestrel boxes across multiple properties, and all of those monitored had young falcons inside, with ages ranging from two-week-old chicks to a week from fledge.

A total of 23 kestrels were observed in nest boxes. Staff were surprised to see so many chicks still in the boxes late into May because they usually fledge earlier in the season. It seems the kestrels are also impacted by this year’s weather trends.

24-Hour BioBlitz

Save Mount Diablo hosted a 24-hour BioBlitz at Tesla State Park (May 5 and 6).

Expert consultants from a wide range of backgrounds joined us for the event. They created species lists to assist the state park with gathering up-to-date data for the preserve while focusing on a recent burn footprint and this past dynamic winter.

We had 561 observations and 295 species uploaded onto our iNaturalist project: Save Mount Diablo’s 2023 BioBlitz-Tesla Park.

Participants saw fairy fans (Clarkia breweri), spadefoot toads, prairie falcons, golden eagles, and a globe lily, Calochortus albus, to name just a few observations.

Watch our three-year SCU fire footprint recap led by Save Mount Diablo and California State Park here:

Discover Diablo Program

Explore the Black Diamond to Mount Diablo Trail Historic Corridor (Friday, May 5): Led by Robert Doyle.

Participants explored the natural and cultural mining history of this large regional preserve with stunning views of Mount Diablo, Kreiger Peak, Morgan Territory, Deer Valley, Clayton, and the Pittsburg hills while enjoying beautiful wildflowers on the way.

Plein Air Painting Hike (Saturday, May 6): Led by Zack Burke.

Participants enjoyed a beautiful morning of plein air painting at Wright Canyon followed by May showers.

Mount Diablo Audubon Hike was canceled due to weather, May 6.

Birds Butterflies and Blooms (Sunday, May 7): Led by Dan Fitzgerald.

Participants took part in an exploratory hike on the stunning Curry Canyon Ranch in search of the 3 B’s: birds, butterflies, and blooms!

Exploratory Hike Del Puerto Canyon (Wednesday, May 10): Led by Sean Burke.

Participants enjoyed amazing views of steep rugged hillsides, beautiful wildflowers, soaring raptors, and the regeneration from the SCU Lightning Complex while in the heart of the Diablo Range.

Hit the Trails: Mountain Biking (Friday, May 12): Led by Sean Burke.

Participants enjoyed an interpretive bike ride while exploring the beautiful trails from Smith Canyon into Mount Diablo State Park and back through Save Mount Diablo’s newly opened Knobcone Point Trail while enjoying gorgeous views and the feeling of wildness in this beautiful preserve.