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Stewardship Update

Written by Haley Sutton, Land Stewardship Associate and Kendra Smith, Education & Outreach Coordinator

Stewards in the Field

Each Save Mount Diablo property has one or more property stewards who monitor the property each month and share a report of their observations with staff.

These visits help us have a regular recorded snapshot of the property each month and help notify staff of projects that keep properties in good working condition.

Each year, we also bring all our stewards together to visit a property they may not usually see, spend time with each other, and give back to the land with a stewardship project.

This past month, our volunteer property stewards joined staff at Marsh Creek 1 and 7 on a sunny day for our annual gathering, where we spent time weeding young invasive thistles from the pollinator garden.

It was a great time to be together! We appreciate our property stewards and all they do to help us care for Save Mount Diablo lands.

Staff also planted another round of 300 native grasses, shrub, and forbs at Marsh Creek 1 and 7, and observed that the California milkweed seedlings at Curry Canyon Ranch have begun sprouting in their new home.

Thistle Party!

Our Diablo Restoration Team day this month was also held at Marsh Creek 1 and 7 to keep tackling the invasive thistles. Volunteers plucked out countless little thistles from the garden during another beautiful and sunny day.

Thank you to our volunteers that helped us remove just about every single thistle from the garden!

Discover Diablo

There were no Discover Diablo outings in February.

We are excited for our upcoming events in March, including the Green Hills, Ponds, and Newts hike at Briones Regional Park, and the On Belay – Rock Climbing outing at Pinnacles National Park!

Diablo Conservation Experience with Pittsburg High School

On Friday, February 28, 46 students from Pittsburg High School participated in a field trip to Mangini Ranch Educational Preserve as part of the Diablo Conservation Experience program (formerly the Conservation Collaboration Agreement program).

The day was divided into two enriching activities. One group set out on an interpretive nature hike, culminating in a solo experience—an opportunity for quiet reflection and a deeper connection with nature.

Meanwhile, the second group took on a hands-on stewardship project, clearing trails to improve accessibility.

Armed with McLeods—versatile tools designed for scraping, loosening, and leveling soil—students worked diligently to make the trails safer and easier to follow.

After a peaceful lunch beneath the shade of a California buckeye grove, the groups switched roles. Those who had been clearing trails now embarked on their solo experience, while the others picked up tools to continue the stewardship work.

As students wrapped up their solo time, they shared reflections on their experience, revealing a noticeable shift in energy and perspective. A huge thank you to the Pittsburg High students for their hard work and dedication!