Stewardship Update
Written by Haley Sutton, Land Stewardship Associate and Kendra Smith, Education & Outreach Coordinator
Volunteers at Save Mount Diablo’s Marsh Creek 7 property. Photo by Haley Sutton
Measuring Grazing Levels on Our Lands
As we approach the end of summer, stewardship staff are visiting grazed properties to collect RDMs, or residual dry matter.
RDMs are collected by cutting and weighing all the dry grass from within a square foot quadrat at multiple points on level and sloped areas on each property. The measurements help us determine the average amount of dry matter that remains after the grazing season in pounds per acre.
As land managers, we want Save Mount Diablo lands to be grazed enough to keep fuel loads down without overgrazing to the point where soil is barren of all plant material.
We collect RDMs on five properties before the winter rains and grasses begin growing for the new season. We appreciate our grazing partners who help us manage Save Mount Diablo lands!
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Happy Plants
The watering crew! Photo by Haley Sutton
The watering crew continued triweekly visits at restoration sites to keep new native plantings watered and happy at our Marsh Creek 4, 6, 1, and 7 properties and Irish Canyon.
Volunteers also helped staff check on the five riparian (streamside) planting areas at the East Bay Regional Park District’s Ang property and scouted the blue oak trees at Ang and Irish Canyon for acorns to collect for more planting this winter. The acorns were still green so they were left on the trees until they turn brown and can be collected.
Staff also watered at Mangini Ranch Educational Preserve. Thank you to our mighty watering crew!
Stewards in the Field
Juvenile red-tailed hawk. Photo by Joan Duffield
This past month, Save Mount Diablo’s volunteer stewards observed many wildlife families roaming our lands during their visits, including flocks of turkeys, coveys of quail, and does with their fawns. Monarchs, Cooper’s hawks, and white-tailed kites were also observed.
Stewards pulled stinkwort (Dittrichia graveolens) and yellow star thistle at Save Mount Diablo’s Curry Canyon Ranch Lower 200 and Smith Canyon properties.
Staff tackled the removal of artichoke thistle at Thomas Kirker Creek, Thomas Home Ranch, and Krane Pond, and stinkwort at Mangini Ranch Educational Preserve.
Staff completed brushing work along the Knobcone Point Road trail to maintain safe access for trail users.
Staff and volunteers also continued cleaning up at Save Mount Diablo’s Balcerzak inholding property to remove debris, update the water system, and tidy up the log cabin house.
We look forward to bringing more volunteers out there for Coastal Cleanup Day in September!
Discover Diablo
Mangini Ranch meditation hike. Photo by Jim and Sharon Lawrence
Mangini Ranch Meditation Hike, August 3.
It was a beautiful morning for a hike as participants experienced the quiet surroundings at Mangini Ranch Educational Preserve. Hike leaders Jim and Sharon Lawrence led some relaxing meditation exercises along the trail to help everyone be mindful and present with their natural surroundings.
Participants were pleased to experience a quieter hike as a change of pace from the typical social outings.
Plein air painting hike. Photo by Sean Burke
Plein Air Painting Hike, August 24.
Participants were treated to a mild summer evening as they hiked up to the house pond at Curry Canyon Ranch for their painting destination. Each person found a sit spot to take in the beauty of the water, trees, and hills and capture it on paper in their own unique style.
By the end of the evening, everyone had completed a beautiful piece of art representing the special landscape that is Mount Diablo.
Hit the Trails: Mountain Biking, August 30.
Avid mountain bikers took to the trails for a full morning ride from Smith Canyon into Mount Diablo State Park. Participants got to take in the beautiful views of Mount Diablo and get their heart pumping on this 12-mile adventure.
