MOUNT DIABLO, CA—To secure extra protections for Curry Canyon Ranch, including advancing the eventual conveyance of some of its lands to Mount Diablo State Park, and generate resources to further its Diablo Range work, Save Mount Diablo recently conveyed 160 acres in fee simple title to the East Contra Costa Habitat Conservancy plus a contiguous 155-acre perpetual conservation easement, in exchange for $2.15 million to Save Mount Diablo.
The California Wildlife Conservation Board approved the state and federal grant funding used for the purchase of the land and permanent conservation easement at its February 26, 2026 meeting.
Ted Clement, Save Mount Diablo’s Executive Director, stated, “On behalf of Save Mount Diablo, I want to thank our valued partners, the East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy and the California Wildlife Conservation Board, for their good work and support of our Curry Canyon Ranch project. Our partnership on this project has ensured that important lands rich in conservation values are protected in perpetuity for the benefit of the public and wildlife—while also moving a step closer to eventually getting some of these lands added to Mount Diablo State Park. The grant funds provided for this project will help fuel more of Save Mount Diablo’s conservation work within Mount Diablo’s Diablo Range.”
“We are celebrating this milestone in the continued efforts to conserve the natural and cultural resources around Mount Diablo. Through Save Mount Diablo’s long-standing partnerships in the region, with financial support from the community, the Habitat Conservancy as well as state and federal funding programs, we have ensured that the ranch will be protected forever,” said Abigail Fateman, Executive Director of the East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy.
“Protecting Curry Canyon Ranch is a huge win for California’s 30×30 goals and the many species that call this landscape home,” said Jennifer Norris, Executive Director of the California Wildlife Conservation Board. “Securing this link between Mount Diablo State Park and neighboring open space ensures that the interconnected habitats species need to survive and thrive will remain intact forever.”
Supporting Conservation up and down the Diablo Range
These funds will provide vital support to Save Mount Diablo’s mission of conserving lands throughout the Diablo Range.
Still mostly unprotected, the 205-mile-long mountain range sustains Mount Diablo’s biodiversity and serves as a source for recovery of endangered species like California condor and San Joaquin kit fox.
The Diablo Range is also home to Native American cultural sites, rare wildflowers, spectacular canyons, tule elk, and other imperiled wonders.
Curry Canyon Ranch: A Critical Piece of Mount Diablo
Save Mount Diablo has long hoped to secure additional protections for its 1,080-acre Curry Canyon Ranch, including helping some of these lands be added to Mount Diablo State Park, which shares borders with the ranch.
California State Parks supported Save Mount Diablo’s collaboration with the East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy and the California Wildlife Conservation Board on this project because it was understood as a step in the direction of eventually getting some of the Curry Canyon Ranch lands added to Mount Diablo State Park and securing more protections for this ranch, which is rich in natural and cultural resources.
Curry Canyon Ranch fits like a giant key deep into Mount Diablo State Park, and much of the ranch is surrounded on three sides by the state park. Part of the ranch has now been transferred to the East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy. Map: Save Mount Diablo
Curry Canyon Ranch has 30 special-status species, blue oak and live oak woodland, grassland and oak savanna, chaparral, critical riparian habitat, endemic flowers, and golden eagles.
It is difficult to overstate the importance of this land, which is surrounded on three sides by Mount Diablo State Park, to the park’s ecosystem health.
A meadow of wind poppies represents a taste of the property’s dazzling wildflower diversity, which also includes globe lilies, mariposa lilies, and endemic manzanitas. Photo: Emily Sherwood
Recent Progress in Adding Lands to State Parks
Luckily, recently passed California State Senate Bill 630 is now poised to facilitate more additions to state parks.
Last year, the working group of leading land trusts and conservation organizations that Save Mount Diablo established in 2024 to help advance California State Parks’ acquisition program assisted in passing the new law, which took effect in January 2026.
This law allows lands that do not have an acquisition cost over $1 million to be added to existing state parks through a streamlined approval process.
In the past, a complicated multi-agency approval process prevented expansion of Mount Diablo State Park, despite numerous land acquisition opportunities, for almost 20 years.
Now, things are moving again.
The Knobcone Point Trail is already publicly accessible under Save Mount Diablo’s ownership, and the official transfer of 160 acres to the East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy, a government agency that implements the East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservation Plan and Natural Community Conservation Plan, brings this important part of Curry Canyon Ranch a step closer to joining Mount Diablo State Park.
The East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy plans to transfer the land to California State Parks in the future.
Hikers along the Knobcone Point Trail can enjoy stunning views like this. Photo: Sean Burke
Save Mount Diablo to Continue Connecting People to Nature at Curry Canyon Ranch
Save Mount Diablo will remain the owner of the 155 acres protected by a perpetual conservation easement held by the East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy, including the ranch house area, and other lands at Curry Canyon Ranch that are managed for stewardship, education, and other programs and events.
A perpetual conservation easement simply guarantees no development or harm impacts the protected land, regardless of ownership. Save Mount Diablo’s ownership and access rights will remain in effect.
Programs and events at Curry Canyon Ranch are essential to the organization’s work of building community and a love of nature in the Mount Diablo area.
Many students, for instance, grow up learning about biology in a classroom but rarely have hands-on experiences in a wild place.
With limited understanding of how nature relates to their lives, people risk growing up without any connection to the ecosystems that we all rely on.
Students use binoculars during one of our educational program activities at our Curry Canyon Ranch field station. Photo: Emily Sherwood
By providing such hands-on experiences, Save Mount Diablo fosters curiosity and appreciation for the natural world. Our education programs are rooted in the idea that people who love nature will want to protect it.
With great help from the California Wildlife Conservation Board and the East Contra Costa Habitat Conservancy, Curry Canyon Ranch will continue to advance our shared conservation mission of saving Mount Diablo and the Diablo Range for future generations.
Save Mount Diablo Executive Director, Ted Clement, recently signing papers finalizing the Curry Canyon Ranch project while in the backcountry on Save Mount Diablo’s Four Days Diablo event. Photo: Scott Hein
Image Credits and Captions:
- View of Mount Diablo State Park from Curry Canyon Ranch. Photo: Sean Burke
- Curry Canyon Ranch fits like a giant key deep into Mount Diablo State Park, and much of the ranch is surrounded on three sides by the state park. Part of the ranch has now been transferred to the East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy. Map: Save Mount Diablo
- A meadow of wind poppies represents a taste of the property’s dazzling wildflower diversity, which also includes globe lilies, mariposa lilies, and endemic manzanitas. Photo: Emily Sherwood
- Hikers along the Knobcone Point Trail can enjoy stunning views like this. Photo: Sean Burke
- Students use binoculars during one of our educational program activities at our Curry Canyon Ranch field station. Photo: Emily Sherwood
- Save Mount Diablo Executive Director, Ted Clement, recently signing papers finalizing the Curry Canyon Ranch project while in the backcountry on Save Mount Diablo’s Four Days Diablo event. Photo: Scott Hein
High-resolution photos are available upon request. Contact lkindsvater@savemountdiablo.org.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Laura Kindsvater, Senior Communications Manager
C: 925-451-8376, lkindsvater@savemountdiablo.org
###
