John Muir Land Trust Horizons Spring 2024

JOHN MUIR LAND TRUST HORIZONS

Protecting the places that make the East Bay special

SPRING 2024

For more than three decades, John Muir Land Trust (JMLT) has been assembling the missing pieces of our most vulnerable wildlife corridors in the East Bay. Habitat is threatened as increasing residential and commercial development eats away at the edges. With your help, and thanks to some recent notable gifts, we’re in sight of the $6.5 million needed to acquire and protect two critical new properties along Franklin Ridge, the as-yet largely untouched hills southwest of downtown Martinez. It would be tragic to see this landscape picked apart.

At risk is The Kenneth Gerlack Preserve, a beautiful 100 acres of well-defined ravines, hilltops, plateaus, open grasslands, and deciduous native oak woodlands. Barnett Ranch occupies 134 acres to the west. Its north-facing grasslands draw the eye out to San Francisco Bay and to dramatic views across San Pablo Bay to northern wine country valleys. Hiking here is a joy—beautiful sky above and sweeping views all around.

Franklin Ridge is the nexus for trails of regional and state-wide importance. Among them is the Bay Area Ridge Trail, with its ambitious goal of a continuous 550-mile loop circumnavigating the entire Bay Area. If we can acquire these additional 234 acres, we’ll add missing pieces to an outdoor playground that will delight for generations to come. continues on page 3

JOHN

MUIR LAND TRUST

P.O. Box 31, Martinez, CA 94553

925-228-5460 • info@jmlt.org jmlt.org

Linus Eukel

Executive Director

Kristen Anderson

Director of Digital Marketing

Ricardo Black

Manager of Stewardship & Public Engagement

Mary Cherry

Senior Farm Manager, Family Harvest Farm

Jay Dean

Creative Strategy Director

Brionna Garner

Database Manager

Hannah Hodgson

Associate Director, Family Harvest Farm

Melanie Hogan

Chief Development Officer

Lisa Lomba

Director of Institutional Giving

Beth Perot

Database Director

Neil Roscoe

Chief Financial Officer

Kathleen Stavis

Associate Director, Major & Legacy Giving

James Wilson Stewardship Director

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Arthur Bart-Williams

Chair

Stephanie Becker

Vice Chair

Karen Sakata

Secretary

Bill Wadsworth

Treasurer

Katie Hill

Immediate Past Chair

Jan Berckefeldt

Dan R. Carl

Jack Cortis

Stephen Harvey

Eliot Hudson

Tim Lipman

Ted C. Radosevich

Jerald M. Weintraub

Many thanks to the photographers who contributed to this issue: Jay Dean, Adam Weidenbach, James Wilson, Susan Wood, Ana Homonnay and Wendy Sparks and Jeff Torquemada

Dear Friends,

One of the most rewarding aspects of leading a land trust is the opportunity to meet and work with such a passionate and remarkable community of supporters as you. As residents of the East Bay, we are blessed by thriving natural landscapes just minutes from home. That such a natural wonderland exists in the middle of a bustling major metropolitan area is due to ordinary people coming together a century ago and again in the following decades to set these places aside for future generations. That’s us. We’re those lucky future generations.

That exceptional spirit lives on in you— the people who donate, volunteer, encourage others to get involved, and get outside to enjoy the special places that together we have protected in the 35-year history of John Muir Land Trust.

In this issue is the theme of another important audience we serve—the wild residents who inhabit these special places in our midst. The Campaign to Expand Franklin Ridge will protect a vital wildlife corridor that is critical for creatures who need remote space to wander. Pacheco Marsh is bringing back an ecosystem devastated by human activity, but one that is now abundant with life after receiving some care and attention. Our Donor Spotlight is a showcase for the work of two extraordinary wildlife photographers whom we are so fortunate to have in our community. While not exactly “wild,” cattle are residents on many JMLT properties and you’ll enjoy reading about them as well.

Please help us close the final gap on our current campaign. Be sure to attend the Fresh Air Affaire this fall. We thank you sincerely for your support and look forward to seeing so many of you at our gatherings and out on the trails!

Sincerely,

Linus Eukel, Executive Director

This autumn please join other members of the JMLT community for a celebration of the work we’ve accomplished together. Enjoy an evening of dinner, drinks, and live music with old friends and new friends as we look back at 35 years of remarkable conservation and look forward to what’s next. This event, as the land trust itself, had humble “potluck” beginnings. We’ve grown up a bit! Come have some fun on October 5th!

Fresh Air Affaire: October 5th, 2024 • Save the Date!

Protecting the places that make the East Bay special

THE CAMPAIGN TO EXPAND FRANKLIN RIDGE (CONTINUED)

Critically Important Habitat

Intact wildlife refuges and corridors are indispensable places that wild species need to survive in a changing world. The East Bay hosts several thriving refuges, but these are often mistakenly viewed as finished conservation projects. In reality, these natural areas are incomplete, lacking the scale and interconnectedness that species need. Expanding Franklin Ridge is one of our best opportunities to acquire new land— parcels large and small—that will fill in gaps, expand boundaries, and safely buffer existing wild places.

Franklin Ridge is habitat for the federally threatened Alameda whipsnake and the endangered California redlegged frog. There is abundant evidence that mountain lions and American badgers use these lands as thoroughfares. In fact, our night camera on the ridge has captured stunning photos of a mature puma who, lucky for us, enjoys strolling by this particular spot. Patrolling overhead are raptors such as golden eagles and white-tailed kites. This landscape is a natural treasure located right inside the boundaries of a heavily populated metropolitan area.

Two Special Places

There is so much at the top of the ridge to see and experience all of God's creation. I look forward to coming out there with my great-grandchildren. And for them one day to bring their families. We're preserving it for them and for the public.

—Carolyn Barnett

JMLT is raising $6.5 million to acquire two parcels missing from the patchwork quilt of the protected landscape being woven atop Franklin Ridge. The word “patchwork” should in no way distract from the remarkable progress achieved by the JMLT community over decades of dedicated work. It started with a strategic vision of an intact landscape and together we’re achieving it.

Next up is The Kenneth Gerlack Preserve and Barnett Ranch. The former is a 100-acre ranch that completes the missing segment along the ridgeline that was partially filled with the acquisition of Almond Ranch. The latter occupies 134 acres at the area’s western end. Acquiring it is an essential step toward a hoped-for future unbroken connection to Fernandez Ranch and East Bay Regional Park District’s Crockett Hills.

As our lives changed and our children grew up, we always maintained a reverence for the property and the land. Once it’s gone, you can’t get it back. — Gay Gerlack

Protecting the places that make the East Bay special

THE CAMPAIGN TO EXPAND FRANKLIN RIDGE (CONTINUED)

A GENEROUS COMMUNITY

Notable gifts to expand Franklin Ridge have closed the gap as we approach the deadline of June 30th. The campaign received $1,230,000 from the State Coastal Conservancy, an agency charged with protecting and restoring California’s most important natural and scenic resources. This grant is a testament to the significance of Franklin Ridge. Recently two anonymous donors contributed an extraordinarily generous $500,000 each. At the end of last year, hundreds of supporters made gifts that brought us $300,000 closer. And, we successfully met the dollar-for-dollar $150,000 challenge match from David and Janice Hammond for an additional $300,000!

By supporting the expansion of Franklin Ridge, I feel pride in continuing the heritage of our East Bay parks and open space started decades ago. This legacy makes the entire East Bay a place especially connected to nature.

—Stephen Harvey, Alhambra Valley

We give to JMLT because we believe in setting aside open space for future generations and also because we trust JMLT to be good stewards of our money. We live next to Franklin Ridge and it is a treasure. We want all nature lovers to be able to come and enjoy it as much as we do today. —Rebecca and Kirk Bocek, Martinez

Saving Franklin Ridge promotes earth cooling, animal migration paths, and a place for human contemplation and renewal in a busy world. What a marvelous gift to our future generations.

JOHN MUIR LAND TRUST CAMPAIGN TO EXPAND FRANKLIN RIDGE

—Kay Cox, Martinez

JMLT has already connected several properties going west from Mount Wanda that are accessible by fire roads and narrow paths. The new acquisitions will provide a fabulous hiking and riding trail along a long stretch of Franklin Ridge. These trails are an important reason why this area is such a special place to live.

—Mike Anciaux, Alamo

THE CAMPAIGN TO EXPAND FRANKLIN RIDGE GIFT MATCH CHALLENGE

“We believe in public open space protections. We believe in trail connectivity for public access. And we believe JMLT does the best job of any local land trust at protecting lands for wildlife and then creating a plan to open these lands for sustainable public access. We can do this!”

—David and Janice Hammond, Alamo

Watch a recent episode of Open Road on NBC BayArea to learn more about the Campaign to Expand Franklin Ridge. You’ll see stunning drone video from above. There’s also a fascinating segment on Adam Weidenbach, the photographer behind the camera on so many remarkable images you see in these pages. Visit: jmlt.org/openroad

Every gift makes a huge difference! Make a donation: jmlt.org/franklinridge

Protecting the places that make the East Bay special

BUSY

Volunteers!

A land trust is many things. Among them, a land trust is a community. Without the dedicated lovers of nature, advocates, and donors who make acquisitions possible, protecting our special places in the East Bay would not happen. These pages celebrate JMLT volunteers, the folks who bring muscle power, expertise, and a willingness to put in long hours to help accomplish our mission. Volunteers keep landscapes healthy and safe for humans and wild creatures alike.

Thank you!

Welcome East Bay Trail Dogs!

JMLT is delighted to announce that we are now fiscal sponsors of East Bay Trail Dogs. As our partners, Trail Dogs bring knowledge and skill to a variety of important stewardship tasks. By harnessing the power of these volunteers, JMLT can efficiently and effectively meet ongoing maintenance needs. The Trail Dogs organization benefits by being under the umbrella of a larger nonprofit. It’s a huge win win.

Trail Dogs was founded in the 1970s. Today these hard-working volunteers clock about 2,000 hours annually cutting back overgrown brush, weed whacking, mitigating soil erosion, establishing drainage, and building and repairing trails across the East Bay. A special category of work is defencing. Trained crews remove old barbed wire and fence posts, thus creating a more pleasing and safer landscape for two-legged visitors and fourlegged residents alike.

“There is something magical about seeing the before and after of one of these projects. We pulled at least 75 posts and removed upwards of a quarter mile of barbed wire. A full 5 hours pulling staples and rolling wire in steep canyons, around downed trees, and through underbrush is a task appreciated fully only by those who do the work. Why? Because visitors rarely know the before and after. We were happy and beat!”

— Trail Dog, Dave Hammond - reporting from Painted Rock

JMLT and Los Medanos Collaborate

Recently JMLT's stewardship team enlisted the help of student volunteers to pot over 50 buckeye trees. These are destined for several JMLT properties. JMLT is reaching out to local community colleges to find young nature lovers who want to get their hands (and elbows and knees ...) dirty for conservation. Students learn about native plants and get motivated to help preserve and protect local ecosystems.

Protecting the places that make the East Bay special

Bay Area Ridge Trail Volunteer Day: On November 4th, over 350 volunteers across the region gathered at 15 project sites to spruce up the Bay Area Ridge Trail. Teams removed trash, cleared brush, and repaired and built trails. JMLT’s Almond Ranch received some loving attention when this energetic group got sweaty and dirty with their shovels and rakes.

Whether you love getting your hands dirty, enjoy hiking or using your specialized skills, we’ve got a place for you. Scan the QR code or visit jmlt.org/volunteer for more info

Protecting the places that make the East Bay special

Nature talk

Nature Is Good For You

We humans, especially those of us who spend time outdoors, intuitively know that capital-N Nature is good for our species’ physical, mental, and emotional well-being. I knew that back when I was a toddler and I’d come inside covered in mud (although my mother might have disapproved).

What’s interesting these days is how much official confirmation there is. Books, research, the actions of policy makers, and public opinion surveys show increasing recognition of the benefits of nature to human communities. In this space we’ll introduce terms that inhabit this growing literature.

“Natural Capital”

An extension of the economic notion of capital, Natural Capital refers to resources such as geology, soils, air, water, and living organisms that provide humans with goods and services. Nature provides essential services that can be measured and valued. Simple examples are water catchment or crop pollination by insects. Natural capital is essential to the sustainability of human economies. About time we added this to the balance sheet!

Editor’s Note: When I asked permission to use this delightful donation and note, this was Riley’s mother’s reply:

“She and I discussed that using her note might inspire others to donate to John Muir Land Trust, too! Riley came home today frustrated that her school cafeteria places plastic forks on all the students' trays even for food like pizza and burgers. Riley was focused on how wasteful it is because the utensils just get thrown away and are not necessary. The younger generations are inspiring, and give me (much needed) hope about the future.”

We couldn’t agree more. Thank you, Riley!

Hamlin Nature Park — Lafayette

BY THE NUMBERS A visit to Farmily Harvest Farm

Volunteers in 2023 made Family Harvest Farm a very busy place. We can’t do it without you! 6 191

New yoga mats. These are for morning check-ins and grounding meditations. We work hard every day, and those muscles need stretching!

Varieties of tomatoes have names as colorful as the fruit itself: green zebra, early girl, sunset bumblebee, carbon, brandywine, and stripped German.

Education workshops last year. Foster youth learned about food, crop planning, bene cial insects, and careers in public health, and had a great time as a community!

New fruit trees planted recently. We’re going to be harvesting peaches, pears, apples, apricots, and almonds.

Monarch caterpillars have made homes since the farm's inception. These residents might just be our favorites.

See page 15 for more on Family Harvest Farm

5116

Pounds of healthy organic produce were distributed in a 12-month period.

Protecting the places that make the East Bay special

Jeff Torquemada & Wendy Sparks

DONOR SPOTLIGHT

It’s difficult to imagine any people who could be more enthusiastic about wildlife than Jeff and Wendy. This married couple travels the world to take photos of wild places and the spectacular creatures who inhabit them. You know how skilled portrait photographers can capture the true essence of a person in an unposed private moment? Well, that’s what Wendy and Jeff strive to do with their subjects. They observe and capture wildlife in their private moments, going about their daily lives. It could be two pumas so enthralled by chasing each other around that humans nearby aren’t even noticed. Or newts mating in the ponds at Briones. Or a ground squirrel protecting her babies from a huge rattle snake by waving her tail to increase her heat signature so that the intimidated predator slithers away.

“More than ever, the wild creatures who share this beautiful landscape with us need their habitat protected,” says Jeff. “The changes we’ve seen in the East Bay over the past 40 years are profound,” adds Wendy. Longtime supporters of local organizations such as Lindsay Wildlife, the couple was excited to discover John Muir Land Trust in 2018 when they received a letter about JMLT’s efforts to protect the wildlife corridor atop Franklin Ridge. “We love that our support helps protect the places that wild residents need to survive. If we continue to encroach upon their habitat and do nothing to set important landscapes aside, then we must learn to coexist.”

Nothing delights the two more than to see habitats restored and reoccupied. In their neighborhood was once a large covey of quails. “Last week we saw our first quail in thirty years in the brush below our house!“ exclaims Wendy. “The new families of river otters in the Contra Costa Canal are so special,” adds Jeff. “We love going there on weekends to educate people about the return of these charming creatures.”

On these pages you’ll see examples of the extraordinary photographs taken by this globe-trotting pair. And if you want more, each year Jeff and Wendy produce a dazzling calendar, the purchase of which supports wildlife rescue and habitat restoration. For more info: jeffandwendyphotography.com

JMLT is so grateful for Jeff, Wendy, and the thousands of donors like them whose generosity makes preserving the East Bay’s natural beauty possible. As members of our Friends of Muir giving community, Jeff and Wendy provide critical ongoing support for JMLT’s work. They also have the notable distinction of being JMLT’s first Legacy Match Challenge participants. JMLT extends our appreciation to Jeff and Wendy for setting the stage with the Challenge and to all our John Muir Legacy Society members, who help ensure that the East Bay’s treasured landscapes are protected forever. Thank you!

Protecting the places that make the East Bay special

JOIN THE LEGACY MATCH CHALLENGE!

Unlock a $1,000 gift made in your honor by joining Jeff and Wendy in the Legacy Match Challenge today! Name JMLT in your will or trust or as a beneficiary of one of your financial accounts and make protecting open space part of your legacy. To complete the legacy giving intention form and learn more, go to: jmlt.org/legacymatch or contact Kathleen Stavis at kathleen@jmlt.org or (925) 293-4807.

JOHN MUIR LEGACY

BAY DELTA CONSERVATION: PACHECO MARSH UPDATE

THINGS ARE CHANGING!

You’ll remember photos of Pacheco Marsh in past issues as mostly mud and heavy machinery (above). Things are changing! We asked photographer Adam Weidenbach to revisit the marsh with his drone and camera to provide a current look. We also chatted with Drew Goetting whose firm is implementing public access features.

ABOUT PACHECO MARSH

JMLT’s Pacheco Marsh restoration project is a decades-long effort to bring back a salt marsh habitat suffering from a century of harsh industrial overuse. Along Suisun Bay we are creating a pristine wildlife refuge, an unprecedented opportunity for healthful recreation, and an educational center that will inform visitors about marsh ecosystems and how we can reverse harmful human activity.

A CONVERSATION WITH DREW GOETTING, PRESIDENT AND CEO RESTORATION

DESIGN GROUP

Q: What’s the latest at Pacheco Marsh?

Drew: What strikes me is just how fast the tidal marsh has come back to life. The grading by heavy machinery was important for getting elevations right for the land to be inundated by tidal action and thus to reestablish vegetation. It's amazing how a natural system can heal itself if given the opportunity.

Q: What’s special about the site?

Drew: I’m constantly reminded how intensely industrial the surrounding area is. This juxtaposition of oil refineries, bridges, and tanker ships offshore—all within view when you're out on the marsh—speaks to the theme of ecological reconciliation. We can't restore the site as it was before European impacts. But, we can restore ecological function.

Q: What’s happening now?

Drew: We’re in the “Establishment Phase.” It’s a battleground out there. We’re trying to promote native plants such as pickleweed and salt grass. At the same time, we’re trying to weed out the invasives. A freshly graded place is heaven for weeds!

Q: What happens next?

Drew: Next comes the building and installation of public access infrastructure. It can take months. Pathways on the site will create two loops. The crown jewel will be the northern bridge. At 137 feet long it will be a pretty amazing structure. Visitors will walk all the way to the end of the property because this bridge will have some of the best views. There will be five or six vista points. There will be a stout steel structure that serves as a bird blind. We’ll build a staging area for about 30 cars, with ADA-accessible parking. An interpretive center will have informative panels about ecology, land-use history and the theme of ecological reconciliation. It’s so inspiring!

For the complete interview with Drew, please visit: jmlt.org/rdg-interview

COMING UP: HOOVER RANCH

The Bay Delta region is essential to the health of freshwater and marine ecosystems and to the well-being and economic vitality of its numerous human communities. This autumn we’ll be announcing the Campaign for Hoover Ranch, a 600-acre purchase/design/restore project with nearly two miles of shoreline on Bethel Island. It will provide sanctuary for fish, birds, and wildlife. Stay tuned! For more info jmlt.org/hoover

GRAZING FOR GOOD: COWS & CONSERVATION

No doubt you’ve been the object of their curious looks. And they the object of yours. It’s a beautiful sunny day and you’re hiking! It’s a beautiful day and they’re munching! You enjoy a moment of inter-species contemplation as you pass by. Why are cows here? Well-managed cattle grazing can be a powerful tool for conservation.

Natives Need It

Grazing promotes habitat diversity. The state’s grasslands are overrun by invasive grasses. These crowd out native species, leaving scant fodder for the animals that depend on them. Cattle act like natural lawnmowers, munching down on invasives and allowing natives to thrive.

Fire Mitigation

Invasive grasses are potential tinderboxes. By strategically grazing, JMLT reduces the amount of flammable fuel, making wildfires less likely and easier to control. This protects plants and wildlife, and keeps nearby communities safe.

Wildflowers

At Harvey Ranch, JMLT's Stewardship Director, James Wilson meticulously crafted a grazing plan with local biologists to promote a delicate balance of native grasslands, aquatic ecosystems, and rare plants, including native wildflowers. Cows help it all!

Revenue

Income from cattle grazing goes to land stewardship, meaning that properties are better maintained. Grazing supports local businesses such as multi-generation ranching families.

Yes, There Is Mud

Grazing has its downsides, like muddy trails and encounters with cow pies. When placing your feet carefully, remember that cows are our partners in conservation, playing a vital role in a healthier, more diverse, and fire-resistant landscape for everyone to enjoy.

Please visit jmlt.org/cows for the do’s and don’t’s of your cow encounters on the trails.

Redmaids at Fernandez

Ranching on Harvey

Protecting the places that make the East Bay special

Working among other foster youth is eye opening. We are all so different, yet similar in that we are learning to be ourselves and finding purpose. We’re achieving our goals and bonding over shared experience growing up in care. Here I feel understood.

—Mia

APPRENTICE SPOTLIGHT:

MEET MIA , FAMILY HARVEST FARM

Young adulthood is stressful. But for some, this period of transition presents more than its fair share of challenges. Young adults maturing out of the foster care system in California are at risk. Many experience food insecurity, being unhoused, and mental health challenges.

“The farm has helped a lot with my anxiety and depression,” says Mia, an apprentice at Family Harvest Farm. “Before the farm I did not like to engage in conversations. Now I know more about who I am. Before I never meditated or did yoga or felt the muscles in my body. This has been a nice awakening to my mind and body. I’ve stopped feeling bad for myself.”

Family Harvest Farm grows food for local families, of course, but more importantly it grows life skills and selfconfidence. “Whether I am planting or harvesting I know it is going to be a good day because I am doing something that is part of the cycle of life. It gives me purpose,” explains Mia. “Working with nature has taught me to invest in myself the same way I invest in the plants at the farm, to give myself good inputs. It is amazing to see how what you put into your body affects your health. When I was growing up, I would just eat bad food. I stayed in the house. I spent a lot of time cleaning and cooking. I would just hide out in bed. I hated it, and it would cause a lot of my depression.”

Today Mia is a new person. Working on the farm has encouraged her to aim high. “I want to keep learning!” she says. “I am in a program learning about computers and the tech field. The last time I did school I was depressed. I want to go back and give it another try! The farm teaches you what you like and don’t like. I’m thinking about my career path and learning about myself at the same time. I don’t know where I would have been without this. Working outside, working in the elements, you realize how resilient you are!”

ABO UT THE FARM

On a former vacant lot in a city neighborhood, this 3.5-acre thriving regenerative and organic farm launched operations in 2020. Here young adults with experience in foster care work as apprentices to get career training and learn new skills. A program of JMLT, Family Harvest Farm encourages healthy living, nurtures the environment, and feeds the local community.

We’re having fun down on the Farm and you must join us. jmlt.org/calendar