1993 Diablo Watch - Summer/Fall Edition, Issue 12

Will You Spend 50 Cents For A Dream?

CALPAW '94 - THE CALIFORNIA PARKS AND WILDLIFE BOND NEEDS YOUR HELP

Imagine someone offering you an investment where for 50 cents a month for the next twenty years, and a little work and seed money now, you could have $16 million. That's the deal Save Mount Diablo is offering you - with a twist.

The $16 million would be used to preserve thousands of acres of critical open space • andwildlifehabitatonand around Mount Diablo. Save Mount Diablo could preserve an open space corridor between Black Diamond Mines and the State Park and protect threatened lands on all sides of the mountain. If we don't succeed, much of the beautiful open space we love and the views we treasure, will be lost to California Parks and Wildlife Initiative (CalPAW) will provide funds to purchase continuing urban sprawl. open space and protect wildlife habitats. An extra benefit would be that hundreds of other areas across California would also be preserved. California is liveable, despite 30 million people (and 500,000 more every year) because of open space preservation near every community .

Investment With Huge Return

CalPAW '94 is a citizen initiative bond measure to acquire, protect and enhance park land, wildlife habitat, agricultural lands, coastal areas, river habitat and other resources throughout the region and across the state.

If CalPAW passes, $1.9 billion will be available for open space preservation at a cost of about 50 cents per month for the next twenty years per California resident. With inevitable population increases, the actual cost per capita will be far less.

Contra Costa and Alameda Counties will receive more than $66 million, including $10 million for Mount Diablo and $30 million for the East Bay Regional Parks system. The Regional Parks funding includes $3 million each for Morgan Territory and Black Diamond Mines. Other local projects include shoreline preservation from Antioch to Richmond, wetlands and ridges in Martinez, funds to create a Bay Area Ridge Trail, and funds for the restoration of the San Ramon Creek and the Walnut Creek. In addition, every city and county will receive an allocation for local park and recreation programs. continued on page 6

Musco Purchased

560 ACRES & A FUTURE PARK ENTRANCE

The front page of the very first issue of Diablo Watch in thefallof1989decried the purchase of the 560 acre Musco property for subdivision as "a blow against Diablo lovers". Recently, however, four years of hard work paid off and the Musco property was purchased by the East Bay Regional Park District.

Musco's 560 acres include the heart of Riggs Canyon, one of the most remote and beautiful canyons on Mount Diablo. Eventually, a staging area will be constructed for those wishing to enter the State Park and Morgan Territory. We'll tell you more about this spectacular property and how it was purchased in the next issue of Diablo Watch. •

i 11 s i d e

2 "Diablo Trail" Proposed New Park Superintendent

3 New Board Members "Black Oak Estates" President's Note

4 Park News Oak Habitat Restoration

5 Hikes &Events Volunteers Needed!

6 Three Springs Dedication

8 Peregrine Project

MOUNT DIABLO

Board of Directors

Susan Watson President

Mary L. Bowerman Vice-President

Robert E. Doyle Vice-Ptesidenf

Elizabeth Zilen Vice-President

Judson Mygatt Treasurer

Patrice Moran Secretary

Don Fremery Dircclor

t pben Joseph Oil'eclo r

Linda Mehlman Director

Steven Mehlman Director

Alan Prager Director

Chris Valle-Riestra Director Program Director

Seth Adams

t h a n k y O U

We especially appreciate the generous contributions of our many supporters. You make our work protecting Mount Diablo possible.

Diablo Watch is published by Save Mount Diablo, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving land on Mount Diablo and educating the public to the mountain's natural values.

CONTAINS l'J::J!t.,

Diab/a Watch is

24 Mile "Diablo Trail" Proposed

Residents of the East Bay are fortunate in having thousands of acres of open space and hundreds of miles of riding and hiking trails available for their use and enjoyment.

Some of the longer trails are exciting for the hiker and horseman, passing through varied terrain and wilderness scenery and connecting several different parklands. Examples of existing trails of this nature are the Skyline National Recreation Trail that goes the distance of the Oakland-Berkeley Hills and the 28 mile Ohlone Wilderness Trail, which , passes through Del Valle Regional Park, Ohlone Wilderness, Sunol Regional Park, and the Mission Peak Preserve in southern Alameda County.

Save Mount Diablo and other organizations have proposed a similar trail in the Mount Diablo region now that

recent acquisitions are connect-

ing adequately the State Park with Morgan Territory Regional Preserves. The proposed 24 mile "Diablo Trail" already exists in various forms, but improvements, signposts, and directional signs will need to be made and installed. Permits to create such a trail from the jurisdictions involved - the State Park, Walnut Creek Open Space, and the East Bay Regional Park District - are needed. Issues such as the suitability of camping and other health and safety concerns need to be resolved.

To test out the possibility of the proposed trail, a group of eight hikers, including four members of Save Mount Diab lo' s board of directors and its program director, received permission to go on a four day

hike from Shell Ridge Open Space in Walnut Creek through EBRPD's Diablo Parklands and Mount Diablo State Park to Morgan Territory Regional Preserve on a proposed route of the "Diablo Trail". Readers of The Contra Costa Times will remember the descriptive articles by Times reporter Jim Bruggers, who went on the hike, about the beautiful scenery and won-

derful experiences this hardy band encountered on their way from west to east.

Is the "Diablo Trail" feasible? Our answer is a resounding Yes! Do a lot of problems still have to be resolved? Yes, they do, but the trail has caught the imagination of the public. Some day - not too long, we hope - the trail may be signed and ready for public use.

Save Mount Diablo has received a bequest which can be used to finance improvements, and we shall continue to work through the regulatory process with the various parklands to bring about a "Diab lo Trail" .

So Long Bob Todd! Welcome Larry Ferri

Chief Ranger Bob Todd, who has been Acting Park Superintendent for the last year, is leaving Mount Diablo to become Chief Ranger for the Bay Area District. Todd has served on Mount Diablo for more than ten years. He was a tremendous help in advancing Save Mount Diablo's goals of long term preservation of the mountain, and will be missed We wish him good luck in his new position.

Larry Ferri, the new Park Superintendent for the Diablo District, was Superintendent of the Sonoma District, which includes historical parks such as the Petaluma Adobe and the Sonoma Historical park. He officially starts at Mount Diablo on July 1, but is already hard at work. Save Mount Diablo welcomes Park Superintendent Ferri, and looks forward to working with him.

Save Mount Diablo and other organizations propose a 24 mile "Diablo Trail"

Note from the President

New Save Mount Diablo Board Members

Save Mount Diablo is very pleased to announce the election of five new members of the Board of Directors. Directors are elected by the Board , generally serve on at least one committee, and must have a strong love of the mountain. There ar e now twelve Directors and three vacancies. The new Directors are:

Donald de Fremery - Don lives in Alamo and is a retired biochemist with the USDA'sWesternRegionalCenter. A well known hike leader, he serves as Trails Committee chair and Board member of the Sierra Club Mount Diablo Regional group. He is also a board member of the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association. He is past president of the East Bay Area Trails Council, and a member of the Contra Costa Central Committee of the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council. Don has responsibility for organizing " April on the Mountain " and coordinating the creation of the Diablo Trail.

Stephen Joseph - Stephen is a free lance landscape photographer, specializing in panoramic and stereo photographs. A Pleasant Hill resident, his work is in-

eluded in the collections of the San Francisco Museum of Fine Arts, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Rental Gallery, and the Oakland Museum He has taught at the California College of Arts and Crafts and at Civic Arts in Walnut Creek. Stephen serves on the Publications Committee and uses his photography to aid Save Mount Diablo. The new Diablo Watch masthead is by Stephen.

Linda and Steven Mehlman - Linda and Steve live in Walnut Cr eek and are avid cyclists and hikers. Linda is a Vice President and Senior Finance Manager for Bank of America and Steve is an attorney with Grant and Sternberg. Steve is also Chair of the Walnut Creek Planning Commission. Together they are members of the Publications Committee and co-edit Diablo Watch. Linda also serves on the Fundraising Committee

Alan Prager - Alan is a partner in the management consulting firm of Edgar, Dunn & Company. He has done pro bono consulting with groups such as the Nature Conservancy and is a member of the Association for Corporate Growth. Alan lives in Orinda and is an avid hiker. Alan chairs Save Mount Diablo's Fundraising Committee. •

"Black Oak Estates"

DEVELOPMENT APPROVED AT

ATHENIAN SCHOOL

Almost five years ago, Save Mount Diablo began following the proposed development of the northern 47 acres of the 119 acre Athenian School property. A General Plan Amendment for the property was approved by the Board of Supervisors in 1989 which included language suggested by Save Mount Diablo to protect a stream canyon and a prominent, visually sensitive knoll adjacent to the State Park boundary.

When the "Black Oak Estates" development plan was submitted, however, it included development on the knoll and in the stream canyon. Dedicated neighbors

adjacent to the proposed project immediately organized. Countless hearings were held, thousands of signatures opposing the development were collected, and experts were hired. Save Mount Diab lo supported this effort. Yet, the developers refused to change their plans. Finally, in November 1992, the Board of Supervisors approved a 36 unit project which protects the knoll and the stream canyon and adds 14 acres to Mount Diablo State Park. Many thanks and congratulations are due to the many people who helped make this possible.

IJs one of the backpackers on the proposed Diablo Trail this April, I can testify heartily to the beauty and magnificence of the country through which we passed. We are so fortunate in this area to have these open lands that seem so remote from the hurry and bustle of our daily lives

The preservation for public use and enjoyment of these areas would not have been possible without the support of you - the public - in many ways over the years. Shell Ridge was acquired in the early '?O's by a bond issue passed by the citizens of the City of Walnut Creek. Public tax funds acquired Diablo Parklands and Morgan Territory Regional Preserve, along with Measure AA funds, which the public voted for in 1988. The State Park areas were acquired by a mixture of bond funds, land donations, and general fund appropriations over many years.

In 1988, Proposition 70 funds came from a citizens' initiative, the California Parks and Wildlife Initiative. The money allotted to the Mount Diablo area brought us such magnificent lands as the Morgan Property, Three Springs, and recently, the Musco Property (with additional funds from the Regional Park District)

But State bond funds are now exhausted, and there are many willing sellers of beautiful land in the State, some of whom are local. In the current economic climate, land prices are down; it is a superb time to buy before everything goes sky high. An~w citizens' California Parks and Wildlife Initiative is being proposed for June 1994 with signatures being gathered this summer. Contra Costa County voters have always been at the top in the State in voting for parks because we have always known the value of lands for public enjoyment. When you see a volunteer signature collector this summer, please stop and sign your name. Better yet, volunteer to circulate a petition.

Our parks have always depended upon our support. Please remember what they have meant to us and will mean to many in the future.

Park News

Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve (East Bay Regional Park District). The winter storms resulted in some erosion on fire roads. A rare longnose snake, which looks something like a mountain king snake, was sighted in the park. Every pond is full, springs have appeared after being dry for almost ten years, and there is an unbelievable array of vernal pools. Amphibians have been breeding lustily in the pools and springs this year. The Mining Museum will remain closed until funding can be found for earthquake reinforcement.

Morgan Territory Regional Preserve (East Bay Regional Park District). The park is very wet from the heavy winter and spring rains. One section of the Highland Ridge trail was damaged and requires a detour, but otherwise, as with the other parks, this was a great spring and promises to be a great summer. The 560-acre Musco property has been acquired and will now be preserved as open space.

Mount Diablo State Park

bottom of Dan Cook Canyon. Vegetation there is at least 100 years old, similar to the Emmons Canyon vegetation prior to the wildfire that occurred there in August1992. AswiththeburnsonSouthgate Road, strips will be burned up the slope to create a mosaic of habitat. In areas such as Emmons Canyon, which have burned or been brushed for the Fire Management

Oak Habitat Restoration Project

Oak planting by the Oak Habitat Restoration Project, co-sponsored by the Walnut Creek Open Space Foundation and the City of Walnut Creek's Open Space Division, has been underway for more than a year in Shell Ridge Open Space. We were fortunate this winter to have a break in the drought. The plentiful rain greatly aided the chances of seedling survival. "The program's going fine. People get a lot of pleasure out of actually planting and· nurturing growing plants like this. We get good attendance on work days, and volunteers are always welcome," said Ralph Kraetsch, the project coordinator.

Using acorns collected from the area, more than 572 numbered trees have been established, along with many other un-numbered trees. Many new seedlings are already budding this season. Your participation in this fun and rewarding project is welcomed. Tentative work dates are:

Watering-7 /17, 8/14, 9/11, 10/9

(California Department of Parks Shell Ridge Open Space and Recreation). The spring wildflow- Plan, spectacular wildflower displays ers on Mount Diablo were spectacular. have been common, including death caFor the firsttime inmanyyears, all of the mas, mariposa lilies, and the threatened ponds are full and the streams and wa- Diablo sunflower. terfalls are only now starting to dry. Once again, the state park budget is in There were more sightings and signs of jeopardy and it's not certain that campmountain lions this spring than in the ing will be allowed this year. past, notably on the Three Springs prop- • Shell Ridge Open Space (Walnut erty. Threatened Alameda Whipsnakes Creek Open Space). A new trail has been have been sighted, including several re- constructed along the length of Shell cently in the junction area Peregrine Ridge, providing easier access and stunfalcons continue to be sighted and may ning views of the surrounding area. On be nesting. June 7, realignment of the Bramhall Trail

Mount Diab lo Interpretive Associa- to improve access and lengthen the trail tion (MDIA) and other groups, includ- began. ing Save Mount Diablo, will possibly The Shell Ridge Open Space is conorganize a smaller version of the April ductinganinnovativeexperimentingrazOn the Mountain this Fall, to be called ing management. By spraying a 5:1 mixAutumn on the Mountain. One high- tureofwaterandmolassesalongthegrass light will be the grand opening of the nearest the boundary fences of the park, restored Summit Museum. cattle have been attracted to graze that A controlled burn is planned for area heavily, eliminating the need for this Fall for 600 acres in the Rock City hand weed abatement or herbicides. area, west to Wall Point down to the

Future planning-7 /24

Acorn harvest-9 / 4, 9 /18

Acorn gathering-10/9

Acorn planting-11/13

For more information call Ralph Kraetsch at 933-5732

contributions

To Save Mount Diablo are taxdeductible to the full extent provided by law. Checks should be made payable to:

Save Mount Diablo P.O. Box25

Concord, CA 94522

Make vour contribution to Save Mount Dtablo go further ask your employer if it participates in a matching donation program,_J

Hikes & Events

SATURDAY, JULY 3

9:00 a.m. Leader: Don de Fremery, 837-5646; Foothills of Diablo. Explore the western foothills of Mount Diablo on a mod rately strenuous 11 mil hike. W '11 pass through portions of Shell Ridge Open Space, Diablo PoothiJls Regional Park, and the State P ark to Wall Point Road, along the route of the proposed Diablo Trail. We will return via an alternate route. Meet at Indian Valley School at the east end of Marshall Drive in WaJnut Creek at 9:00 a.m. (or carpool from Wa lnut Creek BART at 8:40 a.m.). Bring lunch and liquids.

SATURDAY, JULY 10

9:00 a.m. Leader: Glen Walder, 828-6954; Little Yosemite. Join Glen for amoderate6-7 mile hike up Wall Point, through thick chaparral and pine-oak community. W '11 enjoy view of the Tri-Valley, Pleasanton Ridge, and the Maguire Peaks. Just as the sun gets intense, we'll s.lip off the expo ed ridge into wo ded canyon onto what serve d as the stage route for early visitors to the Mountain. The trek will finish tlu·ough Little Yosemite, an unusual sand stone draiJ,age. Hike s tarts at Macedo Ranch Stagi ng Area (north of Green Valley Road in Alamo). Brin g lunch andliquids. We'll returnby4:00 p.m.

SATURDAY, JULY 18

9:00 a.m. Leader: David Sanger, 526-0800; Wall Point Loop. Meet at Curry Point for tllis 9 mile hike. WewiU climb up the Summit Trail to Barbecue Terrace and then descend into Pine Canyon. After lunch at Pine Pond, we'll climb back up the

ridge to WaU Point for a dear view of Rocky Ridge to th e west, and Diablo'ssummitto the east. Approximately2,000 feet elevation gain. Wear good shoes and bring lunch and Io of water.

SUNDAY , AUGUST 8

8:30 a .m. leader: Joe Hea1-st, 837-6127; Dan Cook Canyon nd Sycamore Creek. Join Joe for a 10 mile round trip hike up Dan Cook Canyon to Rock ty, u.r ry Point, and the Sycamore Cre k loop. About1500 feet elevation gain. We'U visit an old scout camp and a rarel visit d cave. Meet promptly at 8:30 a .m. (to avoid the heat f the climb) in th SE co rner of the Lucky parking lot, just east of the Diablo Road xit from l-680. Bring lunch and plenty of liquids .

SUNDAY, AUGUST 22

8:30 a.m. Leader: Joe Hearst, 837-6127; Dan Cook Canyon and Sycamore Creek. See Augusts description.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4

9:00a.m. Leader: DondeFremery,837-5646; Wall Point-Pine Canyon Ramble Join Don on a moderately strenuous 10 mile hike a long a portion of the proposed Oiablo Trail. We'Jl foJlow Wall Point Road past Ro ck City, then return via Barbecue Terrace Road, Stage Road, and the Briones-Motmt Diablo Trail. Hike starts at the Macedo Ranch Staging Area (north end of Green Valley Road in Alamo} at 9:00 a.m. or carpool from Walnut Creek BART at 8:40 a.m. Bring lunch and liquids.

Volunteers, Volunteers, Volunteers!!!

Save Mount Dia blo need · your hclp with a variety of projects, most importantly, coUecting ignatures for the CalPAW initiative. For information, plea e calJ Seth Adams at (510) 229-4275.

Voltmte er help i aJso needed with the restoration of a btmchgrass and wildflower gras land in Mitchell anyon (contact O,arli Daniel en at525-9076), oak planting in Shell Ridge (contact Ralph Kra tsch at 933-57 2), and trail work on projects such as the Diablo Trail.

VollU1teers with periencc managing ev nl's, fundraising 01· managing investmen! are need d f r th · Save Mount Diabl Fw1drni ing ommittee,a ndgraphi artist and writers arc needed for the Publication Committee 11,ree openings remain on Save Mount Diablo's Board of Directors. For more information, contact Program Director Seth Adams at (510) 229 -4275.

Three Springs Dedication

UNITING "THREE SPRINGS " WITH MOUNT DIABLO

April 10, 1993. The dedication of 78 acre "Three Springs" to Mount Diablo State Park was a gr e at success. More than 200 attended the ev ent held on site and at the adjoining hom e of Bob and Dana Nunn, from whom the parcel was purchased. To accommodate the great attendance, the two planned hikes were split to become four, each in the opposite direction along loops through the property. With the recent rains, and bright sunny days, the views and wildflowers were spectacular

Short speeches by Sav e Mount Diablo President Susan Watson and Vice President Bob Doyle, Supervisor Gayle Bishop and Clayton Council member Julie Pierce were followed by the transfer of the property to the Department of Parks and Recreation, represented by Director Donald Murphy. A heartfelt prayer blessing "Three Springs" by a Native American representative was followed by a boxed lunch.

Many thanks to Bob and Dana Nunn for hosting the event and providing sponsorship, to Ranger Bob Todd and the Department of Parks and recreation for help in arranging the event; to hike leaders David Bigham, Stephen Joseph, David Sanger, and Susan Watson. Also thanks to Steve Dunn, Lance Gold and Chuck Treen for directing traffic; to Stephen Joseph for his photos; to Classic Catering of Pleasant Hill for a great lunch; to anyone we may not ha v e mentioned, and to all of those who attended.

A Dream Continued from

page 1

How Does Save Mount Diablo Buy Land?

Save Mount Diablo is often asked, "Where do you get the money to buy all that land?". We do it two ways.

First we use your contributions to buy some parcels of land outright, like the 78 acre "Three Springs" parcel, which was recently added to the North Side of the State Park. (See article above)

Second, we use your contributions to hold larger pieces of land until the state or local park agencies can develop funding to purchase it.

Traditionally, open space acquisition has been paid for by bonds placed on the ballot by the State legislature. During the 1980's, no park bonds were placed on the ballot. Finally, in 1988 the Planning and Conservation League drafted the first

CalP AW initiative, a $776 million bond measure. Save Mount Diab lo helped pass the initiative. We donated

on the recently acquired 560 acre Musco property. Save Mount Diablo continues to acquire small parcels, but without additional bond $4,000 and collected 12,000 signatures. Our reward was the passage of CalPA W, which provided $4 million to acquire land on Mount Diablo. In addition, bond funds became available in November 1988 with the approval of the East Bay Regional Park District AA bond measure.

All $4 Million Has Been Spent Land on Mount Diab lo isn't cheap! Of the $4 million, $1.5 million was used to

Save Mount Diablo continues to acquire small parcels, but without additional bond funding, important parcels are unobtainable and will be lost.

funding, important parcels are unobtainable and will be lost.

Is This A Good Time?

The California State Park System and the East Bay Regional Park District were both created during the Great Depression. The economy is tight right now, and there is almost no money left for land acquisition. At the same time, this is a great time to buy land because land prices aredown. Wemustseizethe purchase the 631 acre Morgan Ranch (1989), $500 thousand on the 78 acre Three Springs Property (1992) , and $2 million

opporttmity to buy land now and preserve open space. Less land will be available in the future and its price will likely be higher.

Save Mount Diablo President Susan Watson and Program Director Seth Adams present a photo of the Three Springs Property to Bob and Dana Nunn, from whom the property was purchased

A Dream Continued from page 6

CalP AW '88 passed with almost 70% approval, and polling done this year during the drafting of CalP AW '94 showed approximately the same level of support. Potential voters were particularly supportive of the fact that

CalPAW '94 specifies the projects which ½'.ill be funded and the low cost of the bond at 50 cents per month for twenty years per resident. Despite the hard economic times it appears that there is a good chance that CalPAW will receive a majority vote. Do You Have 50 Cents For A Dream?

We Need Your Signature Gathering Help Now

Save Mount Diablo has committed to

jority (50% + 1) vote next June. We need to act now to preserve Mount Diablo and other lands throughout our state. We need your commitment of just three hours collecting signatures for us to provide our share of signatures

June 12, 1993, and continues until October. This means there will be time slots available for even the most demanding schedules. To help us get a fast start early sign-ups would be appreciated.

Help Make This Dream Come True

Regional Parks.

collecting 25,000 signatures towards the effort to qualify the CalP AW Parks Bond for the June 1994 ballot. Hundreds of other conservation groups are also working to collect a total of 650,000 signatures (424,000 valid signatures, plus a margin for expected invalid ones). This measure requires a ma-

needed to qualify the initiative for the ballot. We'll train you, and you'll be making an investment that will be repaid many, many times over when the measure passes. Please fill out the coupon below, and return it to us in the envelope provided. Signature gathering begins ,

CALIFORNIA PARKS AND WILDLIFE INITIATIVE ' '

Yes! I want to help get the California Parks & I

I Wildlife Initiative on the June 1994 ballot!

_ I'll collect signatures. Please call me to arrange a time.

_ $25 _ $50 _ $100 _ $500 _ $1000 ___ other

CaIPAW

I've enclosed a donation towards the campaign, and made my check payable to Save Mount Diablo (P.O Box 25, Concord, CA 94522)

We need $29,000 for the campaign and 25,000 signatures. Please take a minute to fill out the coupon and return it with your donation in the envelope provided. Make your check payable to Save Mount Diablo. If you are able, we ask only a minimum of 3 hours collecting signatures. We'll train you. Make sure you include your

phone number - Save Mount Diablo will contact you. If you have any questions, call Seth Adams, Program Director, at (510) 229-4275.

CalPAW funds can be used to create a wildlife corridor between Mount Diablo State Park and surrounding East Bay

Peregrine Project Concludes

Bird Res ea rch ·Group released almost 800 pairs of peregrine falcons in the w estern states Locall y, the y were aided b y the Sa ve Mount Diablo ' s Peregrine Falcon Restoration project, which includ ed many organizations and individuals, notably the Mount Diablo

Audobon Society, the California Hawking Club, and the Lindsay Museum .

By 1970, prim a rily because of nesting problems related to DDT pesticide accumulation and habitat loss, the peregrine falcon was extinct on the ea s t coast, and absent from 95 % of an estimat ed 7000 plus nesting territorie s in North America . Only two pairs could be located in California.

By the e nd of 1992, after fifteen years of work, the Santa Cruz Predatory

Over four years, five pairs of peregrine chicks were successfully cross-fostered into prairie falcon nests on Mount Diablo. An additional fiv e pairs were introduced in th e surrounding regional parklands. Last year the Pereg r ine Falcon

Project, of which Save Mount Diablo is one member. Reintroduction of the peregrine falcon on Mount Diablo is now complete. Monitoring will continue locally. Special thanks are du e to Randy and Bruce Smith and to th e Chevron Corporation among other large sponsors.

Over four years, five

pairs of Peregrine chicks were successfully crossfostered into Prairie Falcon nests on Mount Diablo.

Restoration Project reorganized as the Mount Diablo Biodiversity Restoration

Save Mount Diablo is a non-profit 501(c)(3) conservation organization which has been preserving lands on Mount Diab/a and educating the public to the mountain's na tural value since 1971. Preserved lands have more than tripled in that period Save Mount Diablo continues to raise funds to preserve the remaind er of the mountain. For more information, or to receive Save Mou nt Diablo's newsletter Diablo Watch, write to Save Mount Diablo, P.O. Box 25, Concord, CA 94522 or contact Program Director Seth Adams at (510) 229-4275.

The U.S. peregrine falcon restoration effort is also complete. Each year the wild population expands geographically, and a few more wild pairs are located. Although peregrines will continue to be affected by pesticides and hab itat loss , the bird is expected to

recover to the point that it can be down listed from the federal Endangered Species list.

Peregrine Falcon