1994 Diablo Watch - Spring Edition, Issue 13

Newhall North and South Purchased

221 ACRES ON LIME RIDGE ADDED TO OPEN SPACE

In November 1993, the City of WalnutCreek and the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) acquired the 221 acre Newhall North and South parcels encompassing the slopes of Lime Ridge on both sides of Ygnacio Valley Road. The $6 million purchase came after years of controversy over development of the two highly visible areas, which are 80% surrounded by public open space.

Protection of both parcels has been a priority for Save Mount Diablo for almost two decades. SMD helped stop several proposed developments on this property and urged the City to consider purchasing it. In 1988 Walnut Creek donated $1,000 to SMD' s Morgan Ranch campaign; as a gesture of support and appreciation, SMD's Board of Directors donated that same amount to the Newhall acquisition effort.

Lime Ridge's grassy slopes rise steadily from near downtown Concord to Mount Diablo's summit. It defines a clear border between the cities of Walnut Creek and Concord. Much of Lime Ridge was previously owned by the Cowell Cement Company. Still visible is the Crossroads smokestack in Concord - north of Ygnacio. This land was subsequently sold to the Newhall Land and Farming Company. Newhall later started development of many of its land holdings including those on Lime Ridge.

OPEN SPACE GAP FILLED

When citizens approved open space bond funding in the mid 1970's in both Concord and Walnut Creek, park advocates envisioned protection of Shell and Lime Ridges and connections to the State Park. The Open Space District eventually pieced together a preserve on Lime Ridge, but lacked sufficient funds to purchase substantial portions of the property planned for protection. The acquisition of the two Newhall parcels fills in a large gap in the public open space.

continued on page 2 1

BunchGrass Project Receives a Grant

The BankAmerica Foundation has joined Save Mount Diablo's efforts in restoring a bunchgrass prairie with a $2,500 environmental grant. The funding will be used to purchase materials and tools (including a small hand mower), fund a public information and interpretive panel, and help pay the costs of volunteer coordination and documentation of the project.

Currently, approximately 50 species of grasses are found on Mount Diablo, half of them introduced. The native landscape included perennial bunchgrass grasslands that were very different from the Mediterranean annual grasses found today. After germinating, bunchgrasses put a great deal of their energy into establishing extensive root systems. Growing in spaced

continued on page 3

2

3 Organizations

3 Presidents

5 Announcements

6 Celebrate

MOUNT DIABLO

Board of Directors

Su c;,rn \'\ , 1tc;o11 Presicic•nl

1vL1n · L. l3ow<'r m,1n Vicl' : Presicicnl

RPben I _ U<" ll' \licl:' -Pt L·oidcn i

1,inciil VJ, , j,in, , ,11 "-) Pc_TC'lr-1i ' ·

I udsull ]VI, ·.:,11 c fre,lSLtrl'J '

Eli,,1beth Z1len

l IishH i,111

l)()Jl dL' Fl" l' llWJ"\ Dircctur •

Stq.,lwn Jusq,h Directur

, \m,ll",1 Kt1,;s Director

S te\ en '.vlc·hlman Director

Bob Nunn Director

Alan Prilger Directnr

Malcolm S~sruul Director Staff

Seth Adams Progrnm Director

Diablo Watch is publish e d b y Sa ve ]\;fount Di ,1 blo , ,1 nonprofit organization dedi cilted to preserving l.:ind on Mount Diablc1 mid educ,1ti11g the public to th e muunti1in 's naturnl values.

Edited

by Linci,1 and Steve Meh!tn,m

CONTAINS ,:;,.. • SOYOIL

Dic1blo Watch is printed on re c\' cled pape1· w i th,1 SO\' b,lSL' ink,md c,rn be re cy cled c1g ,1 in

CalPAW '94 - California Parks & WildLife Acquisition Bond

Over the summer, Save Mount Dic1blo support ers joined thousands of other volunteers in gather ing ov r 72 5,000 s ig natures to qunlify lh e Cc1 1irornic1 Parks and Wildlifo Acq ui sili m Bond (CalPAW 1 94) t'o r th e June 1994 State ballot. If the bond passes, $1 Ci million will be available to pr es erv e thousa nd s of acr es of critical open space and wildlife habitats on and around Mount Diablo. Hundreds of other areas across the state will also be preserved through funds raised by the CalPA W Bond. In June you will hav e the opportunity to vote for or against CalPA W. Thi s article will provide

you vvith information about C1lPAW.

WHAT IS CALPAW '94

CalPA W is a citizens' initiativ e sponsored by the Planning and Conservation League, and d eveloped and qualified for the b allot by environmental groups through out th e State , including Save Mo unt Diablo. To pass, a majority (50% + 1) vote is r 'qui l' ed this June. If it pc1sses, $1.9 billion wi ll be available over the next ten years for open space preservation at a cost of about 50 cents p er month (for twenty years) per California

Newhall North and South Purchased ,.,,,u,,,,,,,,;.,,,,,,,,s,·1

The 60 acre South parcel includes the native Di ablo man za nita and the thr ea tened Alameda whipsnake. Its old quarry sites provide important wildlife habitat. The parcel also in-

This acquisition apprecic1te the bec1uty of this _ area. The City's outstc1nding effort to acquire the site in conjunction with Regiona 1 Parks must be tempered with some concern regarding the stated intentofcouncil members to allow some dev el opment on the north parcel," according to Robert Doyle, EBRPD Assistant General Manager for Land

standing example of cooperation and th e wise use of public funds. The cost of the land has d ec reased by hc1lf and thi s is a great deal for the citizens of WalnutCreek and all others who cludes one of the first lime kilns ever developed in California. The 161 acre North parcel, below Ygnacio Valley Road , includes a steep grassy valley. It is home to rare burrowing owls, several kinds of raptor s, and an abundance of oth er grassland species. Both parcels have sweeping views of Central County and are a vital puz zl e piece on Lime

represents m1 outstanding example of cooperation nnd the wise use of public funds Ridge's slopes.

JOINT EFFORT BRINGS RESULTS

The November 1993 purchase came to fruition throu gh a joint effort of the Walnut Cr eek City Council and the Board of Dir ectors of the East Bay Regional Park District. Th e EBRPD allocat ed $500,000 from AA Bond funds dedicat ed to the Diablo Foothills, and $1.1 million from the City's AA Local Grant Program specifically for th e upper Newhall South parcel. The City of Wc1lnut Cre ek contributed $4.4 million, but h c1s s tc1ted a willingness to consider sale of part of the North parcel for limited development.

"This acquisition repr esen ts c1n out-

Acquisition and Advanced Planning.

Wc1lnu t Creek will re tc1in ownership of th e entire 221 acres, but EBRPD will gain right s for c1 number of important regional trail conn ec tions, including one es pecic1lly importc1nt segment for wildlife which pass es through an exis ting underpass traversing Ygnacio Vc1lley Roc1d.

SMD Program Director Seth Adams stc1ted, "The public now ovms Newhall North c1nd South. Sm'e Mount Diablo continues to support preservation of both parcels in their entirety. We will need to continue to monitor futur e land us e c1ctivities and c1ny d evelopment the City might pro-

In the Spotlight:

ORGANIZATIONS ON THE MOUNTAIN -

Perhaps you have seen them on their mountain bikes wearing their rather loudly colored yellow jerseys with the distinctive shoulder patch? One of the lesser-known volunteer organizations operation on Mt. Diab lo is the Bicycle Assistance Unit (BAU).

By Jim Tolley

pervision availabl e, Currently, there are 10 active volunteers and more are being sought.

The primary mission of the BAU is to educate other bicyclists about the Park policies, especially those related to bicycle use. A part of every encounter is information on

Note from the President

IJs you read this column, it is the beginning of a new spring on Mount Diablo, but as I write this column, it is January, which is still close enough to the past year for me to look back on a year of much accomplishment and much change for Save Mount Diablo.

hours per month, many members regularly volunteer 10 or more hours each month.

With the increasing numbers of mountain bikes entering the park each season, the function served by the BAU is becoming even more critical. This is especially true, as staff positions are being cut or left vacant to

the appropriate behavior around horses and hikers. The emphasis of these encounters is friendly persuasion and peer pressure. The secondary mission of the BAU is to assist other park users by providing directions, first aid, and information. All volunteers are first aid and CPR qualified and have attended a training course in Park andstateofCaliforniarulesand regulations While the minimum requirement for participation in the BAU is only 3 The BAU consists of concerned mountain bikers willing to volunteer their time to supplement the Park staff and assist other park users. The BAU has been in existence ever since mountain bikes were allowed in the Park. It has been more or less active over the years depending on the number of volunteers and the amount of ranger su-

Bunchgrass Project Receives a Grant

clumps, they stayed green later in the season than the annual grasses and provided valuable grazing for native herbivores, held soil from erosion, and preserved soil moisture. Their seeds provided food for a variety of native wildlife.

The BankAmerica Foundation grant, combined with nearly $10,000 of in-kind materials and labor during 1994, will help double the size of the restored bunchgrass prairie. The bunch-

grass prairie is located at the Mitchell Canyon entrance to Mount Diab lo State Park. It is envisioned that the entire project will take approximately ten years to complete. During this time, volunteers will work to re-establish the native grasses by prepar-

ingplots, collecting and germinating seeds, planting and watering seedlings, and weeding and mowing non- native grasses.

For more information about the Bunchgrass Project, please call the Project Manager, Charli Danielson, at (510) 525-9076.

It has been a pleasure to see the fruition of many of our long-held hopes in the preservation of a natural Mount Diablo We dedicated the Three Springs acquisition to the State Park in April, and we were delighted to see the preservation of so much open space, including the prominent and visible knolls, by the City of Concord at the Crystyl Ranch development. At the end of the year, the cooperation of the City of Walnut Creek and the East Bay Regional Park District made possible the acquisition of the two Newhall properties which are at the heart of Lime Ridge. A good year for our mountain!

At the beginning of 1993, Save Mount Diablo's board of directors was severely depleted. The untimely death of Bob Walker in early fall 1992 and the resignation of four directors, including founding members Gen and Bill Sattler, felt us with the task of rebuilding the board.

We have been extremely fortunate to have six dedicated and talented men and women join our board during the last year: Steve and Linda Mehlman of Walnut Creek, Allan Prager of Orinda, Stephen Joseph of Pleasant Hill, Amara Koss of Diablo, Malcolm Sproul, and Bob Nunn of Clayton and Three Springs. This infusion of energy, interest, and skill has allowed us to continue with our usual high level of activity.

We have had to say goodbye to two other board members, Chris Valle-Riestra and Patrice Moran. Happily, it has been more of a ·'see you soon" than a goodbye, for Chris is doing work for our new Land Use Committee, and Pat has become our second staff person, a much-needed part time secretarial position as Administrative Aide.

What does this year hold for Save Mount Diablo? The way all of our date books are filling up, it looks like a busy one. While you are enjoying this year's spring on the mountain, please remember that it is your work, your donations , and your dedication to the mountain - not just Save Mount Diablo's board and staff - that has made and will continue to make all the difference.

Jim Tolley (left) and Bert Weinstein educate bicyclists about Mount Diablo bike policies

Volunteers prepare bunchgrass prairie plots

CalPAW '94 -Acquisition Bond

resident. Paid for with General Obliga- IMPACT ON MOUNT DIABLO tion bonds, the actual costs to each resi- Contra Costa and Alameda Counties dent will decrease as the State's popula- will receive more than $66 million, includtion increases. ing $10 million for Mount Diablo, and $30

Bonds are the means by which the million for the East Bay Regional Parks DisState pays for projects that will provide trict(EBRPD). TheEBRPDfru1dingincludes benefits over time because bonds spread $3 million each for Morgan Territory and the costs to all those who will receive the Black Diamond Mines. benefits. They are traditionally used to Save Mount Diablo gets money to buy pay fo1, important infrastructure-- land from a variety of sources. Some comes parkland, water systems, freeways, pris- from donations and is used to either purons, etcetera. chase small parcels outright or to hold larger

Ca!PA W bonds will only be sold with parcels until state or local park agency fundthe approval of the State Governor and ing can be developed. With the passage of Treasurer, and only if their sale will not Ca!P AW '94, Save Mount Diab lo will be able impair the financial stability of the State or to preserve an open space corridor between reduce California's credit rating. Cur- Black Diamond Mines Regional Park and rently, less tha115% of the State's General Mount Diablo State Park and save threatFund is used each year for debt service. ened land and wildlife habitat on all sides of This past year alone, more than $4 billion the mountain. in old bonds were paid off. Current low interest rates make bond funding far less expensive than it has been in past decades.

Ca!PA W funds will help protect parkland, wildlife habitat, prime agricultural lands, coastal areas, rivers, and other resources statewide. Acquisition of these lands will preserve much of the beautiful open space we love and the views we treasure. Every city and town will receive funding for parks and recreation programs as well as to protect important cultural and historic sites. Funding will be fairly distributed throughout the state based on population.

money invested in California State parks generates over eight dollars for the State's economy. Additionally, numerous studies have shown that proximity to parks or permanent agricultural lands increases the resale value of homes.

We encourage you to vote YES on Ca!PA W '94 and help permanently protect almost $2 billion worth of wildlife and native plant habitat, vital park and natural lands, historical sites and trails from urban

BOTANICAL DRAWINGS

BY LYNN FRITZ

NOW IS A GOOD TIME

Traditionally, open space acquisition has been paid for by bonds placed on the ballot by the legislature. However, since the 1970' sour legislature has not placed a single park bond measure on the ballot.

We all know that the state is going through tough economic times. However, the decreased real estate values make this a good time to buy land, and the low interest rates make this an ideal time to sell bonds. Preservation of natural resources provide important economic benefits, from cleaner air and water to increased tourism. It is estimated that each dollar of General Fund

CALIFORNIA PARKS AND WILDLIFE INITIATIVE

Yes! I want to help preserve parks and open space

Enclosed is my donation for

_ $35 _ $50 _ $75 _ $100 _ other

Checks payable to: Save Mount Diablo (P.O. Box 5376, Walnut Creek, CA 94596)

I want to volunteer time to help pass Cal PAW '94. Please call me:

contributions

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

Save Mount Diablo P.O. Box 5376 Walnut Creek, CA 94596

Make your contribution to Save Mount Diablo go further ask your employer if it participates in a matching donation program.

Organizations on the Mountain

rouli1111cd {10111 pn::;t· 3

save money. By serving as another means of disseminating information and acting as c1dditional eyes and ears, BAU members free the staff to perform other tasks which only they can perform, such c1s lc1w enforcement. Members regularly report conditions from outlying areas of the Pmk such as trees down across the road c1nd fences in need of repc1ir which bear on the safety of users or the security of the Park. BAU members have c1lso repaired bikes c1nd offered technirnl assistance to the unfortunc1te cyclist with a flat tire or a damaged bike.

OFF-ROAD CYCLIST'S CODE

1. ALWAYS YIELD-Even if at times it seems inconvenient. Being sensitive to how others perceive you will assure a positive imc1ge for your sport and minimize the restrictions that follow confrontations and negative encounters. Remember, bicycles in the back country are a new experience for horses and hikers.

2. PASS WITH CARE-Let others know of your presence well in advance. Use a chime or audible greeting to avoid startling others. Be especially careful when passing a horse, as each will react differently; stop and ask the rider for instructions. by asking if the horse is easily spooked, you show an awareness of the rider's needs. Sometimes it may be necessary to dismount and remove your bike from the trail to allow others to pass.

3. STAY ON TRAILS-Riding cross-country damc1ges meadows and other fragile ecosystems. Never cut switchbacks as this accelerates erosion. Be aware of the type of soil you plan to ride on. Never ride on muddy trails and carry your bicycle around muddy spots.

4. CONTROL YOUR SPEED-Safe speeds are relc1tive to terrain and your experience as a rider. Be able to stop safety without skidding in the distance tlwt you can see ahead. Approach switchbacks and turns in anticipation of someone coming around the bend.

·s. RESPECT WILDLIFE AND LIVESTOCK-Do not frighten animals. Close gates as you pass through, unless it appears obvious that they have been intentionally left open.

6. DO NOT LITTER - Pack out what you pack in, and if possible, carry out more than your share.

7. RIDE ONLY ON AUTHORIZED TRAILS - Check with local authorities regarding open trails and conditions, and with landowners regarding private land access. Stay off trails that are closed to bicycles!

8. PLAN AHEAD - The off-roc1d bicycle will open new horizons to you. If distances are involved, do not travel solo. Expect weather changes.

9. MINIMIZE IMPACTS- The practice of minimum impact wilderness use is the philosophy of the responsible off-road cyclist. Take only pictures.

10. WEAR A HELMET AT ALL TIMES.

Announcements ... Announcements

Please help us keep the costs of Diablo Watch low We make every effort to check our mc1iling list for duplicate names, but occasionally one slips by. If you currently receive more than one issue ofDiablo Watch, please send us the label from each issue so we rnn update our mailing list.

For some time now, Diablo Wc1tch readers hm1 e enjoyed the photography by Stephen Joseph in this publication. Stephen's photos (primarily of Mount Diab lo) will be featured at the grand opening of the Alamo branch of the Bank of San Ramon. Drop by, enjoy the photos, and meet Stephen c1nd other members of the board of directors of Save Mount Diablo. The grand opening celebration will be on March 31, 1994 from 5:00 p.rn. to 7:30 p.rn. at 3189 Dc11wille Boulevard, (at corner of Stone Vc1lley Road), 5

Celebrate April on the Mountain

From the cold, clear days lingering over from winter, to the warm, sunny promises of summer, you will find a calendar of events with something for everyone and some place you have never been . April on the Mountain has been an annual event since 1974 for Save Mount Diablo and our co-sponsor, the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association. It has grown

from a few hikes and events during the month of April to a wonderful series of opportunities starting in March and continuing through May. Just as April on the Mountain has grown, Save Mount Diab lo has grown from a few hundred supporters to nearly 5,000 at present

Although Save Mount Diablo and MDIA co-sponsor the program, it is also true that we could not do it alone. Ourthankstothepark agencies and their staffs and the long list of other groups who provide volunteer leaders for the hikes and events . Pull out the enclosed event schedule and hang it up on your wall or calendar. Mark some of the dates in yourowncalendar. And join us in celebrating April on the Mountain! 6

SaveMountDiabloisanon-profit501(c)(3)conservation organizationwhichhasbeenpreservinglandsonMOlmt Diabloandeducatingthepublictothemountain'snatural value since 1971. Preserved lands have more than tripled in that period. Save Mount Diablocontinues to raise funds to preserve the remainder of the mountain. For more information, or to receive Save Mount Diab lo' snewsletter Diablo Watch, write to Save Mount Diablo, P.O. Box 5376, Walnut Creek, CA 94596 or contact Program

Director Seth Adams at (510) 229-4275.

PHOTO COURTESY BOB WALKER ARCHIVES

April on the Mountain hikes will take you to wonderful sights