Diablo watch issue 15 fall 1994 edition

333 Acre Chaparral Spring Parcel Purchased

WE NEED YOUR HELP TO PAY OFF THE LOANS

Clayton : I

Chaparral Spring parcel

333 acres purchased by Save Mt. Diablo

1 Mile

Save Mount Diablo has once again acted to preserve lands from development on Mount Diablo. In July 1994, SMD entered into an agreement to purchase Chaparral Spring, an incredibly beautiful and strategically located 333-acre property on the North Side of the Mountain just east of the town of Clayton. Chaparral Spring, named for an unusual south slope spring in what is normally a dry chaparral community, stretches west from Morgan Territory Road along the north side of Marsh Creek Road, immediately across from the northeast corner of the State Park. The purchase price for the entire parcel is $625,000. In order to hold the parcel, we've taken out $150,000 in loans. We need your immediate help in repaying the loans so that the property can eventually be added to public park lands.

Development Would Have Been Visible from Throughout Central County

Chaparral Spring is visible for many miles. It climbs from 1000 feet near Morgan Territory Road, four miles from downtown Clayton, to more than 1600 feet at the ridge line. It is the highest and most eastern part of the bowl rising east from the City of Clayton. It is literally the 'pass' between Clayton and Morgan Territory. Keller Ridge stretches east from Clayton to bury itself in the property. Chaparral Spring's slopes are south facing, and its unusual views include the Mt. Diablo itself, as well as Clayton and on to Suisun Bay, Highland Ridge and Morgan Territory to the south, and in the east, the Sierra range.

SMD first attempted to buy the property four years ago, but was outbid several times by private buyers who wanted to subdivide the property. SMD alternately attempted work within the development planning process to preserve as much of the site as possible. After each development proposal faltered, SMD again made known its interest to acquire the property. This summer, SMD's Board authorized another offer on the parcel, which was finally accepted. According to SMD president Sue Watson, "The Board appreciates the efforts of Bob Doyle, who assisted in the acquisition."

continued on page 5 1

Marsh Creek Road

Specific Plan Falters

Clayton Goes Back to the Drawing Board

In the last issue of Diablo Watch, Save Mount Diablo reported on a potential battle over Clayton's proposed Marsh Creek Road Specific Plan. That Plan, generally, is a disaster. It would allow development as high east of the city as the quarries above Mitchell Canyon to the west of the City. SMD considers it the single most important development issue on Mount Diablo in the last decade.

The City was poised recently to approve the Plan, after spending more than $250,000 in developer fees. SMD hired an environmental attorney to consider whether the City's procedural and environmental actions were in order and discovered a major flaw in their process. In a nutshell, the City's General Plan does not include the area east of the City, continued on page 3

i n s i d e

2 SMD Hires Director ,,

2 CalPAW falls

3 Lyme Disease

4 Park News

4 SF Foundation

4 Volunteers

6 Restoration of Native Bunchgrass

MOUNT DIABLO

Board of Directors

Susan Watson President

Mary L. Bowerman Vice-President

Robert E. Dovie Vice-President

Linda Mehlman Se cretary

Judson Mygatt Treastu-er

Elizabeth Zilen Historian

Don deFremerv Director , t phen Joseph Di re tor

Amara Koss Director

Steven Mehlman Director

Bob Nunn Director

Allan Prager Director

Malcolm Sproul Director Staff

Seth Adams Program Director

Carol Campbell Devel m nt irector

Pa trice Moran Administrative Assistant

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

Edited by:

Linda and Steve Mehlman CONTAINS

SMD Hires A Development Director Carol Campbell

The failure of the Prop. 180 CAL PAW acquisition bond on the June ballot made clear to

Diablo Watch is printed on recycled pa per with a soy base ink and can be recycled again.

table causes. In addition she administered the Switzer Environmental Fellowships, which awards scholar- Save Mount Diablo' s Board of Directors the importance of expanded private fundraising efforts. As of August 1, SMD hired a part-time Development Director to aid in the group's fundraising program. Carol Campbell comes to SMD having spent five years as a Program Associate in the Environment Program at the

San Francisco Foundation, carol Campbell a Community Foundation for the Bay Area which annually makes approximately $20 million in grants to chari-

CalPAW Fails

Two years of hard work on the Proposition 180 California Parks and Wildlife Acquisition Bond went down the drain on June 7th, when the State's voters rejected most of the items on the ballot. Save Mount Diablo had invested a great deal of funding in the measure, and SMD volunteers collected more than 12,000 signatures to help qualify the initiative, which included $10 million for additions to Mount Diablo State Park, and $3 million each for Morgan Territory and Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserves. Other proposed projects were spread across the state.

Although the measure barely passed in the Bay Area, including 51 % in the East Bay, the Statewide total was only 44%, with just over 50% needed. The reasons Prop. 180 failed are complex, but probably include the large size of the Bond soon after a recession and the

:E ships to environmentalists pursuing advanced degrees in California.

Why SMD? Carol answers, 'Tm excited by the opportunity to translate my experience in the funding community into direct action in land preservation on Mount Diablo. I've followed SMD' s work for years and have been impressed by the organization's ability to leverage small amounts of funding into big successes." recent Northridge earthquake, voter dissatisfaction with the large number of bonds, and a very small and conservative turnout for the election. Unfortunately, it's difficult to predict voter confidence given the long lead time necessary to qualify state wide measures.

According to Program Director Seth Adams, "The downside is that there are very few sources of acquisition funding left statewide, and many important areas will be lost or threatened as a result of the failure of CaLP AW. On the other hand, the campaign required the development of a volunteer base that will be useful for other efforts, and included widespread voter education efforts. Finally, by beginning the campaign for Chaparral Spring, we're practicing retail therapy-our donors and private fundraising programs are more important than ever."

Charitable Bequests

By adding a simple paragraph to your will, you can help ensure the continued acquisition of threatened open space and preservation of Mount Diablo for future generations. Save Mount Diablo appreciates gifts of funds or realproperty.

contact SMD at (510) 229-4275

Lyme Disease Update

[This article wa s reprint ed from Oak News, the new sletter of t/1e Oak Habitat Restora tion Project of the Walnut Creek Ope n Space Fo 1111datio11 and the City of Walnut Creek, with addit ional i1ifom111tio11 added by tl1e edito rs.]

Elayne Azevedo of the Contra Costa County Vector Control has recen tly provid ed current information on the occurrence o f Western Black Legged (WBL) tick and Ly me disease infecti on rates in Contra Cost a County and the Wal nut Creek area.

Named for Lyme, Connecticut where it was first encountered, Lyme dis ease can affec t the central nervou s sys tem if left untreated. The spirochete responsible for the disea se is carried by many forms of wildlife and sprea d by WBL tick s. Generall y a very small number of ticks carry the disease. They must be a ttached to the host for more than 24 hours to pass the sp irochete Signs of transmission include a red ring aro und the bite location.

A to tal of 1400 WBL tick s have been collect ed in the county, ofwhich800 h ave been diss ec te d. Of th ose , six positives for Lyme disea se, less th an 1%, ha ve been detected. No co ll e ction s we re mad e in the Walnut Cre ek Open Spaces. The two near es t were in Al amo at th e en ds of Las Quebradas Lane and Oakshire Place, and WBL tick s were

collected at both locations. Of the six positives, the closest was in the Lafayette vicinity. No groupings are statistically significant.

Ticks are generally much more active in cooler, wet weather, such as in winter, and most ar e dormant during the hot, dry part of the year Mature ticks seen in the field in s ummer are the Pacific Coast tick or possibly the dog tick , both of the same genus. Neither carries Lyme disease. At this time of year th e WBL tick is in the nymphal or larval stage. Mature WBL ticks are seen in the winter. They are somewhat smaller than the Pacific Coast tick, but still quite v isible Fema le WBL' s are larger than male s and have a reddish hue , while the males are solid black. The nymphal stage is about poppy seed size, with a reddish , luminescent appearance The larvae are even smaller, quite difficult for the lay person to recognize. The nymphs and larvae are generally found in leaf litter , and humans are not their preferred host.

In summary, it's wise to be alert for ticks an d to ch ec k yourself after hik ing, but at this time th e risk of Lyme di se as e infection in Contra Costa County appears minimal. Dogs can be protect ed with a strong tick co llar, available dir ectly from veterinarians

Marsh Creek Road Specific Plan Falters

and s tate planning law requires that as a first step before the preparation of a specific plan . SMD notified the City of the flaw , and on Jun e 6th th e Council voted to hire legal couns el to evaluate SMD's claims. In addition, they consider e d how to repair the flaw.

Until recently, SMD hadn ' t seen any mov ement by the Clayton City Council on the Plan At th e end of Jul y, however , the Council directed s taff to redraw the boundari es of the Pl a n, and to consider a much small er area in a Specific Plan while including (as SMD understands it) the larger area in an amended General Plan. SMD expects that th e City will then recirculate a revised EIR, hold hearin gs at the Planning Commission and the City Council and re-approve a Plan. This process will take 3-4 months at a minimum, and do es allow a cha nce for major chang es in th e Plan.

Three to four months from now, we may be back at this same juncture; wheth er the chan ges suggested by th e council will be

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adequate is as yet unknown. Your letters to the Clayton City Counsel may convince th e council members to adopt a more environmentally sensitive plan. SMD will keep you posted.

Sponsorship BE A DIABLO WATCH SPONSOR.

Page sponsors to help us offset the cost of printing and mailing this newsletter are welcome and can be thanked on these pages.

This page of Diablo Watch is supported by the bequest of Dan and Barbara Reid, of Diab lo. 3

Note from the · President

IIet us not fool ourselves - the voters' decision not to pass Proposition 180 in the June election has left Save Mount Diablo (a nd many other organizations) in a difficult position.

The State Department of Parks and Recreation has virtually no money for acquisition of park and recreation land. With the population increasing at record numbers, the demand for outdoor recreation of the kind offered by the state system far exceeds the ability of pubic or private funding At this writing, no bills for even modest amounts of bond funds appear to be certain.

What does an organization like Save Mount Diablo do in this situation? What we do can be summed up in two words "ke ep going". Or, in three words. "Keep the Faith " Faith in the fact that people love Mount Diablo and want it kept wild and free, not only for our sakes, but for our children and their children down through the generations.

It is with these strengths in mind that we have purchased the beautiful Chaparral Spring property with the funds that we carefully build up over the years -your funds, that you have entrusted to us to preserve the scenic lands and the recreational opportunities of this region. It is indeed a leap of faith, as Save Mount Diablo will have to hold on to this land for a long time.

We are going to have to be managers of land as well as fund raisers for land This is a new role for us. It is a necessary move, however, if we are going to keep the faith with you, that we shall purchase when the great opportunities arise for preservation of what we all hold valuable This purchase is such an opportunity

Many years ago, we hiked the land with a descendant of the original owners, and we saw for ourselves the beauty of the land. The views of the North Peak of Mount Diablo are incomparable, and the view of the land itself from Marsh Creek Road is inspiring -it truly makes the road a Scenic Corridor

The purchase has been a long time in coming to fruition It comes in dark days But it holds a promise - that , together, we shall continue on in order to preserve the beauty and the open vistas of Mount Diablo Thank you for your support over all the years. You made the purchase pos sible.

San Francisco Foundation Funds Program Expansion

Save Mount Diablo wishes to thank the San Francisco Foundation, which recently awarded a $40,000 grant to SMD for its Phase III-Program Expansion. The grant will help support the staff expenses of the expansion over a two year period. It will allow Save Mount Diablo to significantly redirect some of its resources and staff time to emphasize and expand certain programs including, Land Acquisition& Preservation; Fundraising; and Management & Restoration.

The Phase III Program and funding are needed because of the increasing expense of land transactions, to achieve greater cost effectiveness in land use planning ac-

Park News

Mount Diab lo· State Park (California Department of Parks and Recreation) Save Mount Diablo's Peregrine Falcon Project, which concluded in 1993 after re-introducing five pairs of Peregrine falcon chicks over a four year period into Mount Diablo State Park and surrounding regional parklands, was deemed a success when a pair of the falcons was spotted this summer nesting on Mount Diab lo, just outside the State Park. Save Mount Diablo' s picnic table restoration project is also successfully proceeding with the refurbishing of picnic tables in the Juniper campground. Additional donations to this project are still needed.

The rehabilitation of both North and South Gate Roads, and the road to the summit were completed in August. The replacement of the existing water system and installation of a new 500,000 gallon

ti vi ties, and to fund more public education. These expanded programs have the great potential for speeding preservation on the mountain, for developing organizational stability, and for involving volunteers.

Five years ago, the Foundation funded a similar proposal for a Phase II expansion, whichincludedhiring SMD's first staff, Program Director Seth Adams. Since that time, SMD carried out, or aided in the preservation ofland valued at more than $52 million. The Phase II expansion resulted in an increase in membership from 1,000 to more than 5,000 at present and an even larger increase in the magnitude of donations. The new expansion will mesh with the recent tank at Pioneer are nearly complete, and will provide better quality water and more storage capacity, which could be a real plus in responding to wild fires.

Throughout September and October, Save Mount Diablo and the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association will be holding their annual autumn on the Mountain events, including hikes, horseback rides, and bike rides. See separate schedule enclosed in this issue of Diablo Watch. Of special interest to cyclists are a number of upcoming rides. Diablo Cyclists will hold their first annual Tour Diablo Valley on Saturday September 24, 1994 benefitting Contra Costa Food Bank. Mount Diablo will be closed to cars from 7:00 to 10:00 a.m. as participants on the 65 mile (100k) or 40 mile courses climb Northgate Road to the ranger station junction and descend to Southgate Road. For more information call (415) 924-7355.

Volunteers, Volunteers, Volunteers

Save Mount Diab lo is looking for volunteers for a variety of tasks, including potential members of the Board of Directors. Board candidates normally serve on a committee and attend a number of Board meetings while getting to know the organization. Candidates with diverse ethnic backgrounds are especially sought; the primary qualifications are a love of Mount Diablo and sufficient time to serve on a Board that gives new meaning to the term "Working Board". In addition, SMD is sponsoring the restoration of a Bunchgrass grassland at Mitchell Canyon and needs volunteers to help with the project. We also seek volunteers for the Fundraising (financial or fundraising skills desirable but not necessary), Publications (desktop publishing, photography, layout skills desirable butnotnecessary), and Land Use (planning or other technical skills useful) Committees.

For more info about any of these volunteer opportunities, please call Program Director Seth Adams at (510) 229-4275

hiring of a part-time development director to aid in fundraising, and is based on a Strategic Plan developed in the past year.

"We greatly appreciate the San Francisco Foundation's continuing support for our work. The Foundation has allowed Save Mount Diablo to grow quickly over the past six years, yet continue to reserve the donations of our members for land preservation.", states SMD President, Susan Watson

Save Mount Diablo was the recipient of the Foundation's first ever Helen Crocker Russell Award in 1992 "for improving the quality oflife in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties".

Mount Diab lo Interpretive Association will sponsor a mountain bike race on October 15, 1994. For more information, call (510) 933-5289. Childrens Hospital of Oakland will hold its annual Mountain Challenge bike ride, up South Gate Road (which will be closed for the event) to the top of Mount Diablo on Sunday, October 2, 1994. For more information, call (510) 946-2538.

Walnut Creek Open Space (City of Walnut Creek. The celebration of 20 years since the passage of Walnut Creek's open space bond continues with an Exhibit at the Regional Center For The Arts entitled: Our Natural Surroundings: Celebrating 20 Years Of Walnut Creek Open Space, from September 7 through October 23, 1994 at the Bedford Gallery. On October 16, 1994 at 2:00 p.m., there will be a fall hike in Lime Ridge, to show What Makes It Special. For more information call (510) 943-5854.

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

Chaparral Spring Parcel Purchased

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While loans were negotiated to help fund the acquisition, Chaparral Spring was held with $10,000 from SMD's Revolving Land Acquisition Option Fund, a fund created with a $20,000 grant from the J.M. Long Foundation. Although the parcel is moderately priced, its size meant severely stretching SMD's resources. Two loans to purchase the parcel have been obtained, while private funding is raised to repay the loans. Except for the possibility of temporarily holding options to acquire properties with the remaining funds in the Option Fund, it will be difficult to secure other threatened properties until the loans are repaid and the Option Fund is replenished. •

By successfully saving Chaparral Spring, a permanent greenbelt and Marsh Creek Road scenic corridor will be created east of Clayton. Furthermore, a giant step forward will be taken in attempts to connect Mt. Diablo State Park to Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve. A glance at a map of the park lands in the area reveals how strategically important the parcel is; without it, attempts to connect the two parks would be almost impossible. Significantly (see related article), the City of Clayton is considering a Specific Plan which could allow massive development in the area east of the City, including on this property. SMD's actions in protecting Chaparral Spring permanently, are thus critical in preventing development from continuing to spread east from Clayton and onto the ridges on both sides of Marsh Creek Road.

Chaparral Spring Is Important Because of Its Biodiversity And Unique Geological Features

Because the property was proposed for subdivision several times, a significant amount of information has been collected about its environmental attributes. Save Mount Diablo also commissioned a wildlife survey of a neighboring parcel with similar features. The various studies confirm that the area between Black Diamond Mines and Mount

Diablo State Park is unusually high in biodiversity and shares many similar features of both parks. Geologically the site is made up of upper Cretaceous marine deposits, shallow soils and steep hillsides. It also contains a regionally unique vein of volcanic travertine.

Chaparral Spring's complex and steep topography makes for a mosaic of different plant communities. Grazed grassland dotted with huge live, blue and valley oaks (many of heritage tree size) covers the less steep parts of the property. The parcel rises from Marsh Creek Road north, through chap-

arral and past the spring that gives it its name. The steep south facing slope in the Northwestern corner of the site contains a thick band of high quality chaparral community, predominately chamise, toyon, coastal sagebrush, black sage, etc., which continues onto neighboring properties. Mature blue oak woodlands border the broad band of chaparral. It continues to rise to a broadleaf evergreen forest along the ridge line, primarily California bay laurel and coastal live oak. Two ponds, the spring and seasonal streams provide water year round, but are generally devoid of native species and in need of restoration.

Many animal species have been identified on the Chaparral Spring parcel. These include four special status ones-Cooper's and sharpshinned hawks, golden eagles and the State listed threatened Alameda whipsnake which was trapped onsite. Other species include screech, great horned and burrowing owls, coyotes, rabbits, raccoons, skunks and far too many ground squirrels. According to SMD president Susan Watson, "Chaparral Spring provides a good opportunity to do mitigation banking, because of the high quality of the Whipsnake habitat. It's very likely that we'll also reestablish red-legged frog and tiger salamander populations in the ponds." No specific archaeological artifacts have been found, but the area was certainly inhabited by the Wolwon tribelet of the Plains Miwok.

SMD is working on a management plan for the parcel. Consideration is being given to cattle grazing, restoration of the ponds, and an internal trail system. The property is not open to the public pending completion of SMD's management plan, but SMD hopes to begin leading hikes on Chaparral Spring in the spring as part of the fundraising campaign for the property. Although it is not included in the master plans of the State Park or the East Bay Regional Park District, it is expected that eventually Chaparral Spring will be added to public ownership. SMD will keep you updated as to how to visit the parcel in the future. Please help us raise the money to permanently protect this important acquisition.

Post

Restoration of A Native Bunchgrass And Wildflower Grassland

Fall, 1994 is the third year that seedlings of the native grasses of Mitchell Canyon will be planted in the Bunchgrass project area, just before the Mitchell Canyon entrance to the State Park. Volunteers have worked countless (literally) hours, meeting to learn the procedures, collect seeds, prepare plots, plant, water, mow, and weed the project area.

Sowing of seeds in flats will occur a little earlier this year than in previous years "Classes" will be held on:

,.. Sunday, September 11, 1994 at 1:00 p.m , at the Lindsay Museum, Walnut Creek. Registration through the museum is required, fee $7; and

.- Saturday, September 17, 1994 at 1:00 p.m., at the project site in Mitchell Canyon. No fee, but some plot maintenance will be involved.

At these" classes" seed collected this year will be sown into flat containers of potting soil and taken home by the participants to care for until planting time.

On October 8, 1994, a walk is scheduled

from 10:00 a.m. to noon, as part of Autumn on the Mountain. After a break for lunch,a work party is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. This will be an opportunity to have input on the future design and scheduling of the project. Feel free to bring your lunch or to join in at 1:00 p.m.

Planting days are scheduled beginning October 23, a Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Watering will be scheduled beginning at that meeting. Newly planted seedlings require careful attention so that they do not dry out and die. As time goes by, the watering intervals become greater, until watering is discontinued in March, when weeding begins! Planting days are also set for 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 13, Saturday, December 3, and Saturday, December 17, 1994.

An interpretive panel has been delivered and will soon be put up by Park staff at the project entrance. News, reports, pictures , and schedules will be posted there. Check it out on your way

SaveMountDiabloisanon-profit501(c)(3)conservation organization which has been preserving lands on Mount Diabloandeducatingthepublictothemountain 'snatural value since 1971. Preserved landshavemore than tripled in that period. Save Mount Diab lo continues to raise funds to preserve the remainder of the mountain. Formore information,ortoreceiveSaveMountDiablo'snewsletter Diablo Watch, write to Save Mount Diablo, P.O. Box 5376, Walnut Cre ek, CA 94596 or contact Program Director Seth Adams at (510) 229-4275.

into Mitchell Canyon next tim e you're there. Volunteers are welcome to join the project at any time, either by showing up at a scheduled event, or by phoning the project coordinator, Charli Danielsen. (510) 525-9076.

Plants of the East Bay Parks

A new book entitled Plants of the East Bay Parks by respected botanist, Dr. Glenn Keator, will be published in cooperation with the Mt. Diablo Interpretive Association. The book defines and describes California's major plant communities in field guide format for Mt. Diablo State Park and the East Bay Parklands. Species identification is made easy by an innovative plant key and line drawings. Also included are maps and four sections of color photographs. For more information, including how to sponsor this publication, call MDIA at (510) 933-5289.

Non-P ro fit

Organization

U.S. Postage Paid

Concord, CA

PermitNo 525

Chaparrel Springs provides spectacular views of North Peak Help us save this property