Monthly Digest | January 2020
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On New Year's Eve, Save Mount Diablo Signed Option to Protect 154 Acres
Conservation Easement Will Preserve Land on the Face of Mount Diablo's North Peak
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Officials of Concord Mt. Diablo Trail Ride Association and Save Mount Diablo on the land working out the details of the deal in 2018. Photo by Seth Adams.
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CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA—On December 31, 2019, New Year’s Eve Day, two local nonprofits, Save Mount Diablo and the Concord Mt. Diablo Trail Ride Association, signed an Option Agreement, 15 years in the making, to work to permanently protect 154 +/- acres of one of the most strategic and important properties remaining on Mount Diablo’s main peaks.
The property, east of Clayton, stretches across the north face of North Peak from the pastoral Three Spring area almost to the spectacular Falls Trail, including beautiful Cardinet Oaks and upper Young Canyon.
In particular, the organizations signed an Option Agreement with Save Mount Diablo paying a $50,000 Option Payment which will give the local land conservation organization two years to raise over $1,040,000 so that it can then purchase a perpetual Conservation Easement on almost 154 critical open space acres owned by the Concord Mt. Diablo Trail Association on the northeast slopes of Mount Diablo.
The Concord Mt. Diablo Trail Ride Association will keep about 47 acres, where the Association’s buildings are located, out of the proposed Conservation Easement area.
Per the signed Option Agreement, once the funds are raised and the closing occurs, Save Mount Diablo will own a perpetual Conservation Easement on the 154 +/- acres while Concord Mt. Diablo Trail Ride Association will retain ownership of the land and continue to manage and enjoy it.
A Conservation Easement is a legal agreement whereby a landowner transfers a partial property interest to a conservation organization or government agency to permanently limit a property’s uses and extinguish the land’s development rights in order to protect the property’s conservation values for the public’s benefit.
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Photo of a section of the 154 +/- acres on the slopes of Mount Diablo that Save Mount Diablo hopes to permanently conserve by raising over $1 million within the next two years per the terms of the option agreement recently signed with the Concord Mt. Diablo Trail Ride Association. Photo by Ted Clement.
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Ted Clement, Executive Director of Save Mount Diablo, stated, “This property has been a high priority for us since 1971. We give a standing ovation to the Concord Mt. Diablo Trail Ride Association for giving us an opportunity to permanently protect another important section of Mount Diablo. Mount Diablo has been a very special and sacred mountain for peoples of this area for eons, and still is, so we are hopeful that our communities will help us raise the necessary funds to protect this land.”
“We at CMDTRA are thrilled to finally move forward with making the conservation easement into a reality, preserving our treasured open space for future generations. We are so thankful that Save Mount Diablo has created this unique opportunity to not only protect the land, but also creating funding to preserve the equestrian culture in the Bay Area,” said Concord Mt. Diablo Trail Ride Association President Elaine Baker.
The map below shows the approximate boundaries, in red shading, of the perpetual Conservation Easement that Save Mount Diablo looks to acquire from the Concord Mt. Diablo Trail Ride Association:
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As you can see on the map above, the proposed 154 +/- acres to be conserved are surrounded on three sides by Mount Diablo State Park and contiguous with Save Mount Diablo’s conserved Young Canyon property and its North Peak Ranch acquisition project, which the organization is buying over ten years.
This connectivity makes the protection of the 154 +/- acres highly strategic as it is a way to secure and build upon already protected wildlife habitat corridors, scenic view corridors, and watershed lands.
Over the years, a number of houses and other structures have been built near the 154 +/- acres to be conserved per the recently executed Option Agreement highlighting the importance of protecting this strategic land while there are two willing parties, a willing landowner, Concord Mt. Diablo Trail Ride Association, and a willing conservation organization, Save Mount Diablo.
The 154 +/- acres to be conserved per the Option Agreement have numerous conservation values beneficial to the public. The land is part of a substantial wildlife habitat corridor in the Mount Diablo area.
Further, the property, which rises from 1,100’ to 2,010’ on the face of 3,557’ North Peak, provides stunning scenic vistas to passersby on various public roads, such as Marsh Creek Road, and to the public recreating at Mount Diablo State Park which is next to the 154 +/- acres, with views stretching from Carquinez Strait and Suisun Bay to Lassen Peak and the Sierra Nevada Range.
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Map showing Save Mount Diablo’s Concord Mt. Diablo Trail Ride Association, North Peak Ranch, and Young Canyon conservation acquisition projects.
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Much of the property is steep and rugged and its biodiversity is very high because it includes the complicated geology of Mount Diablo’s main peaks which support dozens of rare plant species like the Mt. Diablo globe lily and rare wildlife such as the Alameda whipsnake. Members of the Concord Mt. Diablo Trail Ride Association sometimes see mountain lions on the equestrian trails that cross the property.
Further, the oak woodland and grasslands on the property act as a carbon sink. In August 2019, the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issued a new report,
Climate Change and Land
,
focusing on land being under increased pressure from humans and climate change but also noting land is a critical part of the solution to climate change.
Land conservation mitigates against climate change in lasting ways. For example, forests and other undeveloped lands absorb greenhouse gases, thereby acting as carbon sinks, keeping those gases out of the atmosphere.
The money that Save Mount Diablo will raise for this proposed acquisition project will be part of the organization’s
Forever Wild Capital Campaign.
This Campaign has an ambitious $15 million goal to help Save Mount Diablo expedite its land acquisition efforts, while also giving the organization the resources to steward and defend its conserved lands in perpetuity.
To date, $12,963,485 has been raised against the $15 million goal. These funds have enabled Save Mount Diablo to do strategic land acquisition projects, like its Curry Canyon Ranch and North Peak Ranch projects, while also building a sizable permanent Stewardship Endowment Fund for the ongoing care of the organization’s protected lands.
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A Strong Start to the New Year
Thanks to You, We Exceeded Our Year-End Appeal Goal!
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What an incredible way to start the year!
Thanks to supporters like you, we far exceeded our year-end appeal goal of $310,000. Save Mount Diablo raised
over $470,000
to support our critical land conservation work.
This means
:
more land protected, more climate-smart land use policies, more restoration of damaged lands, and more students experiencing and connecting with nature.
With your help, we will continue to challenge development threats, protect fragile ecosystems and address climate change in lasting ways through land conservation. From all of us at Save Mount Diablo - Thank you!
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Discover Diablo
Save Mount Diablo Releases New Public Free Hike Schedule
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Join Save Mount Diablo in exploring the Mount Diablo area’s beautiful wild lands and open spaces. Discover Diablo is a free public hike program that offers an annual schedule of guided interpretive family walks, hikes, and property tours with knowledgeable guides open to any and all trailblazers looking to get out in nature.
Discover Diablo offers 24 events throughout the entire year, with hikes taking place on a Save Mount Diablo property—or hosted on a collaborating agency’s land that Save Mount Diablo helped to protect in years past.
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Mary Bowerman Birthday Hike
Saturday, January 25 | 10 AM-12 PM
Land:
Mount Diablo State Park
Level:
Easy
Distance:
1 mile
Elevation:
50'
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Shell Ridge Open Space Hike
Saturday, February 1 | 9 AM-1 PM
Land:
Walnut Creek Open Space
Level:
Easy to Moderate
-
Group Vote!
Distance:
3.2 or 5.3 miles
Elevation:
594’/873’
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We are pleased to announce the promotion of Karen Ferriere as our new Development Director!
Karen has worked for Save Mount Diablo for over three years and has been an invaluable member of the development team. Karen joined the staff in 2016 as Assistant Development Director. In 2019, she was promoted to Director of Annual Giving & Events. Karen developed her love of our spectacular western parklands and open spaces as a student at the University of Montana, where she received a Bachelor of Arts. She also holds a Masters in Library Science from St. John’s University. Karen maintains a diverse collection of cacti and succulents and lives with her husband in Danville. You can often find them hiking and biking in Mount Diablo State Park.
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We are also excited to announce Megan Shockro as our new Director of Major Gifts and Planned Giving.
She just wrapped up a hugely successful $100 million Campaign at Mount Saint Mary’s University where she, as Senior Director of Development, and her team raised over $50 million for the Campaign. She has wanted to move to northern California and our position enables her to do that. Megan has also held several other successful development positions: Director of Annual Giving at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies; Associate Director of Development at the Sage Hill School; Development Officer, Individual Giving & Circle Members at the San Diego Museum of Art; etc. She loves the outdoors and hiking.
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Marcia Slackman has accepted a position with an animal protection organization. We are grateful to Marcia for her work and wish her continued success.
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Now Accepting Grant Applications for 2020
Dr. Mary Bowerman Science & Research Program
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Dr. Mary Leolin Bowerman co-founded Save Mount Diablo in 1971. Mary was a botanist and a student of the flora of Mount Diablo for over 70 years. In her honor, Save Mount Diablo established the Mary Bowerman Science and Research Program in 2013. In addition to facilitating research on and around the mountain by offering micro-grant awards, one of the goals of the program is
to share valuable findings and management implications for Mount Diablo’s natural resources with the public.
Apply now for a grant for your research project in 2020.
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We're Hiring . . . Join Our Team!
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Land Programs Director
This is a full-time, exempt position that reports to the Executive Director and is a member of the senior management team. The Land Programs Director oversees SMD’s Land Department and leads and administers the organization’s conservation efforts with departmental staff and planning, land transactions, fee simple and conservation easement property stewardship, and outreach and educational programming. T
his is an exciting opportunity for a seasoned environmental professional to manage and grow the capacity of SMD’s land conservation work, building upon almost 50 years of organizational impact in the Diablo wild lands.
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Join Us in 2020 for Four Days Diablo
Thursday, April 29th
–
Saturday, May 2nd
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Sign up now to attend one of our most unique events!
Space fills up quickly for this popular April event.
Four Days Diablo is a “Gently Roughing It” small group camping trip that leads you on a 30-mile adventure through rarely seen Mount Diablo landscapes (including our very own Curry Canyon Ranch property), led by expert naturalists, botanists, and birders. While you tour and examine the majestic Diablo wild lands, staff transports your gear and sets up your new camp. Each night, you’ll enjoy wine and mouthwatering gourmet dinners prepared on the spot by premier East Bay restaurants.
Price: $1,400/person ($700 deposit)
Space is very limited and this opportunity will not last long.
To RSVP:
Cotact Shannon Grover, Sr. Development Associate & Events Manager, by email at
sgrover@savemountdiablo.org
or call our office at (925) 947-3535.
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DIABLO RESTORATION TEAM
Volunteer Workdays
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Marsh Creek 4 & 6
Wednesday, January 15
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
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Enjoy the beauty of Mount Diablo’s foothills as we help native bunchgrasses, shrubs, and woody plantings establish in the Marsh Creek riparian corridor and on a volcanic dome.
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Marsh Creek 8 (Big Bend)
Saturday, February 1
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
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Join us in improving habitat for wildlife on Save Mount Diablo’s Marsh Creek 8 property, also known as Big Bend! This portion of the Marsh Creek floodplain was once a golf course fairway turned residential property with horses; now the Diablo Restoration Team works to improve its native plant abundance and diversity!
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YES ON Y: Magee Preserve
East Bay Regional Park District announces support for YES on Y and 3.5 miles of new trails
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We’ve told you about our strong support for the YES on Open Space/YES on Magee Preserve and its benefits for hikers and conservation. This is now known as Measure Y and it will be on the Danville ballot on election day, on Tuesday, March 3. And we hope you’ll join us in voting YES!
YES on Y ensures that 381 acres of currently privately-owned property becomes new permanent public open space, guarantees that Mt. Diablo’s foothills and the gateway to Mt. Diablo State Park will be permanently protected and off-limits from future development. Save Mount Diablo supports this measure because it will permanently preserve hundreds of acres of open space for the public’s use and enjoyment, while also protecting 1.5 miles of Green Valley Creek and habitat and wildlife that live there.
This week, the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) affirmed its formal support for Magee Preserve, announcing that, of the 381 acres of new permanent open space at Magee Preserve, the Park District will take official responsibility for protecting 343-acres to expand Sycamore Valley Open Space Regional Preserve and provide 3.5 miles of new trails within the Town’s trail network and protect it forever from development.
These new trails will fill an important gap in the regional trail network by connecting Mt. Diablo State Park to Sycamore Valley Regional Park and the Iron Horse Trail.
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This is an immeasurable benefit for Danville families, and for hikers across our community.
Magee Preserve creates a substantial net conservation gain while also providing the missing link to already conserved parklands thereby maximizing public benefit.
Save Mount Diablo respectfully asks you to join us and vote YES on Y on Tues., March 3, and we encourage you to learn more about the project at
YESonOpenSpace.com
.
Please also consider becoming a public support at
YESonOpenSpace.com/support
. By lending your name and showing your support, we are able to spread the conservation benefits of this project and ensure more voters across Danville vote YES on this gem of a project.
If you would like to place a YES on Y yard sign in your yard, please email
info@yesonopenspace.org
to request a sign.
Thank you for your support and commitment to open space,
About YES on Open Space and Magee Preserve
YES on Y/YES on Magee Preserve is a 410-acre currently privately-owned property that proposes 69 single-family lots—fewer than the 78 homes current zoning allows – clustered on 29 acres, all completely out of sight of Diablo and Blackhawk Roads. In return, Magee Preserve offers up the remaining 381 acres for every Danville family as new permanent public open space, miles of new trails, and offers new, safer options to Diablo Road for bikers, walkers, and their dogs. Last summer, the project was unanimously approved by the Danville Town Council and recommended by the Danville Planning Commission, and is supported by Save Mount Diablo and Danville’s major bike groups, including Bike East Bay, Mount Diablo Cyclists, Valley Spokesmen Bicycle Club, the leaders of the San Ramon Valley Mountain Bike Club.
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Want to Work in Nature?
Enroll Now for Spring 2020 Natural History & Sustainability Classes at Merritt College!
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Natural History & Sustainability is an interdisciplinary program of 14 faculty members across five departments whose goal is to train students for careers in environmental science, natural resources, and the interface between society and the environment.
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Edward Sortwell Clement, Jr.
Executive Director
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Save Mount Diablo is a nationally accredited nonprofit land trust founded in 1971 with a mission to preserve Mount Diablo's peaks, surrounding foothills, and watersheds through land acquisition and preservation strategies designed to protect the mountain's natural beauty, biological diversity, and historic and agricultural heritage; enhance our area's quality of life; and provide recreational opportunities consistent with the protection of natural resources.
Learn more
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