The Mt. Diablo to Black Diamond Mines corridor

Thirteen years ago Save Mount Diablo bought its 333-acre Chaparral Spring property east of Clayton, stretching north from Marsh Creek Road and Mt. Diablo State Park onto the face of Keller Ridge.  It was the first step in creation of a corridor between Mt. Diablo and the historic “Mt. Diablo Coal Field” of Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve. 

 

While the corridor focused on the narrowest open space gap, over to Black Diamond’s Oil Canyon, Chaparral Spring’s northern boundary crosses Keller Ridge and west into upper Irish Canyon, which drops across ranch land to Clayton’s Oakhurst development. 

 

Chaparral Spring narrowed a 2.5 mile gap between the parks and in 1999 SMD worked with the East Bay Regional Park District to acquire adjacent 1,031 acre Clayton Ranch at the top of Irish Canyon.  The District acquired two more parcels in 2001 and 2005, leaving just a quarter mile gap.  The Mt. Diablo to Black Diamond Mines corridor will be a true wildlife corridor but far earlier the Park District had secured the old stagecoach road to the mines, at the bottom of the Irish Creek drainage, as a recreational link, climbing 2.6 miles from Clayton across private land to the Preserve. 

 

On November 16th SMD signed a purchase agreement with Sawtantra and Aruna Chopra, two Indian American doctors who live in Modesto, to acquire the heart of Irish Canyon, 320 acres for $1.344 million. The property, a half mile north to south and a full mile east-west, is near Clayton’s Oakhurst Country Club.  It drops from the crest of Keller Ridge north across Irish Creek and its middle fork before rising toward 1894’ Kreiger Peak.  The stage road trail passes within a half mile of the property, which has an interesting history and was once part of the Bettencourt Ranch.

 

The property was threatened by development but may be saved because of endangered species.  Regardless, the purchase would be a bold move for SMD because “Irish Canyon” is surrounded by 2000 acres of private land but within one or two parcels of three different preserves. 

 

We’re just beginning biological investigations but we already know that the property has significant wetlands, at least one listed species and potentially a dozen other rare ones, and a wide range of habitats.

 

“Although Irish Canyon is located a stone's throw from the City of Clayton, it has a very isolated, almost a turn-of-the-century feel,” said Scott Hein, chairman of SMD’s Land Committee, “A perennial stream that provides water to Irish Canyon and Peacock Creek throughout the year originates at a permanent pond high on the property's slopes.  It’s the most important water source in the drainage.  The parcel is located on the slopes south of Kreiger Peak; it is sublimely beautiful and affords unusually dramatic panoramic views across Keller Ridge to the mountain, to the peninsula, Mt. Tamalpais, and the Carquinez Strait.”

 

“This property is the gateway to Irish Canyon, located in a strategic position to help protect and preserve this important area between Black Diamond Mines and the City of Clayton,” said Hein.