Stewardship

Save Mount Diablo acquires land then turns it over to park agencies.  Before that happens, though, volunteers do clean-up, fence building, trail construction, planting, watering and habitat restoration, creek clean-ups, non-native plant removal, and other work projects.

We need your help with ongoing projects like riparian woodland restoration, oak restoration and native bunchgrass restoration. Help watering native plants and trees: Click a date to see the details below.

                                      
What It Means & How We Do It
At its simplest, stewardship means managing property.  For Save Mount Diablo, stewardship means managing, protecting, and celebrating the land.

Each of SMD’s properties requires care.  A newly-acquired property may need extensive cleanup—old deteriorating fencing is cleared away, and any debris that might have accumulated on the property is removed, returning the land to its natural state.  In some cases, fencing is added to protect creeks and ponds to help restore natural habitat.

Members of our all-volunteer Stewardship Committee care for SMD acquisitions, from the smallest (a few acres) to the largest (several hundred acres).  For some larger projects, we invite other volunteers to come out and help (see our DiRT section below). » Click here to sign up by emailing George Phillips. In addition to basic land management, SMD stewards lead hikes through our properties for interested members of the public.

We work in partnership with the public agencies such as Mount Diablo State Park, East Bay Regional Park District, and city and county governments to ensure that these natural lands and habitats will be preserved for the educational and recreational benefit of future generations.  SMD acquisitions may be held for a period of years until state or regional parks are prepared to take ownership.

The East Bay Trail Dogs, a group of volunteer trail-builders, works with us to create environmentally-appropriate trails through our properties.  Trails are designed in consultation with whichever public agency may take ownership of the land so that new trails will eventually connect with existing trail systems.

Get Involved & Get DiRTy
Join Save Mount Diablo's Diablo Restoration Team (DiRT) and help restore properties so they can be turned over to park systems for public access! Volunteers weed, water, plant, clean and build. Whether you are interested in serving your community, getting a workout or just being in the great outdoors DiRT has what you are looking for.

“I love nature and the beauty it provides our world. I was just excited to be out there because, not only did I enjoy a work out (weird, I know!), but it was fun and really relaxing to be surrounded by all that nature.” Michael, Student, Stewardship Volunteer

Contact George (925) 525-8305 if you have any questions or email at gphillips@SaveMountDiablo.org

Current Projects Details:
Marsh Creek IV
Enjoy the peace and tranquility of Marsh Creek while watering native plants and pulling weeds at our Marsh Creek IV native plant restoration project. Last year, DiRT volunteers planted fourteen different species - in total over 500 native plants - but we need your help weeding and watering to make sure the project a success. We’ll be carrying 1 gal. jugs (8 lbs) to each of the planting sites walking on uneven ground so wear long pants and sturdy shoes. Bring water, sun protection and a hand trowel if you have one, we’ll provide gloves. Come see how you can help the transformation of a non-native weed infested stream bank back to its natural state.

What:   Watering native plants and doing some weeding.

Where: Meet at 3240 Aspara Dr., Clayton CA 94517 – Save Mount Diablo’s Marsh Creek IV property. From Walnut Creek: Head east on Ygnacio Valley Rd. from Walnut Creek, turn right on Clayton Rd. which becomes Marsh Creek Rd. – Aspara Dr. is off the right side of Marsh Creek Rd., 1.5 miles past the intersection of Morgan Territory Rd.
From Brentwood: take Marsh Creek Road west, Aspara Drive is on the left, 5 miles past Deer Valley Road, and 1.5 miles before Morgan Territory Road 

Bring:   Sun protection, water, a hand trowel if you have one. Wear long pants, sturdy shoes.

When:

• Saturday, June 16th, 9am-noon
• Saturday, July 7th, 9am-noon
• Saturday, July 28th, 9am-noon
• Saturday, August 18th, 9am-noon

RSVP and more information (925) 947-3535 or gphillips@SaveMountDiablo.org      

Irish Canyon
We need help watering Valley Oaks and California Buckeyes at Save Mount Diablo’s Irish Canyon property – a 320 acre parcel east of Clayton that is not open to the public. Three sites on the property were planted with acorns and Buckeye seeds in February and it is crucial that we help them take root by watering and weeding. We’ll be carrying 1-3 gallon jugs from a water tank to each of the individual planting sites on a sun exposed hillside with some steep sections. Bring water and sun protection – wear boots and long pants to keep stickers out of your shoes. Offset your carbon footprint by helping these trees get established!

What: Removing non-native weeds

Where: Meet at the Clayton Library - 6125 Clayton Rd, Clayton 94517. From Ygnacio Valley Rd head east on Clayton Rd, the library is on the left just past the heritage trail and police station.

When:

• Contact George (925) 947-3535 if you have any questions or email at gphillips@SaveMountDiablo.org

Mangini Ranch
The Diablo Restoration Team invites you to help with a native bunchgrass restoration project on Save Mount Diablo’s (SMD) 208 acre Mangini Ranch property. After owning the property for two years we realized native bunchgrass’s were growing in clumps along the bends in Galindo Creek. Over the winter we seeded the area with a few species of bunchgrass and planted oaks and willow stakes to restore the riparian corridor. We’ll monitor growth of the plants, remove non-native weeds and enjoy the beauty of Mangini Ranch. Contact George for more information.

When:

• Contact George (925) 947-3535 if you have any questions or email at gphillips@SaveMountDiablo.org

The Mangini Ranch in Concord is an example of how we restore and preserve natural lands.  The 206-acre preserve boasts newly-built trails, protection for Galindo Creek, whose headwaters begin on the southeast corner of the property, and fenced springs to guard against grazing cattle and marauding non-native wild pigs.  For details and some of the history of this iconic Contra Costa County ranch, » click here to read “Breathing New Life into Mangini Ranch”, in the Spring 2008 Diablo Watch.