Regional in Nature Activity Guide NOVEMBER – DECEMBER 2020
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Regional in Nature Activity Guide NOVEMBER – DECEMBER 2020 Check Our Website for Information on Reopenings - Camping, Boating, and Fishing. inside • Be a Pup Pro, page 3 • Ladybugs, page 10 • Bridging the Nature Gap, page 4 • Make a Weather Station, page 12 • Salmon Migration Season, page 7 • Winter Walks, page 15 New Shoreline Park Offers Spectacular Bay Views. See page 3. • Notable Native: Soaproot, page 9 • Building Bird Habitats, page 16 Contents REGIONAL PARKS HIT BY A message from Message from the GM ........ 2 Unprecedented Number general manager Be a Pup Pro! ........................ 3 OF WILDFIRES robert e. doyle Bridging Nature Gap ....... 4-5 Ardenwood ........................... 6 his year’s fire season has effort has continued, and our Wildland Fire Fighters Big Break ................................ 7 Tbeen extreme, both locally and were dispatched not only to our own area, but also statewide. As of this writing, over to assist CalFire in surrounding counties as requested. Black Diamond ..................... 8 8,320 CalFire incidents have been I am very proud of our own EBRPD heroes. Coyote Hills .......................... 9 tracked in California. In the East Bay, During the fires, our parks benefited from our continuous the SCU Complex Fire, started by Crab Cove ........................... 10 and ongoing trails and fuels maintenance programs and lightning in mid-August, included fires grazing. In many cases, the fires stopped at properly Del Valle ............................... 11 in Round Valley, Morgan Territory, maintained fire roads and slowed down in grazed Mission Peak, Sunol Wilderness, and grasslands. Grazing cattle also play an important role in Mobile Education ............... 12 Ohlone Wilderness regional parks. It burned 396,624 acres wildfire protection as “Four-Hoofed Firefighters”, reducing Outdoor Recreation ......... 13 and was active for 44 days. flammable grass and brush in parks. The Park District Climate change is accelerating the risk of catastrophic grazes approximately 65 percent of the parklands with Sunol ..................................... 14 fires. Eight of the most destructive fires in California cattle, goats, and sheep throughout the year. Tilden .................................... 15 history have occurred in the past four years, with the SCU In the parks that are burnt, we are clearing debris from Complex Fire being the third largest on record. Volunteer Program ............ 16 trails and removing safety hazards. Sadly, a great number Our full-time and on-call fire crews – employees, including of wildlife and heritage oaks were lost in the fires. park rangers, trained and Hopefully, nature will recover available to fight wildfires when and heal itself over time, with help needed – made significant and attention from our staff contributions to battling the and volunteers. fires. The Park District’s Thank you to all the firefighters that Eagle 7 helicopter pilots have been battling this year’s fires. dropped water and provided We appreciate your courage and ebparks.org tactical guidance as the “eye dedication as you work hard 365 in the sky” when state air days a year to prepare, train, and resources were unavailable. General Information protect people and Regional Parks 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327- Even with Covid restrictions from wildfire. 2757 in place, our fuels reduction Fire along the Ohlone Wilderness Trail. Camping and Picnic Reservations ... ................................1-888-EBPARKS Naturalist and Recreation Camping, Boating, and Limited Capacity Day Use Programs ..............1-888-EBPARKS Return to Some Regional Parks TRS Relay Service ....................7-1-1 After many months of anticipation, be aware of some changes to these state and local health orders. EBRPD Board of Directors camping, boating, and limited day use park activities due to COVID-19. For Plan ahead: Prepay boat inspection Elizabeth Echols .........................Ward 1 have returned to Del Valle, Quarry example, camping reservations and and boat launch at Del Valle and Dee Rosario ................................Ward 2 Lakes and Anthony Chabot. Del Valle boat inspection/launch fee payments Quarry Lakes at ebparks.org/register Dennis Waespi ...........................Ward 3 once again features boat launching/ are required in advance. Reopened and bring proof of payment to limit Ellen Corbett (President) ........Ward 4 fishing by boat, boat rentals, and park areas and facilities have limited touchpoints. Camping reservations Ayn Wieskamp ...........................Ward 5 reduced capacity day-use (east side capacity with day use vehicle entrance Beverly Lane ...............................Ward 6 can be made online at ebparks.org/ Colin Coffey ................................Ward 7 only) and family camping. Quarry provided on a first-come, first-serve register or by phone at 1-888-327- Lakes is now open for boat launching/ basis. Additionally, all picnic areas, Robert E. Doyle .......General Manager 2757, option 2: Monday – Friday, fishing by boat, and Anthony Chabot barbecues, and group campsites will 10 a.m.-3 p.m. is now accepting reservations for the remain closed in accordance with Visit ebparks.org for map downloads, activity and event family campground. information, and much more! While this is welcome news, visitors should New Shoreline Park Offers Spectacular Bay Views, Improved Bay Bridge Trail Access new 45-acre shoreline to 1960 it served as the base of building – previously, a maintenance pier provides spectacular Bay views A regional park has opened at operations for the electric railway facility for the Key System trains – and connects visitors to the site’s the eastern touchdown of the Bay Key System that transported will serve as the future activity hub transportation history. Bridge. The park – named Judge John passengers around the East Bay with interpretive and recreational Bay Bridge Trail Access: Sutter Regional Shoreline after East and across to San Francisco via programming, equipment rentals, The new park also provides parking Bay civic and environmental leader the lower deck of the Bay Bridge. food concessionaires, and space and access to the Alexander and former Park District board A substation located at the site for events and conferences. The Zuckermann Bay Bridge Trail which member John Sutter – includes the provided electrical power to all 24,000 square-foot building was crosses the Bay Bridge to Yerba historic and newly renovated Bridge of the Key System trains. renovated by Caltrans and the Bay Buena Island and Treasure Island. Yard building for events, a recently Area Toll Authority (BATA) and has The site was also part of the Judge John Sutter Regional Shoreline constructed 600-foot observation Oakland Army Base, which served been leased to the Park District by pier with views of the bay, and access Caltrans. is an example of multi-agency as a transportation port and collaboration between Caltrans, to the bicycle and pedestrian path on distribution terminal for the Pacific Bay Observation Pier: the eastern span of the Bay Bridge. BATA and the Park District, and a from 1941 to 1999, before it closed. A 600-foot observation pier was result of the Park District’s long-time The site of the new park has an Historic Bridge Yard Building: recently completed by BATA atop six efforts to reclaim the shoreline for interesting history. From 1903 The restored 1930s-era Bridge Yard pilings from the old Bay Bridge. The public use and enjoyment. Don't Just Be a Pup Owner #PupPro The East Bay Regional Park District “Being out in nature with our dogs is a huge manages 73 Regional Parks within benefit, for us and for them,” says Mary Barnsdale, 125,000 acres in Alameda and a board member of Point Isabel Dog Owners. “It’s Contra Costa counties. The Park on us to keep the parks clean, respect wildlife, District is one of the most dog- and be sensitive to the needs of other park users.” friendly districts in the nation and Follow these tips to be a Pup Pro: welcomes dogs with both on-leash and off-leash options in designated areas of the parks. Bag It (the poop) and Bin It Dog owners comprise one of the largest user Leash your pup in designated areas groups, and a recent survey showed dog walking (parking lots, trailheads, picnic areas, was the preferred activity among 39% of paved trails, wildlife protection areas, etc.) respondents, second only to hiking. Keep your dog safe (leash up around To keep trails and parks enjoyable for everyone, cattle and horses) including pups and park goers, the District has Visit ebparks.org/PupPro for a quick guide Amber and Bruce launched a public information campaign to encourage to the dog rules. at Lake Chabot all visitors to be respectful and share their parks. Regional Park 3 Bridging the Nature Gap ue Mapp, the Oakland-based founder of of regional parks, there are barriers such as for families of color, ROutdoor Afro — a national nonprofit focused transportation or lack of exposure to outdoor available through on connecting Black communities with open-air opportunities. local community and experiences — has called nature a true equalizer: “People need to understand the benefits that nonprofit organizations. “You go out in nature and the trees don’t know you nature can provide,” says Keith White, Regional (Marathon Petroleum are Black. The birds are going to sing, no matter Parks Foundation board member and chair of the recently made a how much money is in your bank account. The Diversity and Inclusion Task Force. “What is missing generous $5,000 flowers are going to bloom, no matter what your is the spark that gets people off of their traditional donation to that gender is or whether you are a Democrat paths and on to something that they probably effort, along with a or Republican.” haven’t tried before. Families may play basketball $15,000 donation for Unfortunately, while Mother Nature may not see or go to amusement parks — very often camping the purchase of three skin color or wealth, the distribution of parks, or hiking isn’t even on the list of activities. Our e-bikes to support public Keith White beaches and other open spaces is far from equitable goal is to get those things on the list.