Diablo WatchFALL/WINTER 2018 | No. 6 6

The Marsh Fire Born in Fire, Marsh Creek 4, 5, & 6 Burn Again Proposition 68 After Years of Hard Work, Parks Funding Approved with Passage of $4.1 Billion Bond VICTORY in Antioch! Let Antioch Voters Decide: Sand Creek Protection Initiative ADOPTED Moving Mountains To Save the Mountain "Nature Deficit Disorder" In Our Young, Wired Generations 2018 Mount Diablo Trail Map Newly Updated Free Regional Trail Map Goes Mobile for the First Time Executive Assistant Joanne McCluhan Land Stewardship Associate Roxana Lucero Accounting &AdministrationAssociate Katie Lopez General Office Manager Dana Halpin Development Administrative Assistant Shannon Grover Land Use Manager Juan PabloGalván Assistant Development Director Karen Ferriere Bookkeeper Hidemi Crosse Communications Manager Caleb Castle Development Associate Lydia Burstyn Development Director Marcia Slackman Finance &AdministrationDirector Monica Oei Land Programs Director Meredith Hendricks Land Conservation Director Seth Adams Executive Director Ted Clement STAFF Jeff Stone Malcolm Sproul Robert Phelps Sue Ohanian Bob Marx Frank Martens Margaret Kruse Claudia Hein Liz Harvey John Gallagher Jim Felton Heath Bartosh Amara Morrison, Burt Bassler, Scott Hein, BOARD OFDIRECTORS Letter from theExecutive Director

President Treasurer

Secretary estate market like Bay the Area. developed and competitive real open space lands inadensely Mount Diablo and its associated mission of permanently protecting We were on because successful June 5 investment inour parks and water resources. get word the out about for need the this with our and partners, we worked hard to SMD sat on aProp. 68campaign committee that paved way the for Proposition 68. were and successful got legislation the passed parks bond. Eventually we and our partners legislation that would allow for a statewide BayEast for Regional Park to try District, Assemblywoman Baker, and like partners legislators, Senator especially Glazerand ago, SMD working started with our our state park system. Acouple of years many parks were in hurting, especially aparks bond, passed California and It almost fifteenyears had been since successes you have helping been us with. year. me give Let you some examples of the much grateful to be for and celebrate this of Save Mount Diablo (SMD) has given us awesome people like you, and your support We have such acommunity of because I Dear Save MountDiabloSupporters, Cover: Scott Hein long-term vision, leadership, and generosity. our Mount Diablo community is one of bond than statewide the approval rate because Counties hadapproval higher ratings for the and water bond. and Contra Alameda Costa Californians approved a$4.1billion parks leadership, to with the succeed term vision, generosity, and acommunity,t takes with long- Diablo Watch ispublishedtwice yearly for friendsofSaveMountDiablo, th a nationally accredited land trustand501(3)(c)organization. , Campolindo High School. Pittsburg High and School CollaborationConservation Agreements with Thus farthis year, we have completed program, Discover Diablo; and other efforts. schools; our public free new local hiking Collaboration Agreement program with world through our Conservation new connect our young people to our natural has stepped up and is working to help better Diablo natural areas, Save Mount Diablo threat this Recognizing to Mount the victories we have worked hard so to achieve. putit will at land the conservation risk all beautiful Mount Diablo area, future inthe not develop aloving relationship with our with today.faced If our young people do a widespread cultural problem we are in our young, wired generations. This is documentation of “nature deficit disorder” Richard Louv’s groundbreaking work and ay.” d a freely outside for just four minutes to seven inmates, with average the child playing spendlesskids outside time than prison Ahead Path REI released areport in2017entitled The benefit currentof futureand generations. landthe conservation work of SMD for the create and alasting green perpetuate legacy Forever Wild enables our community to Wild we, which are working to meet. a $100,000challenge grant to Forever one of our great community members gave with protecting priceless lands. Recently, a more robust Legal Fund Defense , along Fund Opportunity Acquisition Land Stewardship Endowment Fund, aRevolving SMD’s work by establishing apermanent forever will which transform and perpetuate million Forever Wild We arethird final inthe of our historic $15 The findings this of report confirmed , and it noted that “Today, capital campaign,

, and

Stephen Joseph Compass at Moonlight This fall, we will do a We are grateful that you on the Mountain 2018. Conservation Collaboration understand that our natural Compass is part of our realtor program Agreement with De La Salle abundance is critical to our and is also a sponsor High School; California quality of life while also of SMD's Conservation Collaboration Agreement State University, East Bay; providing us an economic program, sharing in and sponsor Progressive advantage by making our our vision to inspire Asset Management. area a desirable place to community conservation. Photography Jessamyn live, work, and visit—as In August, the Antioch recognized by many of you Nathan M. City Council voted 3–1 to Ohrbach like our friends at Compass Foundation adopt our Let Antioch Voters who provide the gift of Decide: The Sand Creek SMD memberships to their Area Protection Initiative! clients at real estate closings. After years of our efforts to secure better protections Thank you for for the priceless Sand stepping up to help Creek area in Antioch, our us accomplish so leading a coalition, and

much this year! Scott Hein intensely working to write and qualify our initiative With Gratitude, Hosted by for the ballot—now more Valley Spokesmen than 1,200 acres of beautiful Bicycling Club land, creek, and wildlife habitat west of Deer Valley Edward Sortwell Clement, Jr. THANKS TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE Road have a new robust Executive Director 2018 CHALLENGE! layer of protection on them. Save Mount Diablo

Meet Our Newest Board Members!

Margaret Frank Robert Kruse Martens Phelps Land Finance Board Governance Committee Committee & Nominating Committee

Margaret Kruse holds an MS in Frank Martens is President and Robert Phelps is an Associate Professor Educational Leadership from Founder of Peninsula Engineering of History at California State University, California State University, East Bay Solutions, where he oversees the sales, East Bay and the Executive Director of and a BA in Liberal Studies from marketing, and operational aspects Cal State East Bay’s branch campus in Sacramento State. She recently of the company. Martens has more Concord. The author of numerous articles retired after 37 years in public than twenty years of experience in on the history of California and the education, the most recent 25 microwave, cellular, and alternative American West, Phelps has also worked years having served as Assistant power systems. His experience includes extensively in the realm of public history, Superintendent for Human Resources sales, production, customer service, serving as an interpretive advisor and in the Brentwood Union School inventory management, quality content editor for a number of historical District. Kruse has volunteered assurance, accounting, and general museums, including the Oakland on East Contra Costa County land business management. Martens Museum of California. As campus use and urban limit line issues, holds a BS in Accounting from State Executive Director, he has worked advocating for the protection and University of New York at Albany and extensively to preserve the Galindo Creek conservation of open space and an MBA from Long Island University. section of university property. Phelps managed growth in the area. Kruse Martens has also been a CPA in New holds an MA and PhD in United States lives in the beautiful rolling hills of the York State. He served on the Hospice History from the University of California, Marsh Creek corridor of Brentwood, of the East Bay Board of Directors as Riverside and a BA in History from San where she strives to instill a sense Executive Secretary and Chairman of Diego State University. Born and raised of wonder in her four grandchildren the Audit Committee from 2009 to 2017 in San Diego, he is a member of the for what nature has to offer—as well and is currently on the SMD Finance San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians as the attention and effort required Committee. Martens lives in Danville of California and a former tribal Vice to preserve and protect the land. and enjoys hiking, biking, squash, Chairman. He lives in the North Bay and watching SMC college rugby. region with his wife Meri and son Aaron. The Marsh Fire Born in Fire, Marsh Creek 4, 5, & 6 Burn Again

From July 25 to 27, the Marsh Fire recently learned a lot more. The for stewardship, taking care of all volcanoes had been thought to of our properties and restoration burned 247 steep wooded acres be aged somewhere between 65 projects along with a dozen or so on Marsh Creek Road, including million to 2.6 million years old, stewardship volunteers. Overall, three Save Mount Diablo but recent work has established nearly a hundred volunteers that they’re actually 7.5 million helped plant and water that year. properties—Marsh Creek 4, 5, years old. They predate Mount We now have sixteen staff and 6. Nearby Anderson Ranch Diablo’s exposure above ground. members, two for stewardship, was threatened but untouched. Three-acre Marsh Creek 4 had and hundreds of volunteers. burned more recently, destroying Our stewardship projects have A month earlier, a similar-sized a house and leading to our scaled up significantly in size and fire had threatened our Mangini purchase in 2008. Our first steps number. This past year, thirty- were to use old-growth redwood three property monitors, twenty- Ranch property near Lime Ridge. posts from another property to six work project stewards, and he Marsh Fire was a tragedy for our neighbor create an instantly old, split-rail twenty-eight hike leaders logged Twho lost his house. SMD lost equipment, fence. We moved a gazebo and 4,754 hours; over sixty-seven a gazebo, fences, and restored areas, but these made it structurally sound—it work projects; and twenty-four properties have burned before, and they will again. became the centerpiece of the hikes. Twenty-four workdays What’s changed in the past ten years is how much property. Then we simultaneously were organized to treat non- greater our capacity is to face challenges, and how began knocking down the native, invasive species on Save much better we’re preparing financially. non-native seed bank of poison Mount Diablo properties. We’re Both places have burned many times in the past. hemlock and wild mustard now managing eight different The Marsh Creek properties were literally born in while beginning years of native planting sites. fire, mini-volcanic plug domes or plug necks at the planting and watering. The fence Marsh Creek 5 had no northeast corner of the mountain. We bought MC 4 and gazebo are now gone, along structures but was scorched; in 2008 at the beginning of the recession; then our with many of our plants—we it will be interesting to watch first volcanic dome, MC 5, in 2011; and the second, won’t know for some time how manzanita regeneration there. MC 6, in 2012. All three are at the western end of many have survived. At Marsh Creek 6, on the the narrowest part of the “Dark Canyon” section of When we started planting other hand, we had removed Marsh Creek Road. The canyon is well-known for three-acre Marsh Creek 4 two houses to restore the rare springs but also funnels hot air like a blast furnace in 2009, it was our biggest volcanic dome plant community. during fires. restoration project out of two Both would have burned in this We learned about the Marsh Creek properties’ or three. We had just seven staff fire and created a huge cleanup volcanic origins during acquisition, but we’ve members and just one specifically mess. Unfortunately, we also Scott Hein lost a water system that had Stewardship Endowment Fund Get Involved! helped with the parcel’s will support Save Mount Please continue to support our work. Consider revegetation. Diablo’s ongoing care of the donating to the Stewardship Endowment Fund How do you value a fence land it preserves. It will pay in support of our Forever Wild campaign. made of hundred-year-old, for woodland and stream For information, contact Marcia Slackman, old-growth redwood and restoration, property cleanup, Development Director, by email at mslackman@ installed with hundreds of volunteer engagement, fire savemountdiablo.org or call (925) 949-4513. hours of volunteer labor? abatement, and the many Basically, you use replacement other activities that keep the value and labor. Our land healthy and safe—such insurance will cover some as mitigating fire damage of our expenses, but there and the staff needed to are always deductibles. We’ll restore properties. apply the lessons of past The fire season stretches restoration work to our new four months longer than plans. Should we reseed the it did forty years ago. Our entire property with native properties will burn from grasses before the rains start? time to time. We’ll replant Should we rebuild the gazebo? and restore them and get Is this the right time to take better at it each time. Each out the non-native property or acre matters less Scott Hein redwood tree? than our cumulative total of Luckily, we’ve been hard increasingly interconnected at work on our $15 million habitat, constantly shifting Forever Wild capital and changing, and our campaign. The campaign has growing numbers of several funds we’re raising committed volunteers dollars toward. The goal of who help us clean up raising at least a $3 million and restore habitat.

The Marsh Fire that tore through Marsh Creek Road in July 2018 torched three Save Mount Diablo properties: Marsh Creek 4, 5 and 6. Long designated as three of Save Mount Diablo's habitat restoration sites, these areas have been carefully stewarded since their purchase with the help of stewardship volunteers and the Diablo Restoration Team. The effectiveness of our efforts to restore native bunchgrasses and remove invasive species will not be known until spring 2019, when vegetation returns to the burned areas. Scott Hein After Years of Hard Work, Parks Funding Is Approved in Proposition 68

June 5th, California voters campaign budget. We did a lot of social and mitigation efforts through the On approved the $4.1 billion media work with our vast network, and San Francisco Bay Conservancy Proposition 68, the California Drought, we helped distribute Prop. 68 lawn signs Program. Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal for the Bay Area. Plus, we worked with Protection, and Outdoor Access for All Doug McConnell to produce a special As a result of this approved bond, there Act of 2018. Save Mount Diablo (SMD) public service announcement for Prop. are also now a number of competitive was honored to be on the Clean Water, 68. Contra Costa and Alameda Counties funding opportunities, including Natural Resources, and Parks Campaign ended up having higher approval ratings Committee that worked to achieve this for the Prop. 68 bond than the statewide • $725 million for parks in park-poor successful result. approval rate. neighborhoods; • for existing state It had been almost fifteen years since $218 million invests in parks and improving public access; California passed a parks bond, and Prop. 68 and many parks were hurting, especially California's treasured in our state park system. A couple of natural resources. • $30 million for competitive grants years ago, SMD started working with our to regional park districts, counties, legislators, especially Senator Glazer and From this approved bond, there are and regional open space districts Assemblywoman Baker, and partners now a number of specific funding to create, expand, or restore parks. like East Bay Regional Park District to try opportunities eligible for the Bay Area, to advance legislation that would allow such as the following examples: It was a long road to achieve this historic for a statewide parks bond. Eventually success, and we are thankful for our we and our partners were successful and • a $200 million formula allocated to wonderful supporters and partners who got the legislation passed that paved park districts and counties for local helped make it possible. More financial the way for Proposition 68. and regional parks on a per capita resources can now be applied for to help basis; Mount Diablo State Park with critical SMD worked hard to inform voters needs and acquisitions, open the long- • $21.25 million for the San about the great need for this critical Francisco Bay Area Conservancy awaited Marsh Creek State Park, and investment in our parks and water Program; support other important park and resources. Our organization got the water projects. word out about Prop. 68 over the NBC • $20 million for restoration grants Bay Area network through an episode to augment San Francisco Bay of OpenRoad with Doug McConnell, Restoration Authority’s Measure one of the few television spots for AA; and the proposition because of a small • $14 million for climate adaptation

$37.4 million dollars over the past thirteen years for park Save Mount Diablo Endorses improvements and services in its area. Regional Park District Measure FF Given the geographic area covered, why do we endorse (the Extension of measure cc) on November Ballot Measure FF, the Measure CC extension? The East Bay Regional Park District does a great job and is one of our easure FF extends the benefits of Measure CC. strongest allies. Operations and maintenance funds are MMeasure CC was passed by Oakland, Berkeley, more difficult to raise than capital funding. The park district Richmond, Alameda, San Pablo, El Cerrito, Albany, originally considered a tax covering the entire East Bay but Emeryville, and Piedmont voters in 2004 with more than two- realized it wouldn’t pass and drew tax boundaries to cover thirds support to provide local funding for park infrastructure, parts of the district that were more supportive. Our hope is maintenance, safety, and services. that other areas will be added in the future. Measure CC is a $12 per year parcel tax and is set to expire Public Safety, Wildfire Prevention, and Healthy Forest soon. Measure FF would extend the expiration date, and we support this extension. Measure CC has provided over Measure CC funds support police protection at shoreline and fter almost four years focused on Antioch’s Sand At the same time, staff members of Richland Creek area, this August we achieved a huge Communities, the developer behind “The Ranch,” realized A milestone with the adoption of Let Antioch Voters they had erred in not taking us seriously. They made some Decide: The Sand Creek Area Protection Initiative by the major improvements to their project and basically copied Antioch City Council. our initiative with one major Now more than 1,200 change: allow an improved acres of hills, creek, version of their project. woodland, and rare They started collecting wildlife habitat in south Victory signatures while we were still Antioch west of Deer collecting, and in late July Valley Road (DVR) have in got their initiative adopted increased protection. Any by the Antioch City Council. proposal for land uses We counted this as a major other than agriculture, ANTIOCH! indirect victory, since as a open space, or extremely Antioch City Council Adopted result, about 70 percent of low-density rural housing "Let Antioch Voters Decide: The Sand Creek the Sand Creek area west needs to be put to a vote Open Space Protection Initiative" of DVR had development of Antioch residents. So if restricted on it. a proposal comes along for a several hundred or thousand Now, with our initiative adopted, victory is complete! house subdivision, Antioch voters would decide directly Even more land is protected under our initiative than if that’s something they want. Our initiative also makes was under Richland’s initiative, and what the community Antioch’s current Urban Limit Line permanent. worked so hard to achieve has now been implemented. The roots of this great victory go back to early 2015 when Even though the improved “The Ranch” project is approved, a development called “The Ranch” was proposed in the many saw this as a good compromise between balanced Sand Creek area. Seeing that Antioch residents really cared development and conservation of the most important areas about protecting their hills and avoiding more traffic, we west of DVR, the ones with the hills, woodland, creek, and helped create the Antioch Community to Save Sand Creek, highest biodiversity. In many ways, we would have preferred a coalition of Antioch residents, regional volunteers, and no houses west of DVR too, but the balance created between environmental groups. Together we helped get a plan that conservation and development will serve the community far would have allowed 4,000 houses to be built across most of better than the even larger proposals and plans that loomed the Sand Creek area tabled in late 2017. We were already over the whole of the Sand Creek area before. at work writing our initiative when this happened, and in Thank you to the hundreds of volunteers and thousands March through early June of this year, our highly dedicated of Antioch residents who collected signatures, spread the staff and volunteers collected nearly 10,000 signatures to word, went to meetings, and signed to help make this a qualify our initiative for the ballot. reality! It is because of your support that Save Mount Diablo can achieve such great things.

urban regional parks, as well as fire protection in the East Bay Environmental Stewardship and Habitat Protection hills. Thanks to Measure CC, more than 500 acres of urban Thanks to Measure CC, many natural areas in western forests and brush along the ridgelines from Castro Valley to Alameda and Contra Costa Counties have been restored and Richmond have been thinned or removed—helping prevent preserved, including shorelines, marshes, wetlands, and urban catastrophic fires and maintain safe and healthy forests. Each creeks—protecting sensitive habitat for endangered species year, the park district spends over $1.6 million on fire hazard and preparing parks for the future impacts of climate change. reduction—much of it funded thanks to Measure CC. So on November 6, vote yes on measure ff! Park Infrastructure and Maintenance (the measure cc extension) Because of Measure CC, many regional parks, trails, and open spaces in western Alameda and Contra Costa Counties Learn more online have been repaired and upgraded, including visitor centers, www.yeseastbayparks.com staging areas, trails, picnic tables, restrooms, and water fountains, among others—ensuring quality public access and recreational opportunities for visitors. Learn More Please contact Marcia Slackman at 925-949-4513 or OVING email mslackman@ savemountdiablo.org to learn about the many options for creating a legacy including the MMOUNTAINS FOREVER WILD TO SAVE THE MOUNTAIN Investors Circle—and

help us move mountains. Richard Usinger

The any of Save Mount Diablo’s The Forever Wild campaign’s success will provide Msupporters have heard about the robust toolkit we need—a substantial Revolving FOREVER our historic capital campaign to Land Acquisition Opportunity Fund, Stewardship WILD raise $15 million for the protection, Endowment Fund, and Legal Defense Fund. campaign’s stewardship, and defense of the Diablo wild lands for our work IN BRIEF success will today and into the future. • The Revolving Land Acquisition Opportunity provide the Fund will enable us to work strategically robust toolkit But why does the mountain as opportunities arise to acquire wild open need such a monumental effort spaces with critical conservation values. we need—a and what is the urgency? substantial • The Stewardship Endowment Fund will provide funds Housing development is surging in Revolving Land for ongoing care of the land—monitoring, protecting, the growing hot real estate market, and restoring ecosystems. It will pay for fire abatement, Acquisition particularly in Contra Costa County.1 stream restoration, volunteer management, and Opportunity State and regional park budgets many other activities that keep the land healthy and have barely recovered from the last Fund, available for wildlife habitat and human outdoor recession. Thus, our past business enjoyment, and as cultural and historic resources. Stewardship model of assisting agencies to buy Endowment land, or promptly transferring our • The Legal Defense Fund will ensure that Save own land acquisitions to these Mount Diablo has the financial resources to Fund, and agencies (and relieving us of the legally defend its conservation easements and fee Legal Defense financial costs associated with long- simple–owned lands so that they can be protected term land stewardship)—are two when challenges arise, for the public’s benefit. Fund. scenarios we can no longer depend on. Thanks to the leadership of donors over the past few years, We must be ready to actively we have raised over two-thirds of our goal—$10+ million! build relationships with local landowners to learn We are so grateful to our dedicated and generous supporters. about opportunities to To ensure the viability of our work for the long-term, purchase land going on the we must raise the remaining less than $5 million. market; competitively bid on private property when We invite you to participate by making a gift, pledge, or Bill Sattler it goes up for sale; conduct bequest to Forever Wild—this is a unique opportunity independent appraisals to to establish a personal living legacy in the mountains, hills, be in the best position to negotiate; proactively pursue trees, rocks, wildlife, and wild lands of Mount Diablo. conservation easements (purchase land protection rights when owners wish to keep a property); and steward the 1 Greenbelt Alliance, At Risk: The Bay Area Greenbelt (2017 study). properties we own, as long as they are in our care. Left: Chalcedon checkerspot (Euphydryas chalcedona) butterfly at rest. Photo by Bill Sattler, 1976. MY Mount Diablo Protecting My Mountain: So We Can All Experience, Enjoy, and Connect to the Natural World y childhood was in the country By Papa John Kiefer, Mbehind Stanford University, where Save Mount Diablo I roamed the hills in search of treasure, played hide and seek, and learned to

Supporter since 1974 Photography Jessamyn swim in the creek. Life's journey brought my family to Lafayette in 1966. My John Kiefer, his daughter Kim Kiefer (left), and Alison Hill (right) enjoy Save Mount Diablo's annual Moonlight on the Mountain, held in September in Mount Diablo State Park. attraction to our new home was a view of the top of Mount Diablo from my backyard, and a creek with water flowing between the two parks. Briones was protected from year-round. I envisioned our new home as continuing my development, whereas Mount Diablo was only partially childhood gift of connecting to the natural world. Soon I was protected. In 1974, when I joined the Save Mount Diablo roaming the hills of both Briones Regional Park and Mount family, 7,000 acres were protected in the Mount Diablo Diablo State Park, feeling an aliveness in connecting with the State Park, but that was surrounded by another 200,000 vegetation and wildlife. I discovered the Briones to Mount acres still vulnerable to development. I felt threatened as I Diablo Regional Trail, and realized I could hike from my home envisioned My Mountain being transformed into suburban to Mount Diablo. sprawl. Over the decades, a small and hardworking staff with Over the years, the mountain came to life. For twenty-five dedicated volunteers continues to accomplish the mission: years, I led hikes, usually following the 7½-mile perimeter to preserve, educate, and provide recreational opportunities trail around the mountain. Visiting waterfalls, a few of us for current and future generations. shivered beneath the frigid spring runoff; continuing, we My time of hiking has passed, but my footprints enjoyed the mass of wildflowers, and picnicked near babbling continue upon the pine needles through my children and creek water. grandchildren. My roots shall forever be a part of the Hiking in the shadows of Jeffrey pines, we kicked fallen mountain. Whenever driving to do local errands, I whisper, pine cones in hopes of discovering a pine nut overlooked by "May all who call you home be blessed, and may all who enjoy squirrels or raccoons. Carefully dislodging the seed from the your gifts feel connected." cone, we banged the pine nut between two stones to crush A necessary part of each child's development is the protective shell. Feasting on the delicious meat was experiencing, enjoying, and connecting to the natural world. reward enough for the effort. Old and young tasted life on Mount Diablo offers a treasure trove of gifts, resources, the mountain. and fun, which hopefully will become a part of every Over time, I came to understand a significant difference family's backyard. The New FREE Mount Diablo Trail Map is MOBILE

ur Mount Diablo Regional Trail Map was partners to include all the new conserved lands O created to feature the Diablo Trail, a 30-mile in Contra Costa County, including some on trail from Walnut Creek to Brentwood, and all of Mount Diablo. The updated map is beautiful, the surrounding protected parks and preserves. with a new color scheme and shaded relief. It showcases the teamwork with our partners in And now, we are able to offer the map online! protecting these majestic lands around Mount Diablo. It is our hope that one day the 30-mile trail The digital map is available on our website at can extend around the parks in a Grand Loop http://www.savemountdiablo.org/activities/ Trail, encompassing protected lands within. Most diablo-trail-map/ and is free to download on any of the route for the Grand Loop has already iPhone or Android device. It’s also compatible been protected; some sections of it are on public with map navigating applications like Avenza. lands that are not yet open to the public. We thank our partners and sponsors for In 2017, we had updated the trail map, which was helping to create this updated map and online the latest update since 2012. In just a few months, it version that’s now making the map available became outdated when Anderson Ranch and more to more audiences. We hope this free valuable parks and preserves were protected throughout the area. resource will inspire more people to explore their For the 2018 edition, we worked with our backyards and deepen their love for nature. TO RECEIVE A FREE HARD COPY OF THE MAP, please visit us at an event or email [email protected]. Generations Young, Wired Disorder" inOur "Nature Deficit One Remedy to for just four to seven minutes aday.” the average childplaying freely outside land conservation victories overtheyears, SaveMount the MountDiablo natural areas andourmany hard-fought one where nature isatthecenter. Recognizing thisthreat to the transformation ofourmoderncultural value system to younger generations, to nature sowe helpleadandinspire look for ways to meaningfully connect people,especially address thiswidespread moderncultural problem. We must It isclearwe mustmovebeyond businessasusualand help “may well bethe world's greatest environmental threat.” a result lesslikely to valuenature,” adynamic thathewarns people are “increasingly disconnected from nature andas Vice President ofThe Nature Conservancy) statesthat Sustainability andformerly atUCLA theChief Scientistand Kareiva (Director oftheInstitute oftheEnvironment and therefore less likely to value, andtake care of, nature. Peter that peopleare increasingly disconnected from nature and that themostseriousthreat to ourenvironment may be More andmore, visionaryconservationists are recognizing is not inevitable,andthatwe are atacrossroads. The Path Aheadmakes itclearthatthelongmarch indoors “nature deficitdisorder” inour young, wired generations. Louv’s earlier groundbreaking work anddocumentationof experienced.” The findingsofthis report confirmed Richard care about;andnoonewillcare aboutwhatthey havenever Attenborough, said,“Noonewillprotect whatthey don’t As thefamed Englishbroadcaster andnaturalist, SirDavid outdoor spaces, thelesslikely we are to protect them.” health andwell-being may suffer. Andtheless we valueour an “indoorspecies,” whichcomes withconsequences: “Our their life indoors. Itfurtherreports thatwe are becoming the average Americannow spendsabout95percent of This report, commissioned bytheREICo-op, notes that A outside thanprison inmates, with “Today, kidsspendless time ccording to anew report, ThePath Ahead, disorder” inour young, wired generations. ofand bepart thesolution to “nature deficit connect to nature intheMountDiabloarea Together we can helpour youth meaningfully Company. Compass alsosupportstheprogram. Counselling andMt.DiabloResource Recovery, aGaraventa University, East Bay; andsponsors BedellFrazier Investment Joaquin Moraga IntermediateSchool;California State completed Conservation Collaboration Agreements with sponsor Progressive Asset Management. Lastyear, SMD High School;California State University, East Bay; and Conservation Collaboration Agreement withDeLa Salle Campolindo HighSchool.This fall, SMDwillcomplete a Collaboration Agreements withPittsburg HighSchooland Earlier thisyear, SMDcompleted Conservation established aspecialdiscounted youth membership program. funds sothatthey canbecome members ofSMD.SMDhas participatory philanthropy, theparticipantsgoonto raise exercise aboutnature. Finally, inanactofeducationaland mini soloonthelandwithacontemplative journalwriting Then, after apicniclunchtogether, theparticipantsdoa such asremoving invasiveplantspeciesfrom theland. in anoutdoor, experientialenvironmental serviceproject the participatingstudents andstaffofthesponsorbusiness conserved property for afieldexperience.SMDstaffleads the students andparticipatingbusinessout to aSMD For thesecond partoftheagreement, SMDstafftakes the staffofparticipatingbusinessattheir workplace. students—and alsosuchaneducationalpresentation to conservation oftheMountDiabloarea to theparticipating an in-classeducationalpresentation regarding land has three basicparts.First, thestaffofSMDprovides local school,andaparticipatingsponsorbusinesstypically A Conservation Collaboration Agreement between SMD,a our new Conservation Collaboration Agreement program. connect ouryoung peopleto MountDiabloandSMDthrough Diablo (SMD)hassteppedupandisworking to helpbetter

Al Johnson Stephen Joseph Leaving a Legacy to Mount Diablo with an Irrevocable Bequest: The Morrisons’ Story

over 50 years of marriage, “Open space and carefully planned “We have hiked and In Laurie and Dick Morrison development are necessary to avoid have lived much of their life together what has happened to other areas benefited from the Mount enjoying a panoramic view of the where roads are so congested that air Diablo area for decades. Mount Diablo range from their home in quality goes down and noise levels go Lafayette. Both have always felt a strong up,” Laurie says. “We love this region An irrevocable bequest connection to the natural world. Laurie and wish to support the health and is the best way for us to was an explorer of nature as a little girl. beauty of the nature that surrounds us, Years later, she joined an all-women’s into the future. We also love how SMD give back. We want Save backpacking club and found joy in works to opt for smart development, so Mount Diablo to keep the company of like-minded women, that while the need for new housing is protecting what we love roughing it in the Sierra high country. addressed, it is not at the expense of the Dick finds proximity to nature community’s quality of life." for generations to come.” essential. He backpacked for almost "And not at the expense of the twenty years. “Hiking out in nature,” he wildlife that need a home too,” says, “improves your health, builds your Dick adds. self-esteem, and makes you feel better The Morrisons found a way to about everything.” express their personal values in perpetuity, receive tax relief, participate How have these experiences in Save Mount Diablo’s Forever strengthened their commitment to Wild capital campaign, and have an the mission of Save Mount Diablo? immediate impact on SMD’s work. They named Save Mount Diablo as a beneficiary in their Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT), with a What’s Your Plan designated percent of the Trust’s assets. They provided a brief letter confirming for the their irrevocable designation and the Future? current value of their gift. With this binding commitment,

the Morrisons’ generous $800,000 Marcia Slackman estate gift launched SMD’s Stewardship Endowment Fund—from which SMD will draw interest to care for the land it stewards. This gift will count toward the Make a Bequest $3 million goal that Save Mount Diablo For information about leaving a seeks to meet by March 2019. The lasting legacy to Save Mount Diablo, Morrisons are happy with this plan. please contact Development Director Dick says, “The CRT lowers our Marcia Slackman at (925) 949-4513 or Protect the estate taxes so that we can leave more [email protected]. Diablo mountain range of our money to SMD. We have hiked for generations to come. and benefited from the Mount Diablo Irrevocable bequests can be Leave a legacy by providing area for decades. An irrevocable bequest set up in a variety of ways—with life insurance, property, or other assets. for Save Mount Diablo is the best way for us to give back. Please consult your estate planning in your estate plans. We want Save Mount Diablo to keep advisor to explore the tax benefits and protecting what we love for generations Al Johnson options for making this impactful gift. to come.” Insurance Brokers AsuraRisk B.L. World Natalie Avery Francisco Audi San Asian ArtMuseum &Restoration Appleby Cleaning Pizzeria Amici’s East Coast Tender Greens Airlines Southwest Vineyards Sky Terrace Postino Conservancy The Nature State Park Mount Diablo Stephen Joseph LandTrust Hawaiian Islands Liz Harvey Hansen Family Jim &Bette Felton Hardware Bill’s Ace Francisco Audi San LIVE AUCTION preserve landpreserve on and around Mount Diablo. We are grateful to our Diablo Co-sponsors, Blackhawk-Nunn and Concord AUCTION More than 500community members came and together officials elected inMount Diablo State Park to celebrate our successes of past the year and insupport raise paddles their of Save Mount Diablo’s important conservation work to Feed; all ofFeed; all our generous event sponsors; our committed volunteers; our and guests madeyear’s especially who this SILENT With your generous support, we raised over $460,000—critical funds that allow will to us Thank you for celebratingThank you for with us! Chiropractic Beyond Ristorante Benvenuti Theatre Repertory Berkeley ofSciences Academy California Theater Shakespeare California Cal Shakes Cakebread Cellars Harmon Burstyn Buddy Burke Restaurant &Bar Bridges GolfCourse Boundary Oak Kayaking Blue Waters Diner Bette’s Oceanview Belotz Mark &Silvia Babylon Beach Blanket Bay Nature Kathy Barnett Baratza CatharineBaker Assemblywoman BBQ Back Forty Texas continue our work preserving the natural lands and wildlife still at risk. Moonlight on theMountain such awonderful and event. successful Climbing -Touchstone Diablo Rock Gym GolfCourse Diablo Creek MarkDeSaulnier U.S. Congressman FineArt Debby Koonce Suzanne D’Arcy Danville Cigar Chocolates Danville Country Club Crow Canyon Country Waffles Corners Tavern The Coffee Shop Clementine’s Company Theater City Lights Factory The Cheesecake Research Center Museum& Charles M.Schulz Renée Chapman Dean & Blackhawk Plaza Century Casa Orinda Captain Vineyards Cabernet Canvas and PlantSociety CaliforniaNative CandaceAndersen Supervisor District II Restaurant Katy’s Kreek Judd’s HillWinery Design Architecture & Jan GunnInterior The HopGrenade Lyn Hirahara Brian & Heyday Books Heller Jewelers ClaudiaHein Scott & Havana Hafner Vineyard The Growler Janet Gray Kathy Gleason Sports, Inc. Forward Motion Florali Photography Family Forever &Bar Esin Restaurant Epidemic Ales Brewing, Inc. Eight Bridges Eden Jewelry Ken Dyleski Vineyards Duckhorn Live Donors &SilentAuction Walnut Creek MoMo’s Betty Lou Moglen -PleasantHill andPasta Melo’s Pizza Accessories Mary Frances The Marsh Restaurant Maria Mac's OldHouse Paul Lundstedt Lunardi’s Luna Loca Local Color Theater Bankhead Center- Performing Arts Livermore Valley Resort &Spa Little RiverInn Experience Lindsay Wildlife ofScience Lawrence Hall Brad Lawrence GolfCourse Las Positas Spa&Hotel Lafayette Park Paul Kratter Repair Kepler’s Golf ofPortraits Kaur House Robin Purcell WhaleWatching Princess Monterey Vineyards Pride Mountain Pier 39 &Bar Piatti Ristorante Liz Piatt Greg Piatt Peet’s Coffee Fire Place The Patio& Patagonia Page MillWinery Carpet,Inc. Pacific Coast Sue Ohanian Sandy Biagi David Ogden & Cooper Ogden Symphony Oakland East Bay Cakes Nothing Bundt Shirley Nootbaar Nancy Niemeyer Valley Bike Tours Napa &Sonoma Mindy Murphy Michael & Ken Mozek Aesthetica Monarch Living Terra Outdoor &Catering Sunrise Bistro Robert Storer Martin Steinpress Karen Stein Dr. Andrew & Starbucks St. George Spirits Malcolm Sproul Sonoma Raceway Sideboard Shotgun Players SFMOMA SF Jazz Center Adventures SF Bay Robin Sexton Tracy Archelis Vincent Sciortino& Zoological Society San Francisco Department San Francisco Fire Country Club Round Hill Revel Kitchen&Bar Retzlaff Vineyards Creek SportWalnut Renaissance Club REI Chocolates Rachel Dunn Zoonie’s Candy Pizza Zachary’s Chicago YogaWorks Yoga Treat Vineyards Wood Family Unlimited Wild Birds Henry White Charles H.White Alix Watson Marcia Waterbury John Waterbury Family Museum Walt Disney andTreasures NativeJewelry Vintage Arts: Heertum Linda Van Museum Sea,Air&Space USS Hornet Urban Plates Umigo Racing Kim Trupiano True FoodKitchen (123) Walnut Creek Trader Joe’s ARF Tony LaRussa’s Tesla Motors

George Phillips SPECIAL

THANKS Stephen Joseph TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS, AUCTION DONORS, VOLUNTEERS, & SUPPORTERS! See you next year on September 7, 2019!

DIABLO CO-SPONSORS

NORTH PEAK & MT. OLYMPIA SPONSORS Charla Gabert & David Frane Jeanne Thomas

Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery reduce • reuse • recycle • respect • recover A Garaventa Company

HIGHLAND PEAK & EAGLE PEAK SPONSORS

Concord Naval Weapons Station

managed by www.customalloy.com

TWIN PEAK SPONSORS

DINNER SPONSORS BEER & WINE SPONSORS

MEDIA SPONSORS

SPECIAL THANKS TO

WALNUT CREEK Tributes Tribute gifts and donations made in honor or in memory of loved ones between January 1–June 30, 2018 are listed below. Thank you to all of our supporters. Your generosity preserves, defends, and restores the mountain for all of us to enjoy!

Tribute names are indicated in italics on a shaded row. An asterisk (*) denotes donors who make monthly tribute gifts. Stephen Joseph

IN HONOR OF Liz Harvey Nigel Ogilvie Ted Clement Cindy and Gene IN MEMORY OF Seth Adams 30th Karl & Billi Haug Sue & Steve Ohanian Elise Clement Cutler Havrilenko William (Bill) Allen Alan & Marilyn SMD Anniversary Brad & Judy Heckman David & Dolores Representative Carole C. Allen Anonymous (5) Robert & Barbara Hill Olson Mark DeSaulnier Lindquist Nordyn Anderson Barbara J. Ageno Randall & Anastasia Egon Pedersen David Ogden & Ed Haynes Ruth Eseltine Hanna & Gene Alger Hobbet Kerry Randall Sandy Biagi Donna Preece Keith & Jill Alley Kenneth & Joanne Jay & June Rosenthal Johnathan Wayne Dick Heron Ruth Bailey Roger & Gaye Alperin Hughes Jeanne & Bill Ryan Durant Marianne & T.C. Aude Jeanne & Bill Ryan Martin & Mary Anna Wendi & Rob Baker Bob Ryon Robert Frost Jim Howard Michael Benkly Jansen Burt Bassler Dave & Helen Sargent Dave Farabee Lynn & Butch Brear Jody & George Benkly Toril Jelter Claude & Carol Sally Scholl Rita Breaux Dr. Gregory L. Hummel Evan Blair Al Johnson Benedix Lou Scott Bette & Jim Felton Gene & Jeannine Tom Jones Jerry & Floy Blair Edward L. Bennett Cece Sellgren Michael Jameson & Hummel John H. Kiefer Donald Jepson Breuner Bob & Cindy Brittain Joan & Lynn Seppala Hillary Hayden Michael Borden Doug Knauer & Karoline Doberenz Robert & Gail Burnett Matt & Mary Smith Karen Ferriere Jameson Jennifer Babineaux Jeanne & Bill Ryan Beth Burnside Ron & Judy Smith Eden Bruner Jim & Bette Felton John & Diane Cali Bill Clarkson Kopchik Mary Alice Stadum Charla Gabert Donald Jones AnJenette Afridi Dennis & Jane Margaret Kruse* Mark Stott Anonymous Jeanne Thomas Costanza Joan Kunz Kermit Sveen Tyler & Beryl Jason Katz Eugene Callahan Brenda de la Ossa Anderson Jean E. Laird Karen & Chris Swaim Laura Faigle Marianne Callahan* Alma DeBisschop Quinn Chipley Beverly Lane Jeanne Thomas Margaret Kruse Nancy Carter-Sabey Jean Vieth & Jan Kim Clark Carol Lane Lorna & Mark Sandra Woliver Anonymous Diepersloot Thomson Brent Cochran Michael & Jane Larkin Michael Lloyd Stacy D. Clark Dana & Dave Dornsife Phillip Trapp Holly Dawson Robert & Lucia Manfred & Bernice Jennifer Lloyd Arthur Richard Carter Lindner Frank Valle-Riestra Kate & Paul Falcone Dougherty Tracey Loftus Gene S. Coburn, M.D. David Loeb Frank & Barbara Lawrence E. Ferri* Varenchik Rich Faber Anonymous Schuetze-Coburn Bob & Diane Sheilah & Harry Fish Alan F. Neckritz Family Malucelli Michael & Joyce David Frane John & Tena Wahlig Gayle Lombardi Carole Mason Stacii Gerson Bud Coleman Gallagher Sharon Walters Amy McWlliams-Hess Don Guttenplan Kristen Noe Anonymous Adrienne Galvin Jeff & Sally Welborn John Michels Denae Leigon David Ogden & Mardi Duffield Paul & Marilyn Kristen Wick Sandy Biagi Gardner Alan Mitchell Bunny Martin Kristine Caratan Sonja Wilkin Jacob & Allie Noralea Gipner Bielle Moore Megan McConachie Norval (VAL) Fairman Mary Louise & Randazzo: in hopes Mount Diablo David Ogden Robert & Polly Gould Bruce Wilson that your outdoor Mary Fairman Ruth Gravanis Interpretive Darice Peruch spirit will have a Association Burt Bassler Wesley Fay Charles Gresham Kathy Renger place to grow. Daniel Navarro Elissa Bassler Giovanna Stockman Dan & Kathy Griffin Barbara Strack Salesforce John & Ann Noll Steve & Brenda Benkly Anna Louise Ferri Patricia J. Hague Danielle Woermann Frank & Gayle Servin Thomas Nootbaar Jody & George Benkly Lawrence E. Ferri* Margaret Hanlon- Leslie Servin David Ogden & Ron Brown Gradie Jeanne Thomas Evans Fielding Sandy Biagi Steve Kaplan* Mary & Bud Lembke Steve Fielding 4 Days Diablo is a

David Ogden '“Gently Roughing It” small group camping trip that leads you on a 30-mile adventure through rarely seen Mount Diablo landscapes, led by expert naturalists, botanists, and birders. While you tour and examine the majestic Diablo wild lands, staff See you next transports your gear and sets up your new camp. year! Each night, you’ll enjoy wine and mouthwatering gourmet dinners prepared on the spot by premier East Bay restaurants. For information, call Save Mount Diablo Four Days Diablo at (925) 947-3535 or visit our website at A p r i l 24-27, 2019 SaveMountDiablo.org.

Joseph & Betty Jon & Debra Kalan Norm Olsen Michael Smidebush Goldstein Steven Kinney Richard & Sally Olsen George W. Davis Fund Janine Alden

Becky Kosach & Scott Hein Danna Pierce Vivian Sweigart Beatrice Gordon Brian Martisius Paula Silver Terry & Glenn Connie Marc & Gaynel Wilhoyte Gonzalez* Zane Kiefer Patrica R. Quinn Jonathan Edwin Gwen Regalia Anonymous your mother, Margaret Grisham M. Tetlow, who loved Dr. Dan Reid: Mount Kenneth Winters Darrell Mortensen & this mountain Barbara Rivara Everest Summiteer, Paul Grunland Finisher: Western Alice Noyes Eugene & Lily Diablo Trails States 100 Mile Marty Osborn Schulting The Warnke Family Run, Humanitarian, Howard Thomas Gus and Isabel Haro Kristina Steward Accomplished Challenge Joe & Susan Ryan* Brian Kruse Cardiac Surgeon, Judy Canright Beloved Husband, 5K / 10K A.S. Harvey & Margaret Kruse* Ed Tonningsen Colleague, and Marian B. Harvey Harvey & Louise Wall Grant Mainland Friend. Victoria Harvey Half-Marathon / 50K Doryce R. Partridge Robert Cavett Dr. William Weeden Mary Heron Patricia Weeden Kate McKillop Dean Rhodes Marianne & T.C. Aude Sandra Zwemmer Frances Coburn We have made every Daphne M. Kimbell effort to accurately spell April 13, 2019 Janet Montes Ann Ryan names. If your name or Gary & Jo Ann Yates donation has not been Terry & Glenn Joe & Susan Ryan* recorded correctly or Dr. Frederick Kovar Gonzalez* Stephen F. Sharkey was mistakenly omitted, Lisa & John Borba Dennis Moyer we offer our apologies. Anne Sharkey Please contact us so Bob & Cindy Brittain Scott Moyer that we can amend Bervyn Simonian our records by sending Robert & Janet Jane O'Donnell Learn more at Canning Richard & Rayna Ravitz an email to Lydia Sue Tomidy Burstyn, Development https://brazenracing.com/ Garth Cummings your mother, Associate, at lburstyn@ diablotrailschallenge Patsy O'Grady Jean Smart savemountdiablo.org. Ericksen, Arbuthnot, Kilduff, Day & Karoline Doberenz Kathryn S. Sawyer Lindstrom, Inc. Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Walnut Creek, CA Permit No. 1553 1901 Olympic Blvd., Suite 320 Walnut Creek, CA 94596

Tel: (925) 947-3535 www.SaveMountDiablo.org

Thanks for being a friend. As a Friend of the Mountain, you help to preserve the Diablo wild lands for future generations. Whether you enjoy Mount Diablo when you are hiking, cycling, horseback riding, trail running, birding, painting, photographing, looking at it from your kitchen window, or taking in its breathtaking beauty at the end of a long commute home . . . This is your mountain. Become a member to protect it today. Enjoy a variety of perks! Not a member yet? Based on your annual membership gift, you can receive • Members-only gear; Join us! • Recognition in our annual report; Contact us for more information. • Our biannual Diablo Watch newsletter, featuring Call or visit us online at stories about protected lands, habitat restoration, (925) 947-3535 | SaveMountDiablo.org volunteer projects, and recreation opportunities; • Invitations to exclusive members-only events,

hikes, and tours of Mount Diablo Jay Jennifer

“My dream is that the whole of Mount Diablo, including its foothills, will remain open space . . . that the visual and natural integrity will be sustained.” —Dr. Mary L. Bowerman

To preserve Mount Diablo’s Preserve natural lands through This is our home. Preserving natural peaks, surrounding foothills, and acquisition and cooperative efforts. land forever means safeguarding our watersheds through land acquisition quality of life, including our air, water, and preservation strategies designed Defend Mount Diablo and its foothills and views. Only half of Mount Diablo to protect the mountain’s natural from threats of development through has been preserved. The other half of beauty, biological diversity, and land use planning. the area, over 60,000 acres, is privately historic and agricultural heritage; Restore habitat prior to transfer owned and still threatened by Our Mission enhance our area’s quality of Do What We to a public agency for permanent development. That means risking the life; and provide recreational preservation and public use. Care We Why loss of wildlife corridors, ecosystems, opportunities consistent with the Enjoy Diablo’s parks through events and recreational opportunities. protection of natural resources. and recreational opportunities.