1998 - A Very Good Year
by Seth Adams, Director of Land Programs, Save Mount Diablo
Reprinted form Mt. Diablo Review - January 1999

1998 was an exciting year for Save Mount Diablo; one in which we began or completed eight major projects. Among other things, we have signed a contract to purchase the 427-acre Silva Ranch, we are working with the East Bay Regional Park District to help raise funds for the 1,030 acre Clayton Ranch, we are working with the State Park to put together a deal on the 66 acre Turtle Rock Ranch, and we are working on the preservation of 1123 acres of the Roddy Ranch. To add to the excitement, another high priority parcel has gone on the market! Indeed, 1998 may well be called "the Year of the Ranch." Needless to say, we are busily raising funds to support our projects.

Project #1 Silva Ranch Acquisition (427 acres)

In 1987 Save Mount Diablo began the work necessary to connect the State Park to Morgan Territory Regional Preserve across five miles of private land. Save Mount Diablo's purchase in 1989 of the 631 acre Morgan Ranch provided the first connection between the two parks. Six years later the two parks had been joined in a mile-wide corridor stretching across spectacular, isolated Riggs Canyon. In 1998, a new staging point was created at the end of the paved portion of
Finley Road, providing the first easy public access into Riggs Canyon.

The highest elevations in the Canyon, however, remained in private hands, raising concern about the ultimate health of the watershed below. In August, Save Mount Diablo signed a contract to purchase the largest remaining parcel in the corridor, a 427 acre wooded and grassland bowl crossed by Finley Road, rimmed by Highland Ridge and rising up to Cave and Windy Points.

Preserving this beautiful property completes and protects the watershed area of the south-eastern slope of Mt. Diablo State Park, and widens the wildlife corridor between the Park and Morgan Territory Regional Preserve. A series of beautiful canyons with south facing grassland slopes, and north and east facing slopes of mature oak-bay woodland, the parcel is highly visible from the south and from existing public lands. Adding to the beauty and biological diversity of the parcel are abundant sources of water as the property has numerous springs, creek channels with year round pools and a pond.

Adding to the wonder of this area are populations of the federally listed California red-legged frog, Coopers and sharp-shinned hawks, barn owls and peregrine falcons. Although mountain lions have not been sighted, they almost certainly utilize the property for movement as their presence has been confirmed within public lands on both sides of the property. The Silva property will also provide public trail connections with loop possibilities which become increasingly more important with the development new staging areas on South Finley Rd.

Proceedings played a role in Save Mount Diablo's ability to negotiate a deal on the Silva property in August. By November 1999, the remaining $625,000 of the $750,000 purchase price must be raised.

Project #2 Clayton Ranch: A Giant Step In The Mount Diablo To Black Diamond Mines Corridor (1,030 acres)

In 1994 Save Mount Diablo acquired the 333-acre Chaparral Spring parcel, located off Marsh Creek Road, east of Clayton, and across the road from the State Park. The purchase was the first step in bridging the two and a half mile gap from Mount Diablo State Park north to Black Diamond Mines. Until recently the largest property in the gap between the two parks, the neighboring 1,030 acre Clayton Ranch, was the subject of an active development proposal which was opposed by the Greenbelt Alliance.

Clayton Ranch is a five parcel property which includes a mile of frontage on Marsh Creek Road and a deep stream canyon rising to a large chaparral covered point. The canyon slopes are striped with oak woodland and chaparral, providing rich wildlife habit at. Trails cross Keller Ridge ( with good views of nine Bay Area counties and the Sierra Range) to within one half mile of Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve.

In September, the East Bay Regional Park District signed a two and a half year option on Clayton Ranch with Save Mount Diablo agreeing to help raise funds for the purchase. The ridgeline third of the Ranch was acquired in October 1998. The remaining acage is scheduled to be acquired in October 1999 and April 2000.

Assemblyman Tom Torlakson and former Senator John Nejedly deserve great thanks for their help in facilitating the purchase. To date, the East Bay Regional Park District has contributed $500,000 of AA funds, and the new Agricultural Trust of Contra Costa County has contributed $200,000 through Save Mount Diablo. In addition Assemblyman Torlakson, at Save Mount Diablo’s request, was successful in procuring another $200,000 through last year's State budget. Senator Richard Rainey helped insure that the funding was approved by the governor. Remaining funding totaling $1,200,000 must still be raised.

The Clayton Ranch investors, especially Managing Partner Hal Boex, are to be congratulated for their willingness to work toward preservation of the Clayton Ranch property.

Project # 3 The Turtle Rock Ranch Acquisition: Keep your fingers crossed (66 acres)

If you grew up in Contra Costa County and your senior class had a picnic on Mount Diablo, your business hosted a "mountain retreat," or you attended a wedding on Diablo, it may well have been at Turtle Rock Ranch, a private facility high on the north western slopes, within the boundaries of the Park. After many years of operating Turtle Rock Ranch, Mitch and Anne Ward decided it was time for their own picnic, and have offered the 66 acre property for sale to the State. In addition to the facilities, which include a pool, ball fields and a historic home built with native rock, the parcel includes substantial high quality habitat, beautiful chaparral and oak woodland draining into Pine Canyon, and scenic views of Central County.

The State's intent is to continue the picnic operation as it would provide a continuing stream of revenue to Mount Diablo State Park. Negotiations are underway, and we all hope an agreement can be reached. Save Mount Diablo helped procure funds from several state sources for the possible purchase. Assemblywoman Lynne Leach, with the assistance of Senator Richard Rainey, is to be commended for her success in procuring an additional $200,000 in funding for the purchase through last year's State budget process.

Project #4 The Athenian School Dedication: Buffering The Park (14.78 acres)

In 1988 the private Athenian School, located at the base of the mountain in the community of Diablo, began negotiations to sell the northern 45 acres of their property. The parcel was too expensive for public acquisition and in an attempt to create an operating endowment, Athenian proposed development of 45 homes.

Located on Mount Diablo Scenic Boulevard, the Danville entrance to the State Park, the parcel is a visual gateway to the Mountain. Save Mount Diablo has been involved since development was proposed and worked with neighbors, the school and several developers, with the intent of minimizing environmental degradation.

Save Mount Diablo was successful in decreasing unit numbers in the development plan from 45 to 36 (by removing units from the highest knoll and a beautiful stream canyon). Development conditions included the offer of dedication of 14.78 acres to the State Park, a regional trail connection to the East Bay Regional Park District, tree preservation, and funding to improve a vertical curve on Mount Diablo Scenic Boulevard as it approaches the park boundary.

Over the past ten years the development has been transferred several times; the most recent owner and the new homebuilder, Greystone Homes, worked very positively toward the 14.78 acre dedication, which was transferred to the State Park in June.

Project # 5 The Final Blackhawk Dedication (511 of 2000 acres)

Blackhawk sometimes conjures up images of luxury development, but when it was approved in the mid-1970's it included the promise of the largest state park dedication in California's history.

In 1964, Castle and Cook sold 2100 acres of the Blackhawk Ranch to Mount Diablo State Park, including part of BBQ Terrace near Wall Point, much of Curry Canyon and the Knobcone Point area, including Balancing Rock. Howard Peterson, a subsequent owner, old the remainder of the Ranch to Blackhawk Development Company in 1975 which began planning for a housing development of 4800 dwelling units on 4200 acres. Ultimately the number of homes was reduced to 2400, still the largest development ever at that time in Contra Costa County. More than 2000 acres of open space was dedicated to Mount Diablo State Park.

The 2000+ acres dedicated to open space were added to the State Park as development phases proceeded, with Save Mount Diablo facilitating the process. 1131 acres, including Wall Point, Jackass Canyon, part of Dan Cook Canyon and part of both sides of South Gate Road below the State Park entrance, were added in 1980. 410 acres along Blackhawk Ridge were dedicated in 1987. Save Mount Diablo is working with Blackhawk Corporation, the Blackhawk Homeowner's Association and the Blackhawk Country Club on a dedication event to take place May 15, 1999, marking the final dedication of 511 acres which encompass a large grassy knoll, several beautiful hidden valleys and steep slopes rising into the Blackhills below Oyster Point. The Blackhawk Dedication is a rare opportunity to view this beautiful and inaccessible area. To attend the May
15 event, call Save Mount Diablo at (925) 947-3535.

Project # 6 The Roddy Ranch Dedication: Constructing A Corridor From Black
Diamond Mines To Round Valley (1123 acres)

Southwest of Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve and its coal mines and ghost towns stretch a series of beautiful, parallel ridges. The largest and southernmost, near Round Valley, rises to Morgan Territory Regional Preserve. To the north, several rises define Briones, Deer and Horse Valleys, before sinking to the Antioch city limits and Brentwood farmlands.

Earlier this year, rancher Jack Roddy and his partner Wayne Pierce proposed a golf course on 230 acres of their 2100 acre cattle ranch, which straddles Deer and Horse Valleys. The ranch's southern boundary, along the ridge between Deer and Briones Valley is one of East county's most distinctive features. Its north face is covered with oak woodland in a landscape which otherwise consists of grassland on rolling hills.

Save Mount Diablo was concerned because the proposal would have been growth in an undeveloped area, and because it failed to mitigate for habitat loss for a variety of rare and endangered species that inhabit the grasslands and wetlands. These include the San Joaquin kit fox, the California Red-Legged frog and the California tiger salamander. In addition, the partnership's Ranch is located at the southeastern corner of Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve.

The County's East County Regional Planning Commission approved the project without the necessary EIR and Save Mount Diablo and Greenbelt Alliance subsequently appealed the decision to the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors. SMD's position was that an EIR would show the need for appropriate habitat mitigation for rare species. In the end a voluntary compromise was reached between environmental organizations and the ranch partners which was approved unanimously by the County Supervisors: no EIR was required and the golf course was given a go-ahead. The Board of Supervisors, concerned about habitat preservation, required the dedication of development rights on 1123 acres.

The Supervisors must still approve the specific language of the deeded development rights, but the compromise will not only mitigate for habitat loss, while allowing the ranch partners to build their golf course, it will also help insure that cattle ranching can continue, since the land remains in the hands of the partnership. Both the State Department of Fish & Game, which will join the County in holding the development rights, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service applauded the compromise.

The dedication is precedent setting. It is Contra Costa's largest private mitigation to date, of habitat for the federally endangered San Joaquin kit fox and it also preserves the distinctive oak covered ridgeline between Deer and Briones Valleys. The low open space and recreational corridor includes a 4.5 mile trail easement along the ridgeline and stretches one-third the distance necessary to connect Black Diamond Mines and Round Valley Regional Preserves.

Project # 7 Chevron's North Peak Tower Restoration

Chevron's removal of its communication tower on Mt. Diablo has been in the news recently, and Save Mount Diablo applauds their precedent setting efforts.

For more than twenty years, Save Mount Diablo has carried on an effort to limit the increase in communication towers on Mount Diablo's peaks, calling for consolidation of sites and more stringent regulatory policies. The most profitable communication sites are highly visible as they are at the tops of peaks and ridges and these sites include grading, access roads, power lines, generators, propane tanks, equipment buildings, concrete pads, guy lines and anchors, and fencing. These sites are often home to rare species which have adapted to the extreme conditions of Mt. Diablo's peaks.

In the mid-1970s Save Mount Diablo began calling for the County's first Communication Tower Policy, including a requirement for land use permits to regulate tower sites, in part to force clean-up at existing tower sites which were often cluttered with other equipment and debris. The County's first policy was adopted in 1977. During this period, Chevron bought a site for a communication tower just below North Peak and applied to the County for a 20-year land use permit; the County's first tower permit. Soon after, North Peak was acquired with public funding and added to the State Park. Chevron then donated their 5-acre site to the State while reserving a lease for the tower. Including 15 microwave dishes, the tower was highly visible.

Over the years, Save Mount Diablo has pushed for tighter policy guidelines, with the hope that technological advances would decrease the call for additional sites on the mountain and that existing towers and equipment could be consolidated to fewer sites and visibly down sized. In 1997 Chevron's 20-year permit came up for renewal.

Steve Slavin, Senior Regulatory Analyst for Chevron Information Technology, worked with Save Mount Diablo in determining the fate of Chevron's tower. A compromise was reached granting Chevron an additional 10 years, but Slavin continued working. Using his recommendations, Chevron determined that it made both good environmental and good business sense to entirely remove their tower and its 15 microwave dishes from North Peak.

Simultaneously, the County's new Telecommunications Policy was adopted in May 1998, and mirrored the Chevron compromise by reducing permit periods to 10 years. Supervisors Mark De Saulnier and Donna Gerber, and County staff member Debbie Chamberlain where instrumental in improving the new policy as well as in suggesting the original compromise with Chevron.

On December 21, Chevron removed their tower, building, concrete pads, and other equipment; they have also committed to restoring the site. Chevron was under no obligation to make these changes. Their willingness to remove the tower, and to restore the tower area benefits both the mountain and the community.

Other towers will come up for County review in the next few months. It is Save Mount Diablo's hope that other tower operators will take a page from Chevron's book, and make similar efforts in searching for ways to make their towers more sensitive. It s indeed precedent setting and an important step in preserving the County's beauty when we move from simply defending Mt. Diablo from additional towers, to the removal and restoration of a tower site on this registered National Natural Landmark

Project #8 Round Valley Regional Preserve: Ten Years of Work Pays Handsome
Dividends (2,024 acres)

The last issue of Mount Diablo Review discussed the August 29th public dedication of spectacular Round Valley, the East Bay Regional Park District's newest preserve. In the ten years prior to the dedication Save Mount Diablo helped with acquisition and planning for the Preserve and was very pleased to be included in the District's event. Save Mount Diablo's organizational Vision Statement has identified Round Valley as the southern anchor in an important new proposal, the Black Diamond Mines to Round Valley Wildlife Corridor.

You can now visit Round Valley at your leisure. The Preserve staging area is easily visible on Marsh Creek Road, about 12 miles east of Clayton and 1.6 miles east of Deer Valley Road. Because of rare species, dogs are not allowed.