The Claremont Canyon Conservancy is a catalyst for the long-term protection and restoration of the canyon's natural environment and an advocate for comprehensive fire safety along its wildland/urban interface.

President's Message - A Tenth Anniversary

 

L. Tim Wallace

"We've done it: a tenth anniversary!  We had a good turn out on for our annual meeting on November 6.  Thanks for all who attended and for our presenters and speakers. What a ten years. We began as a group of individuals interested in activating a fire response program for Claremont Canyon. We’ve broadened that interest to include trail development, natural landscape restoration, long range fire risk reduction planning, and educational tours of the canyon led by experts. Working with volunteers we have helped make the canyon more fire- safe, more natural, and more accessible by trail."   (Read more)


 

President Tim Wallace


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PLEASE JOIN US for the events below or read about recent goings-on here and in our blogs (right sidebar).  All events are free for members and the general public. We welcome all fitness levels.  For outdoor events, please wear long sleeves, long pants, sturdy shoes and a hat. Vegetation volunteers should also bring gloves. 


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Thursday, January 12: Fire Safety. How can we make our homes resistant to ignition from wildland fire embers? The fire prevention committee of the North Hills Community Association will host a public meeting to discuss specific steps homeowners can take to keep wildfires driven by Diablo winds from damaging our homes. 7 to 9 PM on Thursday, January 12 at the Highlands Country Club, 110 Hiller Drive. Please park on the street so as not to inconvenience club members.

Saturday, January 14: Clearing dead wood from the Stonewall area. Our monthly stewardship activity will be in the Stonewall area of Claremont Canyon. The Conservancy spearheaded the thinning and removal of eucalyptus in this area in 2006. Now we will go back and remove debris that has accumulated to make the area more aesthetically pleasing and to encourage restoration of native plants. Meet at 10 AM at the trailhead at the sharp curve on Stonewall Road. We will work from 10 to Noon as usual.
Saturday, January 21: Attacking invasives and mapping in Garber Park. Winter stewardship continues. We will remove French Broom and Cape Ivy in specific spots along the loop trail, continue clean-up at the fireplace plaza area and search for and flag and cage oak, big leaf maple and buckeye seedlings to protect them from deer. We'll also map the location of signature oaks with GPS technology. Meet at 10 AM at the park entrance at the end of Evergreen Lane. For further information, call 510-540-5261, emailgarberparkstewards@gmail.com or visit www.garberparkstewards.blogspot.com.

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December 6—Garber Park Steward's Report - Fuel Reduction Project Takes Another Step Forward, by Shelagh Brodersen

L. Tim Wallace

Thanks to all who came to our workday on Dec. 6 to discuss the details of the Garber Park Vegetation Management Project with LeRoy Griffin, Assistant Fire Marshal. We were pleased to have Camille Rogers, Fire Inspector for WPAD, Rebecca Tuden, City of Oakland Watershed Specialist, and Lech Naumovich, Botanist, Golden Hour Restoration Institute  to guide us through the proposal that was initially developed by Lech in collaboration with the Garber Park (read more)

 


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December 10—Canyon Stewardship Report.  The trail walk on November 26 was a great success (see pictures), introducing new people to the trails and our restoration work. On December 10 we focused on removing invasive eucalyptus and acacia sprouts in this area of Claremont Canyon, planted an oak tree and native shrubs along the new railing at the trail head, and enjoyed a good time together (see pictures). The Conservancy funded the railing to help discourage dumping and the native plants will help restore and beautify the area. 

 

New fence across from the chert

 


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December 11—The Birds of Claremont Canyon with Dave Quady, Audubon Christmas Bird Count Leader. Report by Kay Loughman


(see more pictures)


Once again, December's birdwalk led by Dave Quady produced a nice selection of expected species. Five of us gathered at 4:30am to listen for owls. We were joined by four others for daylight birding. In all, 27 species were seen; but in an unanticipated twist, 23 of them were seen initially right at the top of Claremont Canyon. (For the uninitiated, seeing ten species in that place would have been satisfying, so 23 was amazing!) Keeping company with a flock of juncos were four sparrow species and both towhees. Nearby we saw woodpeckers, warblers, thrushes, jays, chickadees, kinglets, bushtits and several others (list follows - read more). 


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