Save Mount Diablo
Protecting the Mountain Since 1971
Goodbye to a Dear Friend
772-acre Garaventa Property Acquired Putting to rest more than a decade of controversy, the acquisition of the 772-acre Garaventa property was unanimously approved by the East Bay Regional Park District Board of Directors at its November 4th meeting. The parcel, bounded on three sides by Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve, was considered the top acquisition priority for the Preserve. Garaventa overlooks Contra Loma reservoir, Antioch and the Delta, with Mt. Diablo as a backdrop. The purchase of this biologically rich property helps to round out the park boundaries, adds valuable scenic open space to Black Diamond and completes the park's northern edge. "This property has some very, very difficult history going way back," said Park District Director Ted Radke of Martinez, who represents the area. He commended the Garaventa family, current owners of the property, for their good faith negotiations and quick decision on the final agreement. Garaventa is spectacular. A thousand foot rise from valley floor to ridgeline offers beautiful panoramic views as far as the Sierra range. Fire roads loop through oak woodland and grassland into deep valleys threaded with streams and jeweled with overflowing ponds. Large stands of wild rose and many small wetlands are associated with hillside seeps and springs. Narrow canyons are filled with toyon (Christmas
Spring 1998 , No. 23
WILLIAM HENRY SATTLER, 1909-1997
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Newest addition to Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve.
berry), and protected exposures offer wildflowers early in the season. Varied habitats support threatened and endangered species such as the California red-legged frog, the San Joaquin kit fox and California tiger salamander. There are good trail connections into the property from both Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve and adjacent Contra Loma Regional Park. Tunnels from the area's historic coal mining period underlie the property. Schultz's Canyon, once part of the active coal mining district, includes a tunnel through the ridge to the Central Mine in Stewartville. Continued on page 4
Save Mount Diablo has lost a dear friend, the world has lost a good man. William 'Bill' Henry Sattler died on Christmas day, he was 88 years old. Bill, who always wondered what lay over the next ridge, had explored every slope and incline, every meadow and every valley of the mountain he loved so much. Indeed, it was on one of his Mt. Diablo hiking trips that he met the love of his life, Genevieve. Together they helped co-found Save Mount Diab/a, working on the board from its inception in 1971 until 1992. During this time they helped to acquire and protect thousands of acres of open space. Bill, is survived by his wife Genevieve; sons Alfred and Edward Sattler; daughters Joyce and Carol Sattler; and a brother Ernest Sattler. The world was a better place for Bill's having been here. His son Al offered this quote in memory of his father ... "Climb the Mountain and get their glad tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you. And the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves." John Muir