DIABLO WATCH Save Mount Diablo
Protecting the Mountain Since 1971
Preserving Wildlife Corridors a Major Thrust of SAVE MOUNf DIABLO's Efforts By Seth Adams, Program Director When Save Mount Diablo was formed in 1971 the State Park included only about 7,500 acres-primarily the mountain's summit and the area stretching down Southgate Road to Rock City. Working with state, regional and local interests, our efforts have resulted in many miles of expansion, new trailheads and additional park entrances, even as development began rising up the mountain's slopes. Today, Park visitors enjoy a state park of almost 19,000 acres combined with almost 12,000 acres of surrounding regional and city open space. These various kinds of open space are much more valuable together than as individual
parks-in this case 1+ 1 is much greater than 2-because wildlife which could not survive in each park individually might well survive in the much larger combined expanses of parkland adjacent to each other or connected by wildlife corridors. What is a wildlife corridor? We all know how pleasant it is to walk along a stream on a hot day or to follow a shaded canyon up to a ridge. These are examples of wildlife corridors; they generally connect the areas in which the animal lives with water, foraging areas and dens or nests, and often include dense vegetation which serves as cover from predators. Each species has differing needs and their corridors can be threatened by many - continued on page 2
Your donations ensure that deer will always graze on Mount Diablo. 1
FalVWinter 1991, #6
Late Breaking News Flash!!! After hearing rumors for some time, we were shocked to finally see some of the rumors in print last week. The State is considering transferring several redwood state parks to the federal government, and is considering closing up to fifty others. Mount Diablo State Park, Mount Tamalpais, Angel Island and Tomales Bay State Parks were all mentioned as logical candidates for closure in a November 11th San Francisco Chronicle news story. According to the article, the state has convened a Department of Parks and Recreation Cost Cutting Task Force, which is considering the park closures because of the State's recent budget deficits. The Task Force will be making its budget cut recommendations to the administration this week. If by March the cuts don't produce enough savings, they'll then look at closing some park units. Although Sacramento will not confirm which parks are on the list, Save Mount Diablo feels it important that supporters of our ·state Parks, and of Mount Diablo in particular, let the governor and our legislators know of their concern. While it may in the long run make sense to transfer the three north coast redwood state parks to the adjacent Redwood National Park, there is no justification for dosing our state parks, especially the most heavily used ones in urban areas. Mount Diablo State Park, one - continued on page 2