This month, be on the lookout for ladybugs, which can be found in clusters on plants, logs, and rocks. The Conservancy had a record turnout at our annual meeting in November. Learn more about Amy Bach and United Policyholders (UP) here.
November Happenings 2024
Measure MM needs your support! On November 5th please vote yes on MM. You’re invited to our Annual Meeting on November 10th from 4-6pm at the Claremont Resort and Spa. Meet our invited guest speaker, Amy Bach, from United Policyholders, as she updates us on the homeowner insurance crisis and what can be done to address it.
September Happenings 2024
Butterflies spotted in the Canyon! Winning voter approval of Measure MM, the Wildfire Prevention Zone on November 5th is critical. Join the Garber Park Stewards as they celebrate Creek to Bay Day on September 21st. Volunteer in the Upper Canyon with your group of friends or company team. (Click to learn more)
July Happenings 2024
The East Bay Wildfire Coalition will have its second meeting on Monday, July 8th at 9a.m. The meeting will be held at El Cerrito City Hall but you are invited to participate on Zoom (Check this post for the zoom link). It’s also summer and we are starting to see thimbleberries on thimbleberry plants. They have a pleasant, tart taste, a favorite of people and other mammals as well as many birds. Read more about how to best identify this plant!
June Happenings 2024
May Happenings 2024
April Happenings 2024
March Happenings 2024
February Happenings 2024
October Happenings 2023
August Happenings 2023
July Happenings 2023 - Nature and Stewardship
July Happenings 2023 - Advocacy Update
Jordan Fire Trail Improvement Project
This work is part of the other fire management plan implementation activities in the UC Berkeley Hill Campus. The goal is to improve life safety and reduce loss from wildfires by supporting the conversion of the existing fire-prone forest near the road to vegetation with more favorable burning characteristics.
Outdoors during COVID-19 lockdown, by Marilyn Goldhaber
A wildland-urban hike: Gwin Canyon to Garber Park by Sandy Friedland
(Note: Do this hike with a friend because two cars are required for a short shuttle.)
This moderately difficult 3.5-mile route begins at Signpost 29 and finishes at the Claremont Avenue end of Garber Park. The hike traverses parkland trails and parts of the neighborhoods above the Claremont Hotel, where many of the lovely houses were rebuilt after the 1991 Berkeley-Oakland Hills fire.
Eagle Scouts widen the Gwin Canyon Trail, by Jon Kaufman
Here are some of the 25 members of Joe Lewis’ Boy Scout Troup widening the Gwin Canyon Trail. The portion of the trail on UC property is now fully widened and enough broom on the EBRPD property portion was pulled to make it easily passable.
Trail Map at Domingo and Claremont Avenues, by Jon Kaufman
Building and maintaining trails in Claremont Canyon is the Conservancy’s way of inviting area residents to experience the joy of living in the wildland-urban interface. We think it will help remind people that responsibility comes with the pleasure of living here. We need to care for our environment by making our wildland accessible and by removing invasive plants and keeping it as firesafe as possible.
New trail signs installed, by Jon Kaufman
With thanks to Tom Klatt we now have a new trail marker where the Gwin Canyon Trail meets the Willow Trail just down the steps from Signpost 29. We installed the trail marker during our January stewardship day. We are hopeful that the Park District will add a trail sign of their own at the other end of the Gwin Canyon Trail where it meets Norfolk Road. Conservancy volunteers continue their work to make the trail easier to traverse by installing more steps and water bars and making a part of the trail less steep. We also will be installing logs along the edge to reduce erosion. Finally, the University has just improved the area just outside the gate at Signpost 29, making it safer to pull over and park.
Outing with the Park District trails managers
Conservancy members recently hosted a tour of Claremont Canyon with planners from the East Bay Regional Park District's Trails Development team, including trails manager Sean Dougan and Ward 2 Board Member Dee Rosario. We hiked up the Conservancy's new Gwin Canyon trail connecting Park District and UC lands, then headed over to the Stonewall-Panoramic Ridge Trail to assess its steepest section just below Panoramic Way. We are hoping the Park District will build switchbacks on this degraded section of trail for increased safety and accessibility to hikers. We'll keep you informed as progress develops.
