Policy

Annual Meeting Sunday, November 10 from 4-6 PM at the Claremont Club and Spa

Dear friends and neighbors please join us on Sunday, November 10 from 4-6 P.M. at the Claremont Club and Spa to listen to our invited speaker—Amy Bach, co-founder and executive director of United Policyholders (UP)—a non-profit organization that advocates for insurance consumers. Amy will update us about the homeowner insurance crisis and what can be done to address it.

October Happenings 2024

Nov. 5th - Yes onMeasure MM, Make Oakland Wildfire Safe!Save the Date - Nov. 10th Annual Meeting - Join us to hear about the homeowner insurance crisis and what can be done to address it. Take a look at fire safety resources and volunteer opportunities this month.

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)

August Happenings 2024

A juvenile hawk was spotted taking a bath! The Conservancy has moved into a new era. We recently celebrated a successful fundraising drive where we raised $40,000. Keep Oakland Wildfire Safe Committee has a goal to do everything possible to pass the Wildfire Prevention Zone ballot measure on November 5th. Learn more about how you can get involved and other volunteer opportunities in the Canyon.

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

Summer has arrived and we are seeing many butterflies fluttering in the Canyon, native plants in bloom, and many people hiking the trails!

May Happenings 2024

Take a look at this flock of lesser goldfinches. An East Bay region-wide approach got off to a great start! In an effort to mitigate wildfire risks, the East Bay Regional Park District conducted a controlled burn on their park district property.

President’s Message by Jon Kaufman

The Conservancy has been leading an effort to build a regional wildfire prevention coordinating group among elected officials from local jurisdictions in the East Bay Hills. Read more about these efforts and about our stewardship program which includes volunteers from UC, scout troops, and high school students from as far away as Fremont.

January Happenings 2024

Happy New Year! Cormorants were spotted in the Canyon - take a look at the photo shared by Alex Pierce, long-time birder. If you haven’t yet done so, please consider renewing your membership and charitable donations for the new year. Also, upcoming volunteer opportunities.

Preventing Wildfire: Support the Oakland Vegetation Management Plan, by David Kessler

The City of Oakland has been working for several years on a comprehensive Vegetation Management Plan.  The revised version, a detailed study of almost 600 pages, will be formally presented at the Planning Commission on November 1st (Oakland City Hall, 1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, at 3PM ).  If approved, it moves to the City Council.  A working group would then be set up to address such crucial questions as how to secure funding to implement its recommendations. 

October Happenings 2023

Look out for banana slugs crossings the trails as you hike this fall. Save the date! Join us at our Annual Meeting, November 12th from 4-6PM at the Claremont Resort and Spa. Looking for volunteer opportunities?

Save the Date—Annual Meeting Sunday, November 12 from 4-6 p.m. at the Claremont Resort and Spa

Dear Friends and Neighbors, please join us at the Annual Meeting of the Claremont Canyon Conservancy. Welcome our guest speakers Janani Ramachandran, the Oakland District 4 Council Member and Joe DeVries, Oakland's Deputy City Administrator.

July Happenings 2023 - Advocacy Update

This month’s newsletter includes our response to the June 9, 2023 State Court of Appeals decision, working towards fire safety, East Bay Hills' grassroots advocacy effort, and more!

Wrap up of Annual Meeting, Sunday, November 13, 2022, 4-6 PM, by Jon Kaufman

At the Conservancy’s annual meeting on November 13, we had a record crowd of 114 people who heard Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin and Acting Fire Chief David Sprague discuss the city’s new wildfire preparedness program.

Making the East Bay Hills Safer from Wildfire, by Jon Kaufman

We need a regional approach to effectively prevent future wildfires. Since wildfires do not stop at city or county lines, the cities and the two counties in the East Bay Hills must work together to remove hazardous vegetation and take other steps to prevent a future disaster like the 1991 firestorm. Local fire departments work together to fight fires, when necessary, under mutual aid agreements. We need a similar approach to prevent wildfires.