In past years, Claremont Canyon was often used as a dumping ground for small-time, fly-by-night construction contractors and others who were not willing to pay the fees charged by official dumps. Debris of all kinds—car parts, plywood, plasterboard, empty paint cans, and even a few refrigerators and sofas—ended up on the roadside or down in the creek bed below the road.
The upper canyon thrives, by Jon Kaufman
Weedworkers Toolbelt, by Mary Millman
"Over the years I’ve developed a way to incorporate most of the items I need in the field into a light, compact, easily carried system that provides quick access to everything without compromising my mobility, and still leaves both hands free. And, I don’t forget anything—It’s all right there!” Items on Ken’s belt from left to right are: anvil loppers in cordless drill holder, accessory pouch for camera, GPS, first aid, LED flashlight, etc., folding saw, small spray bottle, anvil pruners, and small monocular."
Stalking the wild broom, by Tamia Marg
There is something deeply satisfying about pulling that solitary broom bobbing with yellow flowers that would have spawned a zillion broom seedlings if you hadn’t been there to pull it. Not only are you eliminating the prolific parents of future generations but you are opening up space in the continuum of habitat for a more native balance to move in. We are not talking here about the removal of those forests of broom that have become entrenched on hillsides all around the East Bay Hills. Those require armies of people with all sorts of weapons and multiple strategies. This venture is the hunt for the sentinels—those lone riders that venture out into undisturbed territory, quiet invaders bringing devastation to the modest areas of native diversity left near our urban jungles. As these bad guys forge ahead, their progeny will spread into the densest native thickets, skewing the balance of habitat for the local denizens. The only things that stop them are deep shade, wetlands—or weed warriors.
Fall 2003 in the Canyon
We begin with two assumptions. First, that fire safety and preservation of the environment are everyone’s responsibility, public and private landowner alike. And second, that only through partnership and coordinated effort can we shape these responsibilities into wise and well-planned action. Accordingly, we have formed good working relationships with many agencies and individuals, each of whom holds an important piece of the overall puzzle.
