spring 2005 muir heritage land trust newsletter

8/3/2019 Spring 2005 Muir Heritage Land Trust Newsletter

1/8

On a sailing ship bound for Brazil,he faces perilous seas and foreignlands. He is only 13, and his jour-

ney begins the story of Fernandez Ranch.Young Bernardo Fernandez joins the

navy and leaves his native Portugal in 1843.His adventuresome spirit eventually bringshim here, where his long life recounts thesettling of West Contra Costa County.The

story is one of adventure, mystery, romanceand California history.

As his ship sails from Brazil to portsaround the world, Bernardo works his wayup from sailor to master by the age of 20.Some years pass before he lands in New

York, and for three years he captains shipsworking up and down the Atlantic seaboard.

On the other side of the continent,Don Ignacio Martinez oversees his vastcattle ranch on land that now encompassesPinole, Martinez, Crockett, Rodeo andthe Franklin Ridge. Don Ignacio is thefirst European settler in the area, havingbeen awarded a Spanish Land grant of morethan 17,000 acres. His 3,000 head of cattleroam free on the hills and valleys of theFranklin Ridge,where today the MuirHeritage Land Trust works to preserveopen space.A few years before BernardoFernandez finds his way to the westernshore of North America, Don Ignaciodies.Yet the lives of the two men are

forever linked by the land.Fernandez comes to California

around 1853, lured perhapsas so manywereby tales of California gold.Theexact time and details of his arr ival vary.One historian reports he sailed aroundCape Horn on a clipper ship.Another hashim nearly drowned when the slave shiphe was on is dashed to pieces on Seal

Rock south of San Francisco.The truthmay always be a mystery.All accounts doagree that he soon met a fellow Portuguese,Francis Cruz, and joined his shippingbusiness as a partner. Cruz had already beento the Gold Country and did not find theexperience rewarding enough to stay.

While searching for tanbark, whichthey shipped to factories in San Franciscoand Monterey, the two partners sailed tothe Pinole waterfront. Fernandez musthave liked what he saw, because he settledthere.Around 1854 he established his ownshipping enterprise on the shoreline ofwhat is today Pinole, the first business inthe area. He purchased 43 acres and builtwharves, storage barns, a small home and ageneral store. Farmers and cattlemen usedhis ships to transport their goods to market,and he supported Gold Rush trafficbetween San Francisco and Sutter Creek.His business flourished, heralding thebeginnings of a new city.

continued on page 3

S P R I N G 2 0 0 5

InsideExecutive Directors Repor

New Board Members

Hike and Event Series

Dutra Ranch Dedication

Stewardship Update

Planned Giving

Grants

MHLT products

There is a loveof wild nature

in everyone.

JOHN MUIR

Open Space newsM U I R HE R I T A G E LA N D T R U S T

Fernandez Ranch: A Natural LegacyBy Sherida Bush

EPHEN JO S EPH


2/8

Dear Land Trust Supporters,

Once you read Sherida Bushs wonderful article on the Fernandez Ranch, youll know that were

very close to accomplishing our greatest challenge, the completion of the Fernandez Ranch acquisition.

Numerous agencies, private foundations, and individuals have helped with this important acquisition

and we are truly grateful.We will print a full list of Fernandez Ranch donors in our fall newsletter.

We are learning as our acquisitions get bigger and our land holdings increase, restoration and

stewardship become more and more important.The Muir Heritage Land Trust must responsibly

manage the properties we acquire. Funding these activities will become harder as the last remaining

voter approved state park bond funds disappear.

In order to qualify for existing state park bond funding, the Land Trust completed a resource

inventory (Conceptual Area Protection Plan) of the entire 10,000 acre Franklin Ridge.The Department

of Fish and Game supports our work to acquire the Fernandez Ranch and other properties in theFranklin Ridge because of the potential to protect a significant wildlife corridor for the federally

listed endangered Alameda whipsnake and California red-legged frog. In addition, two miles of

Rodeo Creek watershed drain through the Fernandez Ranch.

The State Coastal Conservancy (SCC) committed $1,125,000 and the State Wildlife

Conservation Board (WCB) committed $1,000,000. These funds will get final Board approval at

WCBs February Board meeting and SCCs March Board meeting.The Gordon and Betty Moore

Foundation contributed $1,000,000, and the State Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation

Grant Program (EEMP) is contributing $152,000. MHLT will pay the balance of $48,000.

The Moore Foundation funds came available unexpectedly, and made up for the lack of federal

funding that we had anticipated. Congressman Miller had earmarked $1,000,000 from the proposed

federal transportation bill for the Fernandez Ranch acquisition.The transportation bill never madeit out of the House/Senate Conference Committee, and we had to find alternative funding.

Other pending funds include $400,000 from the National Oceanic Atmospheric Agency

(NOAA).These funds were also requested by Congressman Miller, and were granted to the State

Coastal Conservancy. If we are able to get the NOAA funds, we will be able to redirect some of

the Coastal Conservancys funding towards restoration of Rodeo Creek.

As we move into the second phase of the project, MHLT is continuing to seek support

from public agencies, private foundations, and all of you to ensure successful completion of the

Fernandez Ranch Campaign.We have already begun work on new acquisitions in West Contra

Costa County, Lamorinda, and the Franklin Ridge.With your support, anything is possible.

Thank you!

MHLT Executive Director

MHLT set to purchase Fernandez Ranch: Restoration and stewardship phase begins

2 M U I R H E R I T A G E L A N D T RUST Open Space News 7

Executive Director s Repor t


3/8

With his business prospering,Bernardo Fernandezs thoughts turned todomestic matters. He became acquaintedwith a family living in MarintheCuadra family, settlers recently arrivedfrom Chile. Bernardo would sail acrossthe Carquinez Strait to court the young

daughter, Carlotta. Four years later, in1859, they married. She was 17 or 19, hewas 27 or 29 or 32, depending on whichhistorian is correct.They settled in Pinoleand raised six children.

By this time, Don Ignacio Martinezsoriginal Rancho El Pinole had beendivided among his descendants. In thelate 1800s, Fernandez bought 3,000 acresof the rancho from one of Martinezsdaughters, Rafaela Martinez Tennent. Heeventually owned a total of 9,000 acres

and raised cattle on the property, as didhis neighboring landowners.Accordingto his great grandson, Bill Fernandez,Bernardo was generally a merchant not acattlemanhe hired others to watch overhis stock.The Fernandez descendantstoday own a smaller but still beautifulFernandez Ranch.

The ranch is now 702 acres of land,what remains of Bernardo Fernandezsoriginal acreage. It lies at the westernedge of the Franklin Ridge, south ofHighway 4 near Franklin Canyon Golf

Course.Visitors looking west from the topof Dutra Ranch, the Land Trusts mostrecent acquisition, enjoy a view of theoak-covered hills of Fernandez Ranch.

The Muir Heritage Land Trust plansto purchase the property to preserve theland, the wildlife, and the trail corridor.This is for the community, saidExecutive Director Tina Batt. It willcreate what is virtually a new regionalpark. Fernandez Ranch will be the largestopen space preserve in the area.A portion

of the Bay Area Ridge Trail is proposedto traverse the ranch.The Land Trustplans to complete the acquisition in latespring (See the Executive DirectorsReport on facing page).

Much of Fernandez Ranch is asit was when Don Ignacio owned theproperty. Little has ever been built on theranch.The cattle have changed some ofthe landscape, as they have throughoutour region, but most of the land isunspoiled. In winter and early spring, the

terrain is damp, earth scented, drenchedin green.

Rodeo Creek flows on the land, andit has a unique distinction: Its probablythe only creek in Contra Costa Countythat has no obstructions, no barriers,said Batt.That allows fish to swim up it

unimpeded. The watershed is protectedas an important ecosystem for threatenedspecies such as steelhead and Californiared-legged frogs.

Once the property is acquired, theLand Trusts challenges will be restorationand stewardship. Rodeo Creek needsrestoration, including stabilizing steep,eroding banks in some areas.A bridgeover the creek is planned to allow publicaccess and for fire protection. Otherprojects include removing illegally

dumped debris on the property.

A primary stewardship goal is toenhance the lands habitat for native andspecial status species.The importance ofthe habitat was discovered by the EastBay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD)on its adjacent property, which was oncepart of the ranch.That land supportsmore endangered and threatened species,including nesting golden eagles, than anyof EBMUDs other properties.To preservethe ecosystem, EBMUD did not build a

planned reservoir on the watershed.Understanding what we have andwhat we stand to lose are vital to thefuture of our dwindling open lands.Populations of many animals and plantsare at risk today, and preserving theirhabitats is the first step in protectingthem. Fernandez Ranch is a great strideforward in that goal.

Today, few places in Contra CostaCounty resemble how they looked acentury ago, but Fernandez Ranch does.

M U I R HERITAGELA N D TRUS T

P.O.Box 2452

Martinez, CA 94553

925-228-5460 925-372-5460fax

[email protected]

STAFF

Tina Batt

Executive Director

Linus Eukel

Development &Communications Director

Mary Alice Stadum

Executive Associate

Beth Pardieck

Stewardship Associate

BOARDOF DIRECTORS

Mark Wilson

Chair

Ken Fischer

Vice Chair

Sheila Grilli

Secretary

Louis E. Stoddard

Treasurer

Dick Awenius

Peter Colby

Steve Pardieck

June Rogers

Marj RossDonn Walklet

Bill Weiner

EMERITUSBOARD MEMBERS

Hulet Hornbeck

Hal Olson

Jack Telfer

Everett Turner

HONORARYBOARD MEMBER

Jim Cutler

EDITOR

Linus Eukel

NEWSLETTERCONTRIBUTORS

Sherida Bush

Dana Richards

Tina Batt

Beth Pardieck

Mary Alice Stadum

Newsletter design/editing:

Public Media Center

Fernandez Ranch: A Natural Legacy continued from page 1

M U I R HE R I T A G E L A N D TRUST Open Space News 3

L ARRY


4/8

In her 1979 Historical Sketches, historianJessie Clark described what she wouldfind in the local terrain of the early 1900s:In my imagination I see those earlyfootsteps out over the back hills area ofPinole.I see Blue Lupin, GoldenPoppies.I see clumps of dark green

shrubbery, artistically patterned over thehillsides. I see a herd of cattle being drivendown...I see it all in memory, and thatswhat history is. It is remembering. It isimportant.

Native wildflowers such as lupine andCalifornia poppies still decorate the ranchslandscape in the warm months. Othernative and non-native wildflowers adornthe grasslands.Shrubbery, artistically pat-terned comprises small areas of chaparraland scrub, generally made up of chamise,

California sagebrush, coyote brush, stickymonkey-flower and California broom.They reside on the steeper, south-facinghillsides.Also on the higher elevationsof the property, the cheerful yellow Mt.Diablo sunflower (Diablo helianthella)brightens nearby chaparral.The plant isa threatened species.

Magnificent elderberry trees thoughtto be 200 years old live on a high meadowabove natural springs. Cattle graze thenon-native annual grassland areas, andwoodlands are dominated by the coast

live oak and the California bay.The ubiq-uitous poison oak thrives here, too. Moreunusual shrubbery that may be foundincludes redberry, hop tree, skunkbrushand Klamath plum.

Local animals are generally harder tospot. Especially two high-profile species,federally listed as threatened, believed tolive herethe California red-legged frogand the Alameda whipsnake.The frog isaquatic and most likely to be found nearthe Rodeo Creek corridor or near natu-

ral springs, seeps, or stock ponds. It feedson insects, algae and other frogs.The Alameda whipsnake finds

Western fence lizards (bluebellies) mosttasty, and spends most of its time in scrubnear rocky outcrops where the lizardslive. Fernandez Ranch is part of thecritical habitat designated for the snake in2000 by the Fish and Game Department.The agency vacated the designation in2003 due to legal challenges, but it maybe re-proposed.

A skyward look may capture anynumber of raptors. More unusual ones arethe striking white-tailed kite,Coopershawk, and red-shouldered hawk. Otherraptors you may seeforaging or restingare the red-tailed hawk,American kestrel,great horned owl and barn owl.The raptors

feed on small rodents found in the grass-lands, typically the California vole, deermouse, and Bottas pocket gopher.

Seed-eating birds to look for in ornear grasslands are the California quail,mourning dove, and western meadowlark.Insect-eating birds that also forage in thegrasslands include the western scrub jay,barn swallow and northern mockingbird.

Black tail deer are common mammals,most likely to be spotted at dawn anddusk.Two kinds of foxthe native grey

and non-native redcall the area home.Coyotes, bobcats, striped skunks andraccoons join a diverse ecosystem.

The rich history of Fernandez Ranchlies in the land and its resources, not inmonuments, mansions or missions. Localhistorian Edgar A.Vovsi wrote:The legacyof El Rancho Pinole is in its land, itsrolling hills and valleys. (Establishmentof the Rancho El Pinole).

As part of that first rancho andCalifornia history, and as a part ofBernardo and Carlottas lively story, the

Fernandez descendants recognize theimportance of Fernandez Ranch.Theirdecision to preserve those hills and valleysnot only allows a glimpse of history andlife as it was before, it ensures the contin-uation of its beauty and natural resources.Great grandson Bill Fernandez simplystates that land is a legacy. Preservingthe historic family ranch, he says, is aprime opportunity to provide a legacyin honor of my great grandfather.

Fernandez Ranch: A Natural Legacy continued from page 3

4 M U I R H E R I T A G E L A N D T RUST Open Space News 7

Bernardo and Carlot

Fernandez

The author thanks Chris

Thayer of Sycamore Asso

and the Contra Costa Co

Historical Society for assis

with this article.

S TEPHEN JO S EPH


5/8

JUNE ROGERS has been an active volunteer andOutreach Committee member with the Land Trust forthe last four years, working on several fundraising eventsincluding the Fresh Aire Affaire and property dedications.

June moved from Colorado to California in the late1950s and accepted a job with Martinez Furniturewhere she worked for more than 20 years.When thesmall furniture store closed, June held various positionsand returned to school at DVC and Hayward StateCollege, graduating with a degree in Human Development.After a short stint in banking, June accepted a positionwith IBEW (International Brotherhood of ElectricalWorkers) where she is the bookkeeper. Active in localaffairs, June has worked on numerous political campaigns;serves on her homeowners Board; and is a member ofSoroptimist International. June has a daughter,Terri,and resides in Pleasant Hill.

LOUIS E. STODDARD, Board Treasurer andFinance Committee Chair, was born in New Yorkand grew up in South Carolina. He graduated fromthe University of Georgia with a B.S. in Animal Scienceand received an M.B.A. from the Wharton School at theUniversity of Pennsylvania. He spent 28 years workingat Citibank in both International Banking and PrivateBanking. Lou has lived in Orinda since 1983 and hasserved on the Board of Directors of the OrindawoodsHomeowners Association since 1999. He is currently(until March 2005) Treasurer and Chairman of theBudget Committee. Lou has also served on the boards

of Citicorp Trust of California, the Miramonte HighSchool Parents Club and the Miramonte BoostersClub. He is a member of the Sierra Club, the NatureConservancy and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Lou ismarried to Marilyn and has four grown children. Hecompetes in running, swimming and bike events andenjoys SCUBA diving and travel.

New Board Members

M U I R H E R I T A G E L A N D T RUST Open Space News 5

Dutra Ranch Dedicat ion

A beautiful display

of high-level cirrus

clouds above the

Dutra Ranch trail

New informational

signs tell the story

Members gather

at Dutra Ranch to

celebrate its dedication

Executive Director

Tina Batt presents a

replica of the newly

installed donor plaque

PHO TO S BY S CO TT HEIN

MHLT Board of Directors (left to right) Steve Pardieck,

June Rogers, Sheila Grilli (Secretary), Bill Weiner, Mark Wilson

(Chair), Dick Awenius, Peter Colby, Donn Walklet, Ken Fischer

(Vice Chair), Louis E. Stoddard (Treasurer), Marj Ross

(not pictured).


6/8

6 M U I R H E R I T A G E L A N D T RUST Open Space News

Alhambra Creek Restoration: Environmental Education Benefits Students

By Dana Richards

When the Leiberman Report, Closing the Achievement Gap: Environment as an Integrating Context,came out several years ago, those of us in the field of environmental education were bolstered.The reportprovides quantitative data to support the assertion that project-based learning with an environmental focushelps all types of students become not only more ecologically literate, but also more engaged and effectivelearners in all discipline areas.At-risk students, the report tells us, benefit most of all from using theenvironment as an educational context.

The development of the Environmental StudiesAcademy (ESA), within the Briones Independent StudiesHigh School located at the Martinez Adult Education sitealong Alhambra Creek, has been a living testimony to theaccuracy of the Leiberman study. Students who were turnedoff to school, who were pessimistic about the relevance andvalue of learning, and who were learning in isolation areengaging in a bold educational experiment combiningcommunity-building, self-esteem training, and project-basedecological competencies in a kind of rite of passage for these

young adults who are educationally and socially at-risk.ESA students meet for 12 hours a week as a group when

they once only came to school for 1 hour per week in aone-on-one setting.These 12 hours are spent working on projects like willow gathering and planting,mural painting, and GPS mapping of Alhambra Creek. Each week, students participate in mini-lessons togain conceptual knowledge of environmental topics. Each meeting of the school starts with a check-in toacknowledge the obstacles and opportunities affecting each community-members engagement with theprojects and expectations of the school.

While we are transforming the riparian corridor of Alhambra Creek, we are also creating educationalhabitat that will nourish students.

As the ESA finishes its second year, we are now beginning the process of collaborating with the staff,administration and community partners at the John Swett Elementary School, also situated along AlhambraCreek. Look for more details on the John Swett project over the coming months.

The ESA is a part of ACREEC (Alhambra Creek Restoration & Environmental Education Collaborative)whose partners include the Muir Heritage Land Trust, Friends of Alhambra Creek, Urban Creeks Council,City of Martinez, Martinez Unified School District, and the Contra Costa Resource Conservation District.

DANA

RICHARDS

ALHAMBRA CREEK RESTORATION ANDENVIRONMENTALEDUCATION COLLABORATIVEGrants Received as of 2/05

State Coastal Conservancy $70,000

City of Martinez $20,000

Shell Oil Products US $25,000

Contra Costa Fish & $8,500

Wildlife Committee

Department of Water Resources $197,000

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation $30,000

Nature Restoration Trust

Rotary Club of Martinez $500

Friends of Alhambra Creek $1400

Martinez Chapter of

The Saints Motorcycle Club $250

Stewardship Update


7/8

M U I R H E R I T A G E L A N D T RUST Open Space News 7

Office Needs/Wish listFax Machine/Scanner/Copier

Recycling service volunteer someone to comeby 2 or 3 times a month and take our recyclables

LCD Projector

Digital Camera

FERNANDEZ RANCHGrants Received as of 2/05

San Francisco Foundation $100,000

East Bay Community Foundation $10,000

J. M. Long Foundation $50,000

Wildlife Conservation Board $1,000,000

State Coastal Conservancy $1,125,000

Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation $1,000,000

S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation $25,000

The Mechanics Bank $5,000

Environmental Enhancement $152,000

Mitigation Program

Firedoll Foundation $5,000

Strong Foundation $7,300

David B. Gold Foundation $10,000

The Morrison & Foerster Foundation $5,000

Thank You Volunteers!

Scott HeinEvent Photography

Larry HansonHike Photography

Todd KikerEvent Photography and Sound,Office Information Technology

Marilyn RigdonOffice and Website Support

Shell Oil Products USOffice Furniture Donation

Ed Roth, R-ComputerIn-kind Donation

Jacob Miller& Boy Scout Troop #165Gustin Ranch Bench Installation

Development, Outreach,Stewardship, Finance,Land Acquisition CommitteesFor All The Work They Do

James and Robert Wilson,Steve Pardieck & Joe StadumOffice Move

Become a VolunteerVolunteers provide a tremendous benefit to theMuir Heritage Land Trust.You can contribute tothe preservation of our communitys natural heritageby lending a helping hand in one or more of thefollowing areas:

Outdoor & Stewardship ProjectsIndoor & Office ProjectsCommunications & Development ProjectsOutreach Event Projects

To learn more about how you can volunteer

call us at 228-5460.

P L A N N E D G I V I N G

With your support, the Muir Heritage Land

Trust has been fulfilling its promise to preserve

our communitys natural heritage since 1988.

One important way you can continue to help

provide a solid foundation for our sustained

conservation efforts is through the donation of

a planned gift. Giving to the Muir Heritage

Land Trust in any way and any amount has an

enormously positive impact on the life of our

community. As the Muir Heritage Land Trust

continues to reach out to the future we hope

you will consider the benefits of planned giving.

For more information about planned giving

options please contact our Development

Director Linus Eukel at (925)228-5460.


8/8

O.Box2452,MartinezCA94553

DDRESSSERVICEREQUESTED

NonprofitOrg

U.S.Postage

PAIDDirectMail

Center

Wear Our Logo with Pride!

Product Size Quantity Price Amount

Hat One Size $15.00

T-Shirt S,M,L,XL,XXL $15.00

Fine KnitPolo Shirt S,M,L,XL,XXL $35.00

Ship $4.00

Total

Payment

My check for $__________ is enclosed. (Make payable to Muir Her itage Land Trust.)

Please charge my VISA Mastercard AmEx for $______________.

Credit card number ___________________________________________________

Expiration Date ________ Signature ___________________________________

______________________________________________________________________Name

______________________________________________________________________

Address______________________________________________________________________Phone

______________________________________________________________________Email (optional)

Please print the above information. We cannot process a charge to your credit card without

this information. It will not be used for any other purpose. Thank you.

spring 2005 muir heritage land trust newsletter

Documents