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Catkins in bloom of Arroyo willow (Salix lasiolepis) in Claremont Canyon | Photo by Ruby J. Soto Cardona.
Our first signs of spring
Many plants in the upper canyon are beginning to transition into their next phase. Along the Willow Trail you can start to see yellowish catkins growing on branches that stretch out to catch the suns rays. These are the flowers of willow trees—a native deciduous tree/shrub that will soon grow its long and thin leaves. Willows are abundant in the upper canyon and are very important for erosion control, and they also provide habitat and food for birds, insects, amphibians, and mammals. You can learn more about this amazing plant at Calscape.
What is the scope of the LA fires?
The recent Los Angeles fires remind us of our own situation here in the East Bay Hills with large amounts of dry vegetation, strong seasonal winds, hot weather in the summer, and difficulties with egress down narrow, winding roads. The map above indicates where the Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve is located (red dot) and depicts the size of the Palisades fire (covering 23,448 acres and highlighted in light blue), and what it would look like if a fire of this size happens in Claremont Canyon—stretching from the Bay east to Lafayette. In comparison, the 1991 Tunnel Fire burned approximately 1,520 acres. To avoid a catastrophe like LA experienced (and our neighborhood experienced in the 1991 fire), we need to stay vigilant about our risks and know what we can do to lessen them. Visit the interactive map here (courtesy of Berkeleyside and the National Interagency Fire Center).
Visit the Oakland Firesafe Council (OFSC) page for preparedness education resources, wildfire safety programs, and volunteer opportunities to prepare in advance for disasters and reduce risks.
Prepare your "go-bag/staybox" and have it ready in case of an emergency.
Get acquainted with the Genasys Protect app (formerly Zonehaven Aware) to receive notifications of fires or other dangers in your area.
Consider participating in future events like the annual National Night Out to get to know your neighbors and help each other stay safe.
Buildings burning down due to the Los Angeles County Palisades Fire | Photo courtesy of CALFIRE.
The status of implementing Measure MM
Measure MM: Voters in the Wildfire Prevention Zone approved a parcel tax to give Oakland the resources needed to clear brush on evacuation routes and undertake projects in each of the city’s parks that are in designated high wildfire risk areas, following the vegetation management plan (link below).
The $99/parcel tax will be collected and funds made available to the City of Oakland starting with the 2025-2026 property tax period—allowing the work to commence before the end of June 2026—meaning that funds will be part of the two-year city budget that's completed by June 30, 2025. In this time frame, the first years of the vegetation management plan will be implemented. As such, the community oversight committee needs to be detailed within the parameters of the council resolution, including the number of members and their geographic distribution, the nomination process and timeline, and any particular characteristics—for example someone with firefighting experience. We look forward to seeing this come together.
Visit the campaign website for more information about Measure MM. Click the button below to view the Vegetation Management Plan that provides a road map for the work over ten years.
Volunteers collecting eucalyptus leaves and branches from the main trail | Photo by Ruby J. Soto Cardona.
Celebrating MLK Day of Service
A shout out to the Garber Park Stewardsfor leading a great volunteer event in January on MLK Day of Service. Volunteers of various ages showed up ready to help remove a big portion of a eucalyptus tree top that fell down during a windy day. The stewards had volunteers as young as six years old who worked together to help carry branches and bags filled with eucalyptus debris, and hauled them into a large green waste bin, provided by the City of Oakland. By the end of the event, the bin was filled with debris and the volunteers were proud of the work they accomplished.
Last month, we continued our invasive broom removal from underneath native oaks and bays. Broom tends to overcrowd native plant species, creates a monospecific stand (a forest of a single species), and excludes wildlife. Volunteers pulled over 500 broom plants, many measuring over four feet tall. We used weed wrenches to pull out the taproot, since cutting broom down can often lead to resprout from the root crown. By doing this work, we are helping decrease its density and in turn, helping to lower ladder fuels which are a fire hazard in the park. To identify this plant, look for its bright yellow flower clusters in the spring and visit Cal-IPC to learn more. Photo by Wyllie Clayson.
If you're interested in volunteering in a future event by yourself or with your group/company, send us an email or visit our schedule page for exact dates of future events.
Visit this 13-acre park and help restore its native wild habitat (we meet year-round). Meet at the Fireplacebelow the Evergreen Lane entrance (Map). For more informationor questionscontactWyllie.
Join us at Signpost 29 for a day of restoration (1.5 miles up Claremont from the intersection of Ashby/Tunnel Rd.) as we work to restore and maintain pathways, remove invasive broom and collect litter. More information Here. Questions? Contact us at info@ClaremontCanyon.org.
Hiking the Canyon
We would love to hear from our members and others who are out hiking or otherwise observing nature in the canyon. Send us your pictures at info@ClaremontCanyon.org and we will feature one each month.
Turkey tails (Trametes versicolor) in Garber Park, in January 2025 | Photo by Ruby J. Soto Cardona.
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A hiker and their dog stop at the Claremont Canyon Conservancy bench by Signpost 29 to enjoy a sunny day, in January 2025 | Photo by Ruby J. Soto Cardona.
Trails are open
All trails are open and accessible throughout Claremont Canyon. The trails are muddy from all the rain so wear appropriate shoes and be extra careful. For maps and complete information on trails click here. You can also take a guided tour here. Please stay safe and take all items and pet waste out with you.
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