160 Acres Added To Doolan Canyon Regional Preserve: EBRPD

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — A roughly 160-acre parcel located in southern Contra Costa County, approximately three miles northwest of Livermore, has been added to the Doolan Canyon Regional Preserve. The East Bay Regional Park District said they have been negotiating acquisition of the parcel, located between Dublin and Livermore, from the Grove family since June 2018.

“The purchase will serve to protect the upper reaches of Doolan Canyon for future recreational opportunities, habitat protection, and open space preservation,” said East Bay Regional Park District Board President Ayn Wieskamp. “The property will also protect and preserve forever the headwaters of Cottonwood Creek.”

District officials said escrow on property, which is bordered to the south by Doolan Canyon Regional Preserve in Alameda County and privately-held agricultural parcels to the north, east and west, closed on November 28.

The district said Doolan Canyon provides habitat corridors for wildlife between Morgan Territory and Doolan Canyon Regional Preserves, including several endangered species. Preservation of the property will also serve to protect riparian and wetland habitats that support a variety of special status species, including rare alkali soil plant species, according to a release from the district.

The board authorized the purchase during its November 6, 2018 board meeting. The total project cost is $1,271,800. The board action authorized the transfer and appropriation of $1,239,500 of Measure WW acquisition funds for the Doolan Canyon allocation area, which included previously appropriated funds of $32,300.

“The Grove Family property is in the East Bay Regional Park District Master Plan and has been a long-time goal of the District’s” said East Bay Regional Park District General Manager Robert Doyle. “The District is pleased acquisition of the property has come to fruition.”

A land use plan will be created for the for Doolan Canyon Regional Preserve. In the meantime, the Grove property will remain in a land bank status, according to park district officials.

Photo credit Scott Hein East Bay Regional Park District