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OAK NEWS

Newsletter of the Oak Habitat Restoration Project

Issue No. 163 April 4, 2004

NEXT TUBEX INSTALLATION DAYS, APRIL 17TH & MAY 1ST --

Time changed today and we will too. Meet at 830 AM from now until late October. We will continue to ckeck the winter's plantings for seedlings and install tree shelters on the successful sites. Repeating the brief description of the procedure from the last issue, we open each screen cylinder and carefully remove grass and weeds to see if any oak seedlings are present. The oak seedling stem has a stiffer feel than the grass and weeds, even before leaves show.

If you're not an old hand at this, read the directions! And/or watch a demonstration. It's not high science, but needs thought.

Meet at the rough gravel parking lot above the large Boundary Oak Golf Course parking lot. Take Ygnacio Valley Road to Oak Grove. Turn south on Oak Grove, then left at the 3rd stop sign, Valley Vista, which takes you to Boundary Oak. At the far end of the large lot drive up the narrow lane beyond the driving range and turn right at the top of the slope to the meeting location.

RESULTS OF TUBEX INSTALLATION DAY, APR 3RD -

We had a perfect day, clear and pleasant temperature. The day's volunteers included Bill Barnard, Bob Brittain, Christy Callahan, Dave Caniglia, Jerry Christopherson, Dick Daniel, Ralph Kraetsch, Tim Ory, Gene Schulting and Bob Wisecarver.

We found that the warm weather in March had moved sprouting along faster than usual so a larger number of successful sites were found than usual in early April.

WEED ABATEMENT UPDATE —

The experiment with early mowing of black mustard was reasonably successful. A second mowing may be needed later because some plants were immature and too low to mow effectively. The large triangle of black mustard at the head of the creek trail was mowed last year. Most hasn't showed regrowth, but one corner needed mowing this year.

A new area was also mowed. It is west of Willow pond surrounding the dead oak tree.

We haven't applied Transline since our last Oak News, but expect to do more in the next few weeks. The list of areas with heavy thistle cover keeps expanding.

We've had some new mower problems, this year with the DR mower. When first operated this spring there was a dense exhaust cloud that spoke loudly of a problem. The mower was taken to the shop for repair. The smoking has improved but it was noted that the oil had been overfilled. (We have never added oil between service visits.) It was suggested that some heavy engine work may be needed in the future. The shop still has the mower because the throttle didn't work correctly when we tried to start it to bring it back to the barn. Stay tuned for the next dramatic happening!

OPEN SPACE ACTIVITIES —

Call Jerry at 934-1161 for meeting location and time.

Maury Stern's bird walk, 4/11, 830 AM at the Valley Vista trailhead to Lime Ridge. (daylight savings time) Walk of 4 miles, 3 hours, will reach top of Lime Ridge.
 

Ranger Bruce's programs: info at 944-5766
   Useful Plants of Lime Ridge, 4/11 200 PM
   Why Is It Called Mt. Diablo?, 5/8, 900 AM

Trail Day 4/24, 800 AM, Sunburst Ct. entrance to Shell Ridge. The Walnut Creek Open Space Foundation will provide lunch at Sugarloaf after the trail activities.

Tentative Project Calendar —

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Phone 939-6610

NEXT TUBEX INSTALLATION DAYS

APRIL 17TH & MAY 1ST 8:30 AM