Fossil Hill Native Plant Restoration Site

Project Background

South Slope of Fossil Hill at the Sutherland Entrance to Shell Ridge

We all love the beautiful green hills of our California landscape after the first rains and over the winter months. But did you know that most of what you see are non-native grasses and broad-leaf plants? The original California landscape still exists only as scattered remnants on rocky outcroppings, north facing slopes and, in our area, particularly Mt. Diablo.

With the arrival of European settlers, the introduction of Mediterranean plants, whether on purpose or by accident, sounded the death knell for the wide spread fields of flowers and perennial grasses that once covered our hills and valleys. The non-native plants out compete native California plants by rapid germination after the first rain, rapid growth, self-pollination, abundant seed production and rapid seed dispersal – Qualities that evolved over thousands of years to allow the plants to compete with the goats and sheep of the Mediterranean region. In California, the addition of heavy cattle grazing further ensured the replacement of the native flora with the exotics.

What got this project started?

Location, opportunity, a great City support system: These were the seeds of the project

In 1991, the WCOSF began its Oak Planting project. While tromping the hills and planting acorns, members noticed the vast stands of Black Mustard that seem to swallow everything in its path. A Mustard eradication program began, which quickly led people to ask, “What do you plant to replace mustard?” After all mustard is an important plant to pollinators. It provides lots of flowers to support the native bee population. The answer was to replace the mustard with native plants.

What do we do?

We collect native plant seeds from local sources, propagate new plants and plant them. But it’s not as simple as that. We first have to remove 100% of the non-native plants and then have to weed the new plantings to make sure they propagate and spread. Watering, weeding, seeding, planting over and over, again and again, keep our hard-working volunteers busy. Will you join us?

Since the start of this small project about 12 years ago it has evolved into more than a restoration project. It has become a lab for developing methodologies for future generations so that they may continue the work of restoring upland habitats. We also serve as a seed farm for future expansion. After all, how much seed will we need to get to the top of Mt. Diablo?

Volunteering with this project

If you are interested in volunteering for this project, we have outings every Saturday morning from 10:00 to 1:00 and Tuesday mornings from 9 to 12. Generally, we go out for 3 hours each time. The project has been running for about 12 years and we have made a huge difference. We are a long term restoration project and look for individuals who can make a serious commitment. We are not asking for a forever commitment, but after checking us out and if you like what we do, we would expect you to join us weekly.

We invite you to join our six weeks apprenticeship program - hopefully six consecutive weeks, but that's flexible. You will be introduced to at least twenty basic local native plants (more if you like), learn some basics of restoration ecology, do a lot of weeding (the best way to learn who goes and who stays), and at the end, feel good about making a difference in our Open Space. After that, you can decide if you want to join the project on a long term basis.

Regarding the commitment, if you would like to come out once, to see if the apprentice program would be a good fit, that would be fine. Please let me know in advance. We don’t accept walk-ins.

As to COVID, we require all volunteers to be fully vaccinated as we, ourselves, are all fully vaccinated and so no longer wear masks outdoors.

If you are interested, please contact Phil Johnson, Project Leader.

Our volunteers get treated to the most beautiful views!

Beautiful Ithuriel Spear growing in the restoration area

Volunteers in the quarry near Sutherland Entrance

Phil Johnson