Park District purchases 646 acres

By DONNA BETH WEILENMAN
Martinez Tribune

East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) will add 646 East Contra Costa County acres to its holdings after its Board of Directors authorized a share of the $6.1 million land purchase, Carolyn Jones, public information supervisor, said Thursday, Dec. 17.

The park district will lease the property to the former owners, the Nunn family, for two years starting Jan. 31, 2016, before the EBRPD begins restoring the land, she said.

The purchase was made in partnership with the East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy, which will contribute 90 percent of the purchase price through state and federal land conservation grants.

The park district will pay the balance through Measure WW funds, Jones said.

The acreage, which was described as ecologically-sensitive Delta land, is two miles north of Brentwood in the community of Knightsen, she said.

“The property will eventually be restored to tidal and freshwater wetlands, alkali meadow and oak savanna,” Jones said. It will become a habitat for Swainson’s hawks, giant garter snakes, silvery legless lizards, western burrowing owls and tricolored blackbirds, among other species, she said.

“In addition to providing habitat for special-status species, the restoration will also address persistent flooding issues in the community of Knightsen,” she said.

But the new park land also will give residents and visitors expanded opportunities, too, Jones said.

“Park district planners also hope the property will provide a key trail link, both for hikers and bicyclists as well as kayakers,” she said. The land buy will connect Big Break Regional Shoreline and the future Delta Access Regional Recreation Area.

“This is great news for eastern Contra Costa County as well as the whole East Bay,” said Diane Burgis, the board member whose ward includes the Delta area.

“Not only will we be providing recreational opportunities, but we’ll be preserving beautiful Delta land for wildlife as well as future generations.”

Randy Pope, chairperson of the East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy Board, concurred, saying the purchase will accomplish multiple goals.

“This presents a unique opportunity for the region,” Pope said. “We can conserve valuable habitat on the shoreline of the Delta, provide more recreation opportunities and address the risk of flooding in a vulnerable area.