Walnut Creek Open Space Oak Restoration Project Anniversary Celebration

Press Release --  For Immediate Release --  January 31, 2011

Walnut Creek Oak Habitat Restoration Project Celebrates 20th Anniversary

The Walnut Creek Open Space Oak Habitat Restoration Project celebrates its 20th anniversary on Saturday, March 19th, 10 a.m., at the Marshall Drive entrance to Shell Ridge Open Space in Walnut Creek, near Indian Valley School.  The morning program will include tours of restoration areas, areas that were burned recently and in the past, and informative talks by restoration experts.  Walnut Creek Mayor Cindy Silva will speak at the event.  Refreshments, including bagels, coffee, and fresh fruit, will be served.

Honored at the event will be co-founders of the all-volunteer project, Dick Daniel and Ralph Kraetsch, and Dan Cather, the then-newly-hired Walnut Creek Open Space Superintendent.  Cather, now Public Services Manager for the city, retires in April.  Kraetsch also recently announced his retirement from the project at the end of the season this year.

In its 20-year existence, the Oak Habitat Restoration Project has planted acorns at 2500 sites in Lime Ridge, Shell Ridge, and Sugarloaf Open Spaces, clocked 2700 volunteer days and 6800 volunteer hours spent on acorn collection, planting, fencing, watering, and maintenance.  Three different kinds of oaks were planted, all native to the area: blue oaks, valley oaks, and coast live oaks.

All members of the community are invited to the event, particularly volunteers who have helped the project in the past. 

The Oak Habitat Restoration Project has been funded and supported by the Walnut Creek Open Space Foundation, an all-volunteer non-profit group based in Walnut Creek whose purpose is to preserve, protect, and enhance the open space.

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Inquiries: Lesley Hunt, WCOSF President, phone 937-6791, email ldhunt@astound.net.