MARTINEZ
Muir Trust to restore 4 miles of Ridge Trail

By Jane Kay
Saturday, June 30, 2007

The Muir Heritage Land Trust has received $1.8 million in state bond money to complete a restoration project that will open four miles of the San Francisco Bay Area Ridge Trail to the public off Highway 4 between Martinez and Hercules.

Funds for the work on the 702-acre Fernandez Ranch, which was acquired in 2005, come from Proposition 50, a 2002 coastal protection act. Rodeo Creek's banks will be repaired and planted with native vegetation. New construction includes parking spaces for cars and horse trailers, picnic areas, trails and a bridge for pedestrians and emergency vehicles.

The East Bay Conservation Corps has started creek cleanup, and the construction begins next year. The ranch property is scheduled to be open to the public in 2010.

The state Coastal Conservancy, the ridge trail council and foundations are also contributing funds.

The trust was formed in 1988 to conserve land in Contra Costa County, and is named in honor of the eminent conservationist John Muir, who once lived in Martinez.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/06/30/BABADIGEST3.DTL

This article appeared on page B - 3 of the San Francisco Chronicle