Open Space
The Importance Open Space
Tri-Valley Conservancy protects open space for parks, farms, trails, ranches, and wildlife habitats in the Tri-Valley so that you, wildlife, and future generations can enjoy it.
As our communities grow, it becomes even more important that we protect land to grow food, enjoy the outdoors, and keep our water cleaner and air fresher.
When important unprotected open space is threatened, we can defend it through land use planning and public outreach.
Doolan Canyon is an idyllic agricultural corridor between the cities of Livermore and Dublin. Doolan Canyon’s scenic rolling hills are a habitat for rare and threatened species, including golden eagles, Callippe silverspot butterflies, and American badgers, which are making a comeback in the Tri-Valley thanks to conservation efforts. The Canyon’s natural lake even draws shorebirds such as American Avocets and black-necked stilts.
In 2010, East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) purchased 640 acres at the top of the Canyon that would provide the core of a new regional park. The area is home to badgers, coyotes, mountain lions, and golden eagles and a good habitat for rare or endangered species such as the California tiger salamander and California red-legged frog.
Unfortunately, this sensitive area has been the target of several development projects. In 2014, with the support of Dublin voters, Tri-Valley Conservancy and other environmental groups saw the defeat of Measure T, which would have opened the area up to large development projects forever fragmenting the landscape and destroying the buffer between the two cities.
Since the resounding public support of preserving Doolan Canyon as an open space, efforts have been ongoing to preserve Doolan Canyon forever from sprawl development.
In 2018, Tri-Valley Conservancy preserved 178 acres of sensitive habitat for burrowing owls and California tiger salamanders. This area is carefully managed through responsible grazing practices, targeted weed management, and habitat support efforts so that these species and others continue to thrive in the area.
We continue to collaborate with our partners to successfully create an open space protection program for Doolan Canyon.
With your continued support, we can permanently protect Doolan Canyon for the benefit of current and future generations.