Prescribed burning at Mount Diablo State Park will begin in May
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (Apr. 22, 2024) — California State Parks will perform a series of prescribed burns on ten plots of land next month. The planned burns total approximately 240 acres within the Mitchell Canyon area at Mount Diablo State Park. These will take place intermittently from May until December 2024.
All burning depends on weather and air quality conditions. If weather or vegetation conditions are not favorable for burning and smoke dispersal, the department will reschedule the treatment.
These treatments aim to enhance grassland habitats by managing invasive species, reducing wildfire risk, reducing encroaching woody vegetation, improving wildlife habitat, promoting native plant diversity, and restoring the natural fire regime.
Details on the planned prescribed burns at Mount Diablo State Park:
- Begins in May, specific timing dependent on life stages of target invasive plant
- During burn operations access points from the Mitchell Canyon Visitor Center and Regency Drive entrance will temporarily close to visitor access.
- Some trails will close for short periods, but no plans for long-term trail closures
- Smoke will be regulated and
- Crews will monitor burns for several days after
- Favorable burning and air quality will determine ignitions
Bay Area Air Quality Management District will help plan and coordinate all burns. Prescribed burns produce significantly less smoke than wildfire, and California State Parks will work closely with BAAQMD to minimize smoke in surrounding communities.
State Park Staff will provide information and answer questions at an open house at Mitchell Canyon on April 23, 5:00-7:00pm, and an online session on April 24 from 5:00-7:00pm.
For more information on timing of the prescribed burns and meeting dates, please visit Mount Diablo State Park’s prescribed burn web page and Facebook page.