French Broom
French Broom (Genista monspessulana) is a perrenial shrub with yellow flowers, native to the Mediterranean region. It is considered an invasive plant in most places where it has been introduced. In California and the Pacific Northwest, it is considered a severe noxious weed. French Broom can be found along a short stretch of Sausal Creek in Dimond Park. Along Sausal Creek, it tends to grow around 3-6 feet from the creek and varies in height from 3-8 feet tall.
Rainbow Trout
Rainbow Trout, or steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) got its name from Dr. W. P. Gibbons, founder of the California Academy of Sciences. A keystone species of the Sausal Creek Watershed, they have lived here for many generations. Historically, Sausal Creek supported spawning migrations of steelhead. A keystone species is one on which many other species in the environment depend. After hatching, juvenile trout were reared in the creek for 2-3 years before migrating into San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean, where they continued to grow before returning to spawn again in Sausal Creek. However, human fragmentation has destroyed stream connections within the creek watershed, as well as connections between Sausal Creek, San Francisco Bay, and the Pacific Ocean.
William Gibbons and Descendants of the Original Redwoods
The coast redwoods you see today are not descendents of the old growth stands; these were planted here for Arbor Day in 1947. As naturalist William P. Gibbons said of the Sausal Creek headwaters above Dimond Park, "But for the sad havoc wrought there forty years ago by lumbermen and wood choppers, these Oakland Hills at the point indicated might still have presented one of the noblest natural parks conceivable," he wrote. "Imagine a tree stump thirty feet across. How tall was that tree before it fell? Over how many millenia did it grow? Gibbons, one of the founding members of the California Academy of Sciences, asked these questions when he saw a "sea of stumps" in the Oakland hills. Coast redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) contain tannins that resist rot, making their wood valuable for construction and woodworking. However, a felled redwood is not lost forever. Redwoods can grow from seeds, but often they vegetatively reproduce, or clone, from stumps or fallen branches, creating a "fairy ring" of new growth around the original stump.
Striped Skunk
What's that smell? Striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) famously spray a smelly mixture of sulfuric chemicals when threatened. You can spot--or smell--them sometimes along the creek in Dimond Park. They are primarily noctural, so you're unlikely to see one during the daytime. They usually burrow but readily adapt to using brush piles, hollow logs, and culverts if natural dens are unavailable. These skunks are about the size of a full-grown house cat and are easily recognizable by their black fur with distinctive white stripes across their head and back. Voracious omnivores, striped skunks consume insects, earthworms, small rodents, snakes, frogs, mushrooms, fruit, pet food, and garbage. Observe these charismatic critters from a safe distance!
Swainson's Thrush
Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) is named after the English ornithologist William Swainson. With white breasts and underwings, along with brown heads, these thrushes can be found all throughout Dimond Park. They are shy but vocal birds, and are more likely to be heard than seen. They have a distinctive, spiraling song that can be difficult to locate, as they are often perched in dense foliage. During fall and spring migrations, their soft, bell-like “peeps” may be mistaken for the calls of a frog. Swainson's thrushes consume fruit and various bugs, helping with insect abatement.
Pholiota terrestris
Found throughout Dimond Park, Pholiota terrestris (there is no common name) is known for its slimy texture and scaly skin. It almost sounds like we’re describing a dragon, but Pholiota terrestris is a common mushroom in California that can be found growing in dense clusters, often in disturbed soil. These fungi range in color from dark to light brown, and have distinctive scaly caps, long stems, and hair-like fibers on the ring zone above their stems. Pholiota terrestris mushrooms are about 2-3 inches tall and have 1-3 inch caps that, while generally dry, are sometimes slimy in damp climates. While technically edible, it is best to avoid consumingPholiota terrestris as it may cause vomiting and diarrhea.
Measure DD Restoration Project
The Sausal Creek restoration began at Dimond Park in 2014 as a collaborative effort between FOSC, City of Oakland and Alameda County Flood Control District. In order to fulfill their goals of preventing streambank erosion, restoring or removing failing concrete structures, removing culverts, and restoring native habitat, a budget of $3.5M was proposed. Much of the funding of this project was provided by Measure DD, a 2002 bond measure that brought $198M in bond funds to improve and restore water quality and waterways in Oakland with $5.5M for creek restoration. Sausal Creek in Dimond Park received some funding because of its variety of issues that restoration would alleviate, as well as its easy accessibility, which included education about the creek's ecology and history.
Where are the people of color in Dimond Park's history?
Historically, few people of color were allowed in areas of wealth and leisure. This exclusion became codified through redlining, a discriminatory practice that systematically denied access to mortgages and financial services to entire neighborhoods based on the racial composition of those areas. Between 1935 and 1940, the Home Owners' Loan Corporation (HOLC), a federal agency, graded the "residential security" of various American neighborhoods to assess their risk levels for lenders. Neighborhoods with Black residents, as well as some immigrant and Jewish communities, were ranked lower due to the "infiltration" of non-whites. HOLC produced maps for each city, categorizing neighborhoods with grades: "A" (colored green) for the "best" and safest investments, and "D" (colored red) for those considered "hazardous." Most areas of the wealthy Dimond Park District were afforded ratings of "B" to "C," while neighboring Fruitvale scored from "C" to "D". This practice of redlining was legal and prevalent for many years. Why does this matter? This practice prevented wealth accumulation: high scores made it nearly impossible for nonwhites to buy property in affluent areas. Property ownership is a primary means of building and passing down wealth, so redlining systematically deprived marginalized communities of this opportunity, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and limited economic mobility.
Camp Dimond
In 1919, a few years after the Dimond family sold their property to the City of Oakland, the Oakland-Piedmont Council of the Boy Scouts of America made the Dimond Canyon area the Boy Scout’s new camp, calling it "Camp Dimond" and at one point, "Camp Sheoak." The adobe cottage, originally built by Perlatas, that used to be a part of the Dimond family’s property was converted into a meeting place for Boy Scout Troop 10 in 1924 and was used by the Boy Scouts throughout the years until Camp Dimond closed in 1948. Then, in the late 50s, the adobe building caught on fire and was mostly destroyed, though its entrance and one wall can still be seen, alongside various infrastructural remnants from the camp’s days of operation.
Boy Scout Headquarters
The Dimond family sold 12 acres of their land to the City of Oakland Parks Department in 1917, and it later became Dimond Park, home to Boy Scout Troop 10. The adobe building that housed the troop was built by Hugh Dimond for his son, Dennis Dimond, using the only remaining bricks from Antonio Peralta's original adobe hacienda, constructed in 1821. (The were relocated from the site of the Peralta Hacienda Park, seen in the next tour.) However on March 17, 1954, the building caught fire and was mostly burnt down. All that was left was one adobe wall and the stone entrance to the building. The single wall of adobe can still be seen today in the rebult structure. Stop and check out one of the bricks closely to see if you can guess what they are made from.
Oldest Oak Tree in Oakland
The remains of the oldest oak tree in Oakland can be found next to the old Boy Scout Headquarters in Dimond Park. Dennis Dimond, the son of Hugh Dimond, built the headquarters and used this nearby oak tree to hide bottles of champagne in the late 1800s. This tree was believed to be the oldest tree in Oakland, however, it was cut down in 2005 due to a disease that could not be cured. Now a sign commemorates where the oldest tree once stood.
Bell and Historic Plaque
Just outside of the Boy Scouts Headquarters sits an old bell and an engraved plaque describing the history of the building. The bell was originally used in a car barn building and was eventually used in the headquarters of Dimond Volunteer Fire Department and in Dimond Engine 14. The bell was preserved to honor the sacrifices made by the volunteer firemen.
Flatheaded mayfly nymph
The small, brown Flatheaded mayfly nymph (Heptageniidae), sometimes called the “crabwalker mayfly”, has a flattened head that helps it live in fast-flowing waters. A nymph is an immature insect that lives in water, looks like the adult of its species only smaller, and grows through multiple stages of molting. During the nymph stage of its life, the mayfly is a favored food for fish in the Bay Area including bluegills and brown trout. Did you know the mayfly was placed in the same ancient insect group as dragonflies?
Red-flowering Currant
Red-flowering currants (Ribes Sanguineum) are a flowering plant native to the western U.S and Canada. Here in Oakland, the plants bloom during spring and summer. Red-flowering currants produce berries in the fall and are visited by hummingbirds throughout the year. These plants have lobe-shaped leaves that are about 1-3 in. long. Their flowers grow in small clusters of anywhere from 5-30 flowers per cluster. You can find them throughout the east bay hills along creeks.
Creek goes underground
At this point, the creek flows through a culvert and continues underground for about 100 feet before reemerging. The creek passes under a relatively large, open grassy space near the Dimond Park restrooms. There is a sidewalk placed above the creek's opening, which is bordered by a fence with a sign providing more information about Sausal Creek. This opening is the result of daylighting efforts by the City of Oakland, Friends of Sausal Creek, and Alameda Flood Control. These efforts daylighted, or uncovered, about 250 feet of Sausal Creek, costing about $4M. Measure DD, a bond measure passed in 2002 in Oakland, helped pay for the costs because of the habitat and water quality improvements that Sausal Creek would see as a result of daylighting. The daylighting construction went from 2012 to 2015.
Flame Skimmer
Flame skimmers (Libellula saturata) are eye-catching dragon flies with vibrant orange and amber coloring (though the males are usually brighter!). They are active daytime fliers that can be found near slow waters. They are predators of small flying insects such as flies and mosquitoes, hunting only that which passes by, allowing them to remain largely concealed and safe from their own predators.
Dark-eyed Juncos
Dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis) are prevalent across the US. The specific form found throughout Dimond Park is the "Oregon" junco. Other juncos have different colorings, from all-gray to gray with pink or white splotches, but an Oregon junco has a dark head, warm brown back, and reddish sides. These birds are not high fliers, preferring to feed on the ground. If you hear their twittering call or trilling song, look for them hopping around the bases of trees and shrubs looking for fallen seeds.
Hugh Dimond
In the 1800s, much of the land around Sausal Creek belonged to one man, an Irish gold prospector and successful businessman named Hugh Dimond (1830–1896). Sometimes called the “Western Prince” for his generous spending, Dimond was a central figure in the development of Sausal Creek in the late 19th century. In 1877, Dimond moved into his home on the 267 acres that he had purchased ten years earlier along Sausal Creek. Dimond’s home was a white, two-story, wooden structure surrounded by a veranda, and was situated just beyond the grove of redwoods in today’s Dimond Park. The Dimond family dammed Sausal Creek to create a swimming hole, and used an iron pipe to divert the creek’s water for household use. In addition, they built a fishing lodge (now a private home on Woodbine Avenue) where they caught trout. Dimond Park, Dimond Canyon, Dimond Avenue, and the Dimond District are all named after Hugh Dimond.
Sausal On My Mind Mural
Sausal On My Mind, a mural painted in 2008 by Dimond Rec After School program, with Ace Arts and Kristi Holohan, displays some native species of the Sausal Creek Watershed.
Friends of Dimond Park
Who maintains Dimond Park for all to enjoy? It's the Friends of Dimond Park (FODP)– a bunch of locals and park enthusiasts like you! Established in 2015, FODP regularly maintains gardens, repairs park equipment and structures, advocates for ADA accessibility, fundraises for projects, and more. In 2023, FODP clocked over a thousand volunteer hours, planting trees and flowers, painting tables, picking up litter, and more. Do any of these projects spark your interest? FODP is always looking for volunteers to help beautify the park and staff events--find out more at https://www.friendsofdimondpark.org/ .
Small Honey Ant
The small honey ant (Prenolepis imparis), sometimes called the false honey ant or winter ant, is dark brown to black with a smooth and shiny body. Common in coastal states such as California, they are considered invading ants as they’re often found in homes, and they can invade crops and plants. Though we view them as pests, they are a vital link in the food chain. They usually forage at night, and are also active on cloudy days. A single-node ant species, their colonies generally have only a few thousand workers, each about 1/8 inch long. Nests are normally in the soil, but they may invade structures as well, although nests within structures would be very rare. While protein is needed by the colony their primary food is sugars, with honeydew from plant infesting insects their most common source.
Nasturtium
Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) is an annual flowering plant native to the Andes from Bolivia to Colombia. This fast-growing plant has yellow, orange, or red flowers approximately 2 inches wide, and round green leaves from 1 to 6 inches in diameter. The species is easy to grow and has become naturalized in the U.S. and other continents around the world. Organisms such as the catepillars of cabbage white butterflies can be found using these plants as food. Nasturtium leaves and flowers are edible, and are popular in salads, having a slightly peppery taste. They are ubiquitous in California.
Miner's Lettuce
Miner's lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata) is an annual flowering plant native to regions of the west coast of North America. It is most often found in winter and early spring in shady spots associated with a wide variety of vegetation types, from coastal sage scrub and chaparral to oak woodland and pine forests. This plant can be found along the trail and the side of the Sausal Creek in places. The plant can grow about a foot tall and has tiny pink or white flowers growing in the center of a round leaf. Similar to Nasturtium, everything except the root of Miner's lettuce is edible. It makes a nice addition to a salad. California Gold Rush era miners ate this plant to prevent scurvy, giving the plant its common name. Local native peoples call this plant "Indian lettuce", using it both as a food and for topical medicinal uses.
Golden Milkcaps
Golden Milkcaps (Lactarius alnicola) are small-medium, vanilla colored mushrooms with sticky caps that can grow up to 7 inches. The stems are characterized by yellow-brown spots and have been known to grow up to 5 cm long. This fungus has a symbiotic relationship with oak trees and are common in in oak woodlands on acid soils. They are known for the white, latex-like substance they secrete when damaged or when the gills are touched.
Black Witches' Butter
Black witches' butter (Exidia glandulosa), also known as black jelly roll or warty jelly fungus, is a common, wood-rotting jelly fungus that's typically found on dead branches of diciduous trees. It's shiny, black, and blister-like, and grows both alone or in clusters. The consistency is squishy and gelatinous, especially after wet weather. In prolonged, dryer weather they can shrivel up to hard, membranous lumps.
Mulch Fieldcap
How many fungi you're likely to see on your walk depends on how much rain we've been getting. Often found in clusters in wood chip or mulch piles, the Mulch fieldcap (Agrocybe putaminum) is a common mushroom here in Dimond Park. Mulch fieldcaps have dome-shaped caps that flatten out over time and range from 1-4 inches in diameter. These little fungi appear dark brown at first and fade to pale yellow or tan as they grow. They sport thin ridges on their stems, which are formed from their mycelial cords, or loosely bunched root forms that help the mushroom get nutrients. Mulch fieldcaps have been described as having a bitter taste, and are not good for consumption.
WPA Projects
As the urban population of Oakland grew throughout the 1910s and 1920s, increased development along the banks of Sausal Creek left little room for natural shifts in flow. This limited the creek’s floodplain space, leading to an increase in flooding, as well as volume and velocity of stormwater runoff. In turn, this worsened streambank erosion. Federal efforts to mitigate erosion and landslides in the Sausal Creek area began with the Works Projects Administration (WPA) in 1935. The WPA stabilized the creek banks with concrete to slow the erosion process and straighten the course of water flow but ironically, the addition of concrete led to more stormwater runoff, and the channelization of water and incisions into the creek contributed even further to erosion. On the upside, WPA workers built a sanitary sewer that runs along the creek from Dimond Park to Leimert Bridge, and culverted sections of the creek to build roads over the land, which separated sewer water and stormwater and helped to limit the amount of sewage in the creek.
Oak Winter Highflier Moth
Oak winter highflier moths (Hydriomena nubilofasciata) can be found in and around oak trees in both the daytime and nighttime. They can be difficult to identify given that they can present with a wide variation in coloring and patterning, but typical specimens have four gray bands alternating with four light gold or greenish bands. They feed on leaves of the oak trees. They reside in and are attracted to light.
Friends of Sausal Creek Native Plant Demonstration Garden
This is the Friends of Sausal Creek's inaugural project. In 1996, volunteers removed invasive ivy vines and acacia trees to establish this 15,000-square-foot California native plant demonstration garden. This garden promotes use of native plants in home gardens, as many non-native ornamental plants like ivy and acacia can quickly overtake an area and crowd out plants that native species need and thrive on. Read more about the beautiful California native plants FOSC protects on the interperative signs throughout this garden!
Stonefly nymphs
The world around you is hugely affected by tiny, unnoticed creatures. Some insects even perform activities that would seem human. Stonefly nymphs (Plecoptera) are found in cool, clean water in sections of Sausal Creek under heavy canopy cover such as shady areas. They crawl around on leaves, woody debris, and under rocks. They feed by shredding leaves allowing the damaged leaves to be broken down by bacteria, and then feed on the bacteria -- they farm their own food, just like we do!
Ohlone Villages in the Area
Before European colonizers took over much of the land around Sausal Creek, this area was home an Ohlone tribelet. It is likely that the Huichin Ohlone or Jalquin Ohlone lived here. The Huichin and Jalquin are both specific, distinct tribes under the umbrella term “Ohlone”, which is used to refer to the more than 50 distinct Indigenous tribes living in the East Bay. Given the size and year round flow in Sausal, at least one Ohlone triblet would have traveled up and down this creek seasonally, setting up different camps or visiting ongoing village sites, depending on where food was abundant at certain times of year. Generally though, the creek and surrounding hillsides provided ample nourishment, including an array of plants, game, and fish.
Dark-eyed Junco
Dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis) are prevalent across the US. The specific form found throughout Dimond Park is the "Oregon" junco. Other juncos have different colorings, from all-gray to gray with pink or white splotches, but an Oregon junco has a dark head, warm brown back, and reddish sides. These birds are not high fliers, preferring to feed on the ground. If you hear their twittering call or trilling song, look for them hopping around the bases of trees and shrubs looking for fallen seeds.
Diving Beetle
If you happen to spot a flat oval beetle in the water, it could be an adult diving beetle! The diving beetle (Dytiscidae) can be found in freshwater or on vegetation in the water as both an adult or a larvae. Larvae tend to feed on mosquito larvae, and adult diving beetles hunt other aquatic animals including tadpoles. While larvae catch their prey with a hook-like jaw and inject digestive fluid to liquify the contents of their prey, adults hunt by diving underwater and capturing their prey. To breathe underwater while looking for lunch, this insect stores a supply of air underneath its wings.
Dimond Canyon Hiking Trail Marker
There is a break here in the trail because of El Centro Avenue. On the other side of this road is a trail marker for Dimond Canyon Trail. This marker includes a large map of all the trails in Dimond Park along with a sign welcoming you and a sign made by 5th graders at Sequoia Elementary that warns against fish-killing stormwater pollution. It's an important place to consider that wildlife often need to cross roadways to access all areas of their territory, endangering their lives. Humans roads and fences make it much harder for wildlife to have viable territories.
Common Flesh Flies
Common flesh flies (Sarcophagidae) are common around the world and many can be found near the Dimond Canyon hiking trail marker. These flies are grayish and have horizontal black stripes along their bodies with red compound eyes. As per their name, the larvae of flesh flies eat decaying meat or smaller organisms living on dead animals, rvidiong an enormously important ecosystem service of helping to breakdown dead and rotting organic mateirals, making these nuttrients more widely available. Some flesh flies have the capacity to be vectors for pathogens and bacteria. They are also known to be parasitoids for catepillars.
Western Tiger Swallowtails
Western tiger swallowtails (Papilo rutulus) can be seen enjoying the Annual honesties at this point along Sausal creek. These butterflies are a very bright yellow with black stripes on their bodies and on both sides of their wings, not to be confused with similar-appearing Yellow Swallowtails. They also have some orange and blue spots near their tails. Western tiger swallowtails have a wingspan range of 3-4 inches. When spotted along Sausal Creek you will notice they rarely stop to rest and if they do so, it is only for a short time because they are very active butterfly when the temperature is warm enough for them to fly.
Creek Access
After passing the Dimond Canyon hiking trail marker, this is the first point of access to the creek. Up until this point, the trail is elevated above the creek and access to the creek is prevented by fences and bushes. If you get down to the creek, you can look for some of the fish and invertebrates found in this tour. Be sure to look up as well to see the overstory of trees, which can capture moisture from the creek's evaporation process and return it to the creek in a mini-water cycle.
Rest Stop/Picnic area
This is a perfect pit stop because stumps and tree trunks have been laid out on top of a flat gravel area for people to sit and relax, without disturbing delicate life forms of the area (but you might sit on some fungusor tiny bugs). A group of Annual honesties can be found here, along with a few butterflies. Too often we are moving quickly through spaces. But one of the best ways to see wildlife is to sit quietly in one place. After 10 minutes or so, you'll notice more and more sounds and activity around you as your wild neighbors get back to their activities without loud and interruptive humans around.
Creeping Woodsorrel
Creeping woodsorrel (Oxalis corniculata) grows along the trail a considerable distance from the creek. These can be seen growing in cluster clinging to the hillsides. The flowers have 5 yellow petals and 3 clover shaped leaves. The leaves of this plant are edible and can be used to make a tea that has a slight lemon taste, loaded with Vitamnin C. It also accumulates copper from the soil and is used in some places for bioremediation.
Annual Honesty
Annual honesty (Lunaria annua), native to Europe, is an annual or biennial (takes 2 years to complete life cycle) flowering plant. Called Silver Dollar, or Money Plant, these plants can grow up to 3 ft tall. The leaves of an annual honesty are coarse and oval shaped and the flowers range in color from white to pink to purple. The flowers are replaced in midsummer by translucent, round, flat seed pods that look like silvery coins. Lunaria means "moon," another reference to the shiny inner wall of the seedpod.
Mini Bridge
Here is a mini bridge that was built because of a gap in the trail casued by rainwater eroding the hillside. This wood bridge is right in front of a rocky channel in the hillside that likely funnels large amounts of rainwater over the trail and down to the creek. Both sides of the channel are surrounded by vegetation, the right side by ivy and the left side by grasses and trees. Anytime you see ivy, feel free to pull it out. You'll be doing your watershed neighbors a service by removing this intruder that crowds out other species.
California Quail
Keep your eyes on the ground,and you might see the state bird of California, the California quail (Callipepla californica), also known as Valley quail. This highly sociable bird often gathers in small flocks known as "coveys." It is a plump lwith a brown feathers and tan patterning on its breast. It also has a dark, curving crest that droops forward above the head. If you don't see any, try listening for their call while you're on the trail. A sample of their song can be found here.
Fallen Tree Covered in Algerian Ivy
Originating from the North African coast, Algerian ivy (Hedera algeriensis) can be found here covering a large fallen tree. It has large green leaves and reddish stems. This plant is often used in California in order to control soil erosion along highways. Unfortunately, it is highly invasive and problematic for native species. In addition to being a fire hazard, it has a shallow root network and is poor at controlling soil erosion.
Common Water Strider
Common water striders (Aquarius remigis) are a species of aquatic insect. Water striders have 3 sets of legs, 2 of which are used to propel themselves across the surface of the water while the front set is used to catch prey. These bugs are around .5 in and tend to be brown or black. Water striders generally consume mosquito larvae, dead bugs, or other bugs that fall into the water, cleaning as they go. These aquatic bugs can be seen gliding across the water all along Sausal Creek. They are often seen in slower moving or still areas of the creek. When seen along the creek, more than one can usually be spotted. When mating, they send signals to one another through ripples on the water. Watch for messages of love!
Sausal Creek Water Company
In 1869, Caspar Hopkins, an early Bay Area settler, formed the Sausal Creek Water Company in order to pipe water to the Fruitvale area. Seeing opportunity in Sausal Creek’s abundant water supply, Hopkins installed a stone dam approximately where you're standing and routed the water to a distributing resevoir downhill near Fruitvale and 580. The dam held around a million gallons of water and cost about $20,000, which was paid for by local citizens. When the Sausal Creek Water Company went bankrupt in 1872, Anthony Chabot purchased it and made it a part of the Contra Costa Water Company, using the Sausal Creek dam to provide water to more of East Oakland. The dam was later abandoned after it was damaged in the 1906 quake.
California Vole
California Voles (Microtus californicus) are found along the Pacific Coast of North America. They average 7 inches in length, with much variety in size, and are sometimes mistaken for mice. Coats range from gray to brown, with reddish markings. They eat mostly grasses and roots, as well as sedges, fruits, and flowering herbs. Voles spend much of their time below ground, using burrows connected by above-ground runways they use to find food, rarely venturing far from their burrows. They communicate with one another via urine—a behavior that makes them particularly vulnerable to diurnal (daytime) predators. Raptors, like hawks, that see ultraviolet light where urine appears flourescent. Other predators include owls, egrets, long-tailed weasels, coyotes, skunks, mountain lions and garter snakes. A vole's lifespan is short, with most living for less than a year, even in the absence of predators.
Leimert Bridge
Originally named the 'Sausal Creek Arch Bridge' when constructed in 1926, the Leimert Bridge was once the largest single-span bridge on the west coast. The structure was designed by engineer George A. Posey, who also designed the Posey Tube between downtown Oakland and Alameda. Walter H. Leimert, a real estate developer born in Oakland to German immagrent parents, built the bridge as a means of bringing automobiles and street cars to Oakmore Heights in order to build and sell homes in the area. It connected Park Boulevard and Piedmont to the nearby hills that were previously isolated by Dimond Canyon. Early after it was built, hikers had to stop and pay a five-cent toll to continue up the hills.
Concrete Flume
From 1939-1940, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) began multiple projects along and in Sausal Creek. These projects were with a goal of controlling and subduing the creek's flow. They built this concrete "flume" that runs down the hillside and stops right above the creek where you can also see a stormwater drain cover. This flume is an attempt to control erosion water pouring over the above hillside from a parking lot, as well as several houses and streets. All of these surfaces sheet off rainwater rather than allowing it to seep naturally into the soil and add to the creek flow more slowly. The flume directs water as if it were itself a small creek feeding into the larger creek. Unfortunately, this adds to the creeks overall flow quickly, and causes flooding rather than preventing it.
