Alameda County
The Ridgemont West area is located in the hills of the City of Oakland, on the southern edge of Leona Heights Park and adjacent to Merritt College. The site contains significant sections of mature, intact native oak woodlands and the dense understory, abundant berries, and patches of riparian woodland provide wildlife habitat for a variety of species. Habitat quality at this site is greatly enhanced by the extensive adjacent natural areas of Leona Heights Park, York Trail Park, and the nearby Leona Canyon Open Space Preserve. The area is valued for its recreational opportunities. Currently, several pathways traverse the area and are popular among hikers, bikers, trail runners and dog walkers, and several trails link to the nearby parks and open space. The area is also a headwaters within the Lion Creek Watershed, a watershed that covers approximately 2,677 acres. Land conservation in this area would protect downstream areas against sedimentation caused by upstream erosion of hillslopes and unvegetated trails and would enhance open space connectivity and access.
For more information about this area, please contact:
Markley Bavinger
City of Oakland
Watershed Program Specialist
mbavinger@oaklandnet.com
510.238.6266
www.oaklandnet.com
Partners:
- East Bay Regional Park District
- Friends of Two Creeks
- Merritt College