Albany Bulb

An interesting read in the The Journal today:

A conversation project under way at the Albany Plateau has pitted dog walkers and recreational users against environmentalists and local city and park officials.
The project mitigates for the lose of burrowing owl habitat at the Gilman Street Playing Fields in Berkeley… but many reject the assertion that owls used that area and any mitigation is needed.

dog walker and recreational user viewpoint: “The concept of making these areas of landfill, a dump, into preservation habitat where people cannot go, where fencing keeps people out, is really an insidious part of what passes as environmentalism these days,” said Jill Posener, a Berkeley resident who walks her dogs at the Plateau. “It’s really sad.”

Albany Waterfront Committee member, Clay Larson: “I don’t think that there was any real, scientific evidence that there was an impact on the bird…”

local city and park officials: Roger Miller, senior management analyst for Berkeley’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Waterfront, said mitigation is required…
Miller said, a biologist hired by the city of Berkeley saw one owl in 2006 and a second biologist said he had seen a burrowing owl in the area in 2004.
Brad Olson, spokesman for East Bay Regional Park District said there was no guarantee the owls would move.

Read the full article: Conversation Project at Albany Plateau Riles Dog Owners

As posted on the Albany City website:

The removal of “Safety Hazards” is being done  “to create a safer environment, and increase the usable area of The Bulb through the removal of exposed concrete and rebar that are remnants of this former landfill, and through the removal of noxious weeds, planting of native species and habitat restoration.”

The Albany Bulb is included in the Eastshore State Park Plan, however, it  is till owned by the city of Albany. In the  Eastshore State Park Plan the Bulb is designated  “Conservation” and contains policies to protect and enhance upland habitat for wildlife. Policies related to the Bulb are as follows:
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Photo Copyright: Jill Posener

Jill Posener posted a great article on her blog – Albany Bulb RIP and a wonderful collection of photos dating back some 10 years where she shares her experiences about a place where she felt she and “many others, could pretend, as we ambled along an unkempt trail a mile into the Bay, that we were still living free”.

It was great to look back in time at a place I discovered just by chance some 8 years ago. But it also felt like I was saying goodbye.

In those 8 years I haven’t missed but one or two days of my morning walks with Toby and Cody. It was my place to get away – a place where I could either find solitude in the endless winding trails or hang out with friends on the beach or plateau. There was always something new and different -  from the gorgeous bay views to strange messages found carved into driftwood.  But that is the Bulb – beautifully, strange – a unique place of imagination and discovery.