331 Acres in Doolan Canyon and Springtown Preserve Enter Permanent Tri-Valley Conservation

More than 331 acres of grasslands, seasonal wetlands, and rare alkali sink ecosystems across Doolan Canyon and the Springtown Preserve are now permanently shielded from development under new conservation easements announced by the Tri-Valley Conservancy. Reported on Thursday, October 22, 2026, by The Independent, the agreements secure critical wildlife corridors between San Ramon, Dublin, and Livermore while reinforcing the greenbelt buffer that defines the northern Tri-Valley.

The newly protected acreage spans parcels owned by the City of Livermore that will be managed in perpetuity for ecological preservation and watershed connectivity. Tri-Valley Conservancy Executive Director Rebecca Spector and Associate Director of Conservation Diana Roberts explained that the easements emerged from regional environmental mitigation requirements tied to residential construction in neighboring Dublin, with homebuilder Trumark Homes serving as the project permittee. The transaction coordinates municipal land-use priorities with long-term open-space planning reviewed by city council and county conservation boards.

Biologists and regional park planners have long prioritized Doolan Canyon and the Springtown Alkali Sink as essential refuges for threatened native species, including the California tiger salamander and the western burrowing owl. By locking in permanent deed restrictions across the 331 acres, the Tri-Valley Conservancy and municipal land managers prevent urban fragmentation along the canyon ridges that connect East Bay Regional Park District trail networks near Tassajara Ridge and San Ramon to eastern Livermore Valley watersheds.

Under the terms of the conservation agreements, the Tri-Valley Conservancy will conduct annual biological monitoring, soil and vernal pool assessments, and compliance inspections on the parcels while the City of Livermore oversees day-to-day land stewardship and wildfire fuel management. Residents across San Ramon, Dublin, and Livermore can review regional open-space maps, conservation board updates, and upcoming volunteer habitat restoration schedules through the conservancy's headquarters on South Livermore Avenue.