Bill aims to protect East Bay land close to Muir’s heart

Glen Lewis of the Muir Heritage Land Trust, walks through a grove of olive trees on the forty four acres site adjacent to the John Muir National Historic site in Martinez, Ca. as seen on Thurs. March 5, 2015. Legislation introduced by U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer, D-Ca. and Congressman Mark DeSaulnier, D-Ca. would expand the John Muir National Historic Site and authorize the National Park Service to acquire the adjacent land on Wanda Mountain. less Glen Lewis of the Muir Heritage Land Trust, walks through a grove of olive trees on the forty four acres site adjacent to the John Muir National Historic site in Martinez, Ca. as seen on Thurs. March 5, 2015. ... more Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle Buy photo Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 9 Caption Close Bill aims to protect East Bay land close to Muir’s heart 1 / 9 Back to Gallery

The view from the ridge overlooking Alhambra Valley was spectacular, but Glen Lewis and his fellow hikers couldn’t help but notice the Shell refinery in the distance and the sound of speeding cars on busy Highway 4.

Lewis, the open space ranger for the Muir Heritage Land Trust, wondered what John Muir would think if he could look out today at the panorama of modernity around Martinez, which, back in the famous naturalist’s day, consisted of fruit orchards almost as far as the eye could see.

The imagined disapproval of Muir would be reason enough to preserve the 44 acres of hillside beauty that Muir, whose former home is next door, once enjoyed. It is one of the reasons U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer and Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, D-Concord, introduced legislation last week to acquire the land and add it to the John Muir National Historic Site.

“John Muir was the father of the National Park Service, and he worked tirelessly to preserve our country’s public lands for future generations,” Boxer said. “This bill will honor his legacy by improving public access to this historic site, providing more for visitors to do, and connecting the site to the Bay Area Ridge Trail.”

Video: Muir Woods

The land, known as West Hills Farm, was once part of the estate of John Swett, the former California superintendent of public education and one of the founders of the California Teachers Association. Swett was a friend of Muir’s, and the two spent time together in these hills, which abutted the sprawling 1882 mansion where Muir resided for the last 24 years of his life.

The idea behind the proposed acquisition is to preserve the remnants of pastoral beauty in the Alhambra Valley that Muir loved so much, extend existing wild lands and protect the diverse wildlife. The federally threatened Alameda whipsnake, mountain lions, deer, golden eagles and red-tailed hawks are known to inhabit the area. Stenzel Creek, which runs through the property, is home to the California red-legged frog and western pond turtle.

“Its a great piece of property, with great views,” said Lewis, as he led a hike up the dry creek bed, through long abandoned olive orchards up to the ridge.

The land trust is trying to raise $1 million to purchase the property, which the owner has stipulated must close escrow by May 31. The money will also be used for restoration and stewardship programs after the acquisition.

The trust plans to donate the land to the park service, but congressional approval is required because the acreage exceeds the amount that federal agencies are allowed to acquire administratively.

Muir, who got used to sleeping outside on his many excursions, was never comfortable living in the 10,001-square-foot Martinez mansion, which was built by his father-in-law, but he apparently enjoyed tending the 2,600-acre fruit ranch surrounding the home and made a tidy profit selling the produce. He loved the rolling hills in the vicinity so much that he named the closest one Mount Wanda, after his oldest daughter. It is part of the historic site, which was created by the National Park Service in 1964.

Tentative plans are to extend trails from Mount Wanda, a picturesque 325-acre wildflower-and-oak-dotted hill that served as Muir’s backyard, through the newly acquired property. Hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians would have access and interpretive hikes would be expanded into the area, where there are several remnant olive orchards planted more than 100 years ago.

Muir, who died in 1914, did most of his writing and conceived of what eventually became the National Park Service in what he called his “scribble den,” on the second floor of the historic house.

“He had a lot of influential friends in Washington, and he urged them to form an agency that would preserve and protect for the future wild places,” said Jim MacDonald, the lead park ranger for the historic site. “He felt that wild places renewed the soul and that it was important for everybody to get out in nature. The National Park Service was formed in 1916 after his death.”

Although Muir’s house and the remaining 9 acres of fruit orchard have been restored as close as possible to the way they were when Muir lived there, the area around the house is now covered with neighborhoods, busy roadways and the aforementioned highway.

“We’ll do good by the land,” said MacDonald. “The park service mission is to preserve and protect for future generations. This is a perfect opportunity to do that.”

“With the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, it would be a fitting tribute to honor John Muir by expanding the site where he lived, wrote and brought to life the conservation movement,” DeSaulnier said. “We have over 400 National Parks, and I am honored to represent the place where this idea was born and where it developed into a model to be copied throughout the world.”

Peter Fimrite is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: pfimrite@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @pfimrite