A destructive grass fire that broke out in Wildcat Canyon blew west into Berkeley on September 17, 1923, and burned down 640 structures, mostly homes.

A state law was passed that enabled citizens of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties to create a special district that could obtain water from the Mokelumne River and pump it directly to customers.

The founders of the district included Robert Sibley, a hiking enthusiast, Hollis Thompson, then Berkeley City Manager, and Charles Lee Tilden, among others.

[6] In June 2013, EBRPD purchased a 1,900 acres (770 ha) tract of land formerly known as Roddy Ranch in east Contra Costa County.

The acquisition does not include Roddy Ranch Golf Club or about 240 acres of privately owned land inside the project boundary.

The East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy will install gates, fencing and signs around the tract in the coming year, while the sale is in escrow.

[8] During 2014, EBRPD cut park hours on a temporary and interim basis to reduce public access to Mission Peak in Fremont, using a media strategy designed by political consultant George Manross.

[citation needed] The district also includes a former farm, a former coal mine, an extinct volcano,[10] and one of the biggest dog-walking parks in the US.

[17] A 2012 settlement agreement between EBRPD and the owners of two large nearby ranches required the construction of improvements to park access roads.

Early in March 2019, EBRPD announced that it had finalized the purchase of 160 acres (65 ha) in unincorporated Contra Costa County, from the Grove family.

The parcel is about 3 miles (4.8 km) northwest of Livermore, and is bounded on the south by the proposed Doolan Canyon Regional Preserve.

[22] EBRPD says that the Doolan Canyon area is habitat for the endangered species Alameda whip snake and red-legged frog.

[23] EBRPD announced in September 2016 that it had finalized the purchase of 76 acres (31 ha) of ranch land east of Mount Diablo, near Antioch and Brentwood.

The tract was identified only as the Hanson Hills property, which had previously been bought by the Save Mount Diablo conservation group.

[c][25] In 2013, EBRPD began acquiring Roddy Ranch a 1,900 acres (770 ha) additional tract in east Contra Costa County.

The new acquisition will create a nearly continuous offer zone of undeveloped land in eastern Contra Costa County from Black Diamond Mines Regional Park to Marsh Creek.

[7] In 2013, EBRPD announced plans to acquire 1,000 acres (4.0 km2) of grazing land southwest of the Roddy Ranch tract for $5 million.

The combined Dainty and Roddy tracts will form the future Deer Valley Regional Park near Antioch and Brentwood.

[28] On April 3, 2014, two conservation groups, Center for Biological Diversity and the Alameda Creek Alliance, announced the acquisition of a 79 acres (32 ha) land parcel known as "Eddie's Flat, adjacent to the western boundary of Brushy Peak Regional Preserve.