Every day is Earth Day at Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District! We appreciate the diverse creatures and plant life that make this earth a healthier place to live, and strive to protect and restore the natural environment in our little corner of this one planet we all call home. Read on to learn about the impacts of winter's relentless storms and how we are cleaning up as spring slowly awakens.
Midpen staff removing part of the boardwalk to clear a storm drain in Pulgas Ridge Preserve (Midpen)
Wildflower Season Delayed in Midpen Preserves
By mid-April, Midpen preserves are often beginning to show spots of colors, though this year is off to a slow start due to recent winter storms and cooler than usual temperatures. “We aren't seeing the early blooms like we did last year,”Midpen Supervising Ranger (and wildflower enthusiast) Kristin Perry said. “Although spring has technically arrived, the recent protracted wet and cold conditions have not provided the best environment for wildflowers yet. Nature can be unpredictable and we have to be patient, but as trails dry out and the weather warms up, I expect blooms will start to pop more."
A series of atmospheric rivers and high winds have left behind a lot of storm damage that Midpen crews are working diligently to clean up. Despite continued storms since late December, staff have been able to assess nearly all of Midpen’s 250 miles of trails and have cleared more than 1,000 downed and hazardous trees from trails.
The record rainfall also created erosion issues, washouts and culvert failures. At this time, Bear Creek Redwoods and the lower entrance to Purisima Creek Redwoods are closed to public use until county access roads can be safely repaired, a process that county officials expect to continue through the summer.
Attention all photographers and open space enthusiasts! Midpen’s 13th Annual Photo Contest has begun and runs through June 30. This year, participants can enter photos taken in any of Midpen preserve into one of six different categories: Wildlife, Plant Life, Landscapes, People in Nature, Aspiring Photographers (students grades 6-12) or the Trail Less Traveled (photos from less visited preserves). Entrants can submit up to three photos total. Winners will receive a $100 REI gift card, a Midpen swag bag and bragging rights whenever your photo shows up online!
Think you have a winner among your open space photo collection? Visit the contest page for more information and to submit your photos!
Baylands Get Biology Spotlight
On March 19, Midpen partner, Latino Outdoors, hosted an informational webinar featuring Midpen wildlife biologist, Karine Tokatlian, to share the importance of baylands, the wildlife that thrive in that environment, and what the public can do the help protect these areas. If you missed this fun educational opportunity, the live webinar is available to watch on Midpen’s YouTube channel. For more upcoming events, please visit openspace.org/events.
Birding the Bay with SFBBO
In 2021, the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory (SFBBO) received a grant from Midpen to expand their outreach program and better share the importance of bay habitat for many remarkable bird species in our region. This year, SFBBO will be offering a variety of virtual and in-person experiences to explore nature and appreciate the unique bird populations and habitats of the Bay Area:
April 18 - Part 2 of Birding in the Bay Area, a free Birdy Hour Speaker Series virtual event, will share insider information on local birding hotspots.
April 23 - Birding at La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve for a boots-on-the-ground chance to learn about SFBBO's work with Midpen to study badgers and burrowing owls. Led by an SFBBO senior biologist, this event is limited to 12 participants.
Ranger Lund and Ranger Rozo introducing younger generations to Midpen. (Ranger Rozo; Santa Clara County Office of Education)
Looking for Future Rangers at K-8 Career Fair
On March 4, Rangers Lund and Rozo represented the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District rangers at Santa Clara County Office of Education’s annual K-8 Career Fair. This year's theme was "Adventurous Careers," encouraging students to dream big and follow their passions by exploring some amazing career opportunities, for example an open space ranger. Rangers Lund and Rozo talked to many young students about the joys and challenges of being a ranger and protecting open space for all. To learn more about current career and internship opportunities at Midpen, please visit our website openspace.org/careers.
PROJECT UPDATES
Sudden Oak Death Spurs Action
In the past decade, Sudden Oak Death (SOD) killed more than one million oak and tanoak trees throughout coastal California and Oregon. Midpen first detected Sudden Oak Death at Long Ridge Open Space Preserve in 2000. In 2005, Midpen committed $350,000 over 10 years to find ways to prevent and treat SOD by working to identify resistant trees, preventing infection of heritage trees and participating in collaborative research. In 2006, Midpen began working closely with the California Oak Mortality Task Force to achieve these goals.
During April through June of 2023, UC Berkeley will be hosting several SOD Blitz Surveys throughout northern California, gathering experts and welcoming volunteers at these events to measure the extent of the spread of SOD.
If you're interested in learning more about Sudden Oak Death or participating in one of the SOD Blitz Survey events happening nearby, visit openspace.org/sod. You can also do your part by staying on trails, cleaning your shoes, pet's paws and tires both before and after your visit to any preserve using the cleaning bristles available at trailheads.
Mountain Lion Study – Second Year Progress Report
On February 22, the Midpen board of directors received a progress report on the second year of a five-year research study to understand the factors that influence human-mountain lion interactions and a management plan to reduce human-mountain lion conflicts.
During the first two years of the study, our project partner, the Santa Cruz Puma Project, has collared 15 mountain lions that utilize Midpen preserves. In the second year of the study, the Puma Project began an exploration of human-mountain lion conflict management strategies. It included habitat modifications and behavioral modifications to reinforce mountain lions' natural inclination to avoid people. The Puma Project is also working to assess the factors that influence human-mountain lion interactions, including human frequency on recreational trails, lion densities and other prey species densities.
The human-mountain lion interaction study will inform the development of a management plan (anticipated in years 4 and 5) that will provide strategies for Midpen to reduce potential conflicts between preserve visitors and mountain lions. For more information about the study visit openspace.org/puma-research.
Wildfire Resiliency Program: Planned Pile Burn
In April, Midpen is preparing to conduct a planned one-day pile burn in a closed area of Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve as part of our Wildland Fire Resiliency Program. Determining the exact date of the pile burn will require staff to monitor air quality, wind, temperature, humidity and fuel moisture for 48 hours before burning commences to meet safety requirements. Midpen will send a notification as soon as the burn date is finalized to community members subscribed to the Wildland Fire Resiliency program updates.
Planned pile burning can be beneficial for reducing vegetation while returning nutrients to the soil and germinating the seeds of native fire-dependent plants without using vehicles to haul materials off-site. Learn more at openspace.org/fire.
COMMUNITY MEETING UPDATES
Hawthorns Area Public Access Working Group Receives PNR Committee Approval
Midpen is continuing a multiyear process to develop a plan for natural resource management and ecologically sensitive public access at the Hawthorns Area of Windy Hill Preserve, located in the Town of Portola Valley. On March 21, the Midpen Planning and Natural Resources Committee reviewed a body of work including an Existing Conditions/Opportunities and Constraints Report, a Transportation Study Summary Report, and a Public Access Framework for the Hawthorns Area.
The Committee also reviewed the proposed composition and formation strategy for the Hawthorns Area Public Access Working Group, which is intended to provide a public forum for stakeholders to collaborate with Midpen and discuss potential parking and trail opportunities at the Hawthorns Area.
This information will be considered by the full Board at a public meeting on April 26. Learn more and sign up for project notifications at openspace.org/hawthorns
Upcoming Public Meetings
Meetings may be viewed online. Links to the meetings are posted with each agenda. There is also a dial-in number to listen by phone. Links are included in the meeting agendas posted online 72 hours before the meeting.
Join Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District,Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST),Santa Clara Open Space Authority, and Santa Clara County Parks as we co-host the Wild & Scenic Film Festival. This in-person event will take place Sunday, April 23, at the Smithwick Theater at Foothill College. The film program will also be available virtually to all who register for the event, available to watch from the comfort of your home anytime between Sunday, April 23, and Friday, April 28.
The Wild & Scenic Film Festival is the largest film festival of its kind, showcasing the best and brightest in environmental and adventure films. Festival viewers can expect to see award-winning environmentally inspired short films and have the opportunity to learn more about open space work on the Peninsula and in the South Bay.
The festival is free with advance registration on the POST event webpage.
Volunteer Projects
Come out the week of April 16-22 and celebrate National Volunteer Week with Midpen! Established in 1974, this week is both an opportunity to say thank you to volunteers who are already engaged in giving back within Midpen communities and as well as a call to action for those who have yet to step into the rewarding world of volunteerism. If you have a passion for outdoors and the health of our local landscapes, we have several opportunities that week that you're sure to enjoy.
Get an early start to the week and join us Saturday, April 15 at one of our Wildflower Survey Hikes, where individuals with an interest in botany and a keen eye (species identification guides provided) will help record flowering plants in Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve. Space is still available on the Newhagen Meadow and Woods/Barlow Trails surveys.
Midpen staff and volunteers ready to remove Italian thistle at Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve (Midpen)
Docent Naturalist-Guided Activities
Free guided activities lead by volunteer docent naturalists offer a great way to explore a new preserve, learn about the natural environment or join others for environmentally sensitive outdoor recreation.
Join our talented and dynamic team as we work collaboratively towards our vision and put your passion for open space to work! Here are our current job openings:
You can also refer to our website openspace.org/careers for more information about working at Midpen.
Photo credits: Header: Eleanor Raab; Storm damage: Midpen staff; Webinar: Midpen staff; Birds: Michelle Yau; Career Fair: Ranger Rozo, Santa Clara County Office of Education; Photo contest: Larry Chow; Tree: Gail Bower; Mountain lion: Ken Hickman; Field staff: Midpen staff.
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