Welcome back to reopened Bear Creek Redwoods! Plus, learn how Midpen is working to improve the visitor experience at Rancho San Antonio, Windy Hill and Purisima Creek Redwoods open space preserves. And though summer is waning, Midpen docent naturalists can still get you out in nature with free guided outings. Read this and more in the August edition of Plug Into Nature.
(AJ Sherman/iNaturalist)
Nature in August: Flowering Tanoak Trees
Warm summer days in the Santa Cruz mountains often carry the distinct scent of flowering tanoak trees (Notholithocarpus densiflorus). These unassuming native evergreens with scalloped, deep-green leaves are not true oaks. While they have acorns like oak trees, their flowers are more like a chestnut with clusters of catkins like candles on a Christmas tree that scent the air where they grow — among redwoods, Douglas firs and madrones in California and southern Oregon.
Thanks to the hard work of field staff and Santa Clara County road crews, we are pleased to welcome visitors back to Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve! Though winter storms may be a distant memory now, our region experienced an unprecedented deluge that dropped more than 40 inches of accumulated rain to the Santa Cruz Mountains.
These storms brought down thousands of trees and caused the failures of several culverts, including the one running beneath Bear Creek Road directly in front of the preserve’s parking area. County road crews replaced the culvert to provide safe access across the road and into the preserve. At the same time, Midpen crews cleared hundreds of downed trees along Alma, Redwood Springs and Madrone Knoll trails to create a safe, passable pathway. Staff also repaired a landslide caused by storms.
(Michael Gorman/Midpen)
Just this week, PG&E crews reinstalled a power pole and reenergized the pedestrian crossing beacons, allowing us to safely reopen. We appreciate your patience as the preserve was being made safe for access. We are excited to reopen the preserve and encourage visitors to exercise caution as you return. Please stay on marked trails and be careful not to disturb recovering vegetation.
Grasshopper Loop Trail in La Honda Creek Preserve Closes Seasonally to Dogs
The Grasshopper Loop Trail in La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve is now seasonally closed to dogs during cattle calving season from August 1 through December 15 to protect the health and safety of visitors and support Midpen’s conservation grazing program. This 1.3-mile easy-access trail remains open year-round for hiking from the preserve’s Sears Ranch Road Parking Area.
The Grasshopper Loop Trail first opened to the public in June of 2022 and is unique among Midpen trails (along with the Mindego Hill area of Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve) for traversing working coastal ranchlands where cattle actively graze. Midpen’s mission on the San Mateo County coast, where agricultural roots run deep, includes supporting viable agriculture.
Thank you for temporarily enjoying this trail without your furry friends, helping Midpen balance ecologically sensitive public access, environmental protection and conservation grazing. There is year-round dog access in the upper area of La Honda Creek Preserve through a free day-use permit (permits are required due to limited parking). In addition, nine other Midpen preserves provide more than 62 miles of dog-friendly trails that are open year-round.
Midpen Ranger Lucas patrols the Grasshopper Loop Trail in La Honda Creek Preserve. (Leigh Ann Gessner/Midpen)
Because climate change poses a direct threat to the lands and wildlife we care for Midpen is committed to monitoring and reducing our greenhouse gas emissions. Since 2016, we have reduced administrative greenhouse gas emissions by 30%, surpassing our initial goal of a 20% reduction by 2022. There are many more actions and projects on the horizon aimed at climate adaptation, resilience and carbon sequestration.
Committee Receives Update on Rancho San Antonio Multimodal Access Studies
Midpen is currently evaluating the feasibility of a free/low-cost shuttle program and a subsidized ride-hail to access Rancho San Antonio County Park & Open Space Preserve. During a July 11 Planning & Natural Resources (PNR) Committee meeting, staff presented the collected data, analysis and public and stakeholder input. The committee also reviewed each program's design concepts and performance measures.
In a continuation meeting held July 18, PNR Committee members reviewed a potential companion transportation demand management (TDM) strategy designed to better manage Rancho San Antonio Preserve's high parking demand.
Staff will present the shuttle program, ride-hail program, companion TDM strategy and the results of the one-year pilot carpool program to the board in a meeting later this fall. Learn more about the project here.
Project at Purisima Creek Redwoods Aims to Expand Parking and Connect Trails
Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve is one of Midpen’s most-visited preserves and a critical link in the regional Bay Area Ridge Trail. Midpen is partnering with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, POST and the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council to evaluate connecting and extending the Bay Area Ridge Trail across Highway 35 and to potentially expand the preserve's North Ridge Parking Area.
On July 25th, the Midpen Planning and Natural Resources Committee met at the North Ridge Parking Area to review four conceptual designs for its expansion and reconfiguration as part of the Highway 35 Multiuse Trail Crossing and Parking Expansion Feasibility Study. The committee chose one design to put forward to Midpen's full board of directors to approve and initiate an environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act.
Hawthorns Public Access Working Group Kicks Off
The first of seven planned meetings for the Hawthorns Area of Windy Hill Preserve Public Access Working Group took place July 25, at the Midpen Administrative Office. The kickoff meeting included an orientation for the new working group members and a review of the schedule for coming sessions.
Midpen formed the new public access working group in June to help develop and evaluate alternatives for introducing public access to the Hawthorns Area of Windy Hill Preserve based on the board-adopted vision and goals. The group is comprised of area representatives, ward stakeholders, a Midpen board liaison and a Portola Valley town liaison. The public access working group’s meetings are open to the public. For more information about the project, please visit openspace.org/hawthorns.
PUBLIC MEETING UPDATES
Helping Youth Create Connections
to the Natural World
Midpen recognizes the importance of engaging youth as the next generation of environmental leaders. At the August 9 board of directors meeting, staff will give a presentation on youth outreach programs provided by Midpen. The presentation will highlight opportunities for families to experience the open space preserves, such as weekend visits to the Daniels Nature Center at Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve from April through mid-November, or year-round Docent Naturalist guided activities.
Outdoor education docents and environmental education program staff also provide field trips for 3rd-5th graders at Skyline Ridge Preserve, where students get to meet Rolo the gopher snake, experience a habitat hike, and create their own connections with the natural world. There are many additional youth programs sponsored jointly by Midpen and community partners. Join us at the August 9 meeting by clicking here.
FY24 Budget Gets Adopted
At its regular meeting on June 14, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District board of directors adopted an $82.8 million budget to fund 124 projects for the fiscal year from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, including 13 projects to address storm damage repairs.
Nearly a quarter of the projects included in the FY24 Capital Improvement and Action Plan section of the budget are eligible for reimbursement through Measure AA, the 30-year, $300 million general obligation bond approved by voters in 2014. Action plan projects span the four main program areas supporting Midpen’s strategic goals: land acquisition and preservation; natural resource protection and restoration; public access, education and outreach; and assets and organizational support.
Upcoming Public Meetings
Meetings may be viewed online. 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.
Latino Outdoors Helps Midpen With Invasive Plants, and You Too Can Join In
In July, Midpen and our partner Latino Outdoors hosted volunteers at Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve. After staff provided training on effective removal techniques and plant identification, the group set out to clear summer mustard along a portion of Lower Meadow Trail.
Successfully removing invasive plant species is slow and persistent work and annual upkeep is often required. Volunteers play an essential part in caring for stewarding Midpen’s preserves. If you are interested in helping restore our public open spaces, visit our volunteer page and sign up to remove yellow star thistle at Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve on August 12, attend a workday at Thornewood Open Space Preserve on August 31 and more.
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.
Photo credits: Header: Musa Zaid; Tanoak: iNaturalist/AJ Sherman; Bear Creek Redwoods: Michael Gorman/Midpen; Grasshopper Loop: Leigh Ann Gessner/Midpen; Emissions Goal: Karl Gohl; Rancho San Antonio: Karl Gohl; Highway 35: Natalie Jolly;Hawhthorns: Rachel Frost;Youth: Ellen Tjosvold; Nature Center: Ellen Tjosvold; Latino Outdoors: Midpen
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