This month, discover the incredible journey the beautiful monarch butterfly makes in its brief lifespan. And while trail repairs are in good hands with our dedicated field crews, Midpen is seeking help from the community to fight sudden oak death disease, sort through wildlife camera shots, and plan for ecologically-sensitive public access to a new area of Windy Hill Preserve. Plus, have you ever heard about fungi jumping? Find out more in May's edition of Plug Into Nature.
Nature in May: The Journey of a Lifetime
As the weather warms and days grow longer, you may begin to see more butterflies fluttering about. Among the various colorful varieties within Midpen preserves is an extraordinary species, the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus).
Many are already familiar with this iconic pollinator thanks to its striking orange, black and white pattern. However, monarch butterflies are truly remarkable for their long-range, multigenerational migration pattern from summer breeding areas to warmer winter grounds.
The monarchs are split into two geographic areas by the Rocky Mountains and are distributed differently, though they are the same species. Western monarchs breed west of the Rockies and the last generation of each year typically migrates west and southwest as far as 1,200 miles to overwinter in forested groves along the California coast, clustering together to stay warm. However, observations of some western monarchs migrating south to Arizona and Mexico in the winter and questions of whether they truly migrate, or rather are able to expand their geographic range in the warm summer months, are under debate. Eastern monarchs breed east of the Rockies and their last generation of the year flies, incredibly, some 2,500 miles south to spend winters in Florida and Mexico."
Once spring arrives, the butterflies begin a multigenerational migration back to their summer breeding sites. Along the way, the butterflies mature sexually and mate, leading females to search for suitable milkweed plants on which to lay their eggs to start the next generation. Adult monarchs typically only live for a few weeks; by the time they have mated, their life cycle is nearly complete. As they die, they leave their offspring to grow and continue the journey.
About three to five days after the eggs have been laid, baby caterpillars with voracious appetites emerge. Feeding exclusively on milkweed, the young caterpillars eat, grow, molt and repeat. Then they form a chrysalis, a hard outer case, as they undergo metamorphosis. Two weeks later, a beautiful butterfly breaks free from its pod.
It takes two to five generations of butterflies to complete the migration fully. Amazingly, the last generation of the year for both the western and eastern monarchs delay sexual maturation to live upward of eight months and, despite having never flown the course, complete the entirety of the fall migration (about 1,200 and 2,500 miles, respectively) toward their winter homes.
Keep an eye out for these spectacular butterflies in open fields and meadows as they pass through the Bay Area and central California this spring.
Overwintering on eucalyptus at Pismo Beach
Vibrant vermillion wings
Join the Fight Against Sudden Oak Death
Since 2005, Midpen has committed to studying prevention and treatment methods for sudden oak death (SOD), a disease that kills several California native oak species and harms the biologically rich oak woodlands of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Collecting information on the spread of SOD is an essential aspect of understanding how the disease is transmitted and helps Midpen scientists predict which areas within Midpen preserves may be affected in the future.
On May 20, UC Berkeley will be hosting community SOD Blitz surveys in Portola Valley, Woodside and Los Altos Hills, allowing members of the public to become community scientists for the day. Sign up for a blitz in your area to learn how to identify SOD symptoms, collect leaves for analysis in a lab and contribute to detailed local maps of SOD distribution.
To learn more about SOD and other Blitz events, visit openspace.org/sod.
Midpen Trails Are in Good Hands as Storm Damage Repairs Continue
Spring has arrived, and many of us are getting out on our favorite trails. Midpen staff, however, continue the ongoing work of recovering from this winter’s storms. Work is expected to last into late summer and, in hard-hit areas, early fall. Total damage to the trails, roads and other infrastructure throughout Midpen preserves is estimated at more than $7.5 million. Midpen is applying for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding to help offset repair costs. According to Midpen Skyline Area Manager Craig Beckman, who has worked for Midpen since 1984, the recent winter storms caused the most damage he has seen in his career.
In a typical day, Midpen maintenance staff are clearing 30-40 fallen trees. Many locations require heavy equipment to move or chip logs and vegetation to maintain emergency access and improve wildland fire safety.
By mid-April, the Skyline area preserves experienced 37 inches of rain, 12 inches of snow and 80-mile-per-hour winds, resulting in failed and clogged culverts, road and trail damage, landslides and downed trees. Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve was hit especially hard, and the lower access will remain closed for several months as the county repairs nearby access roads. The upper portion of the preserve remains partially open, though at this time several main trails are partially closed and the entire preserves is closed to horses due to landslides and unsafe terrain.
In Midpen’s lower-elevation preserves, crews expect similar work to take several months to complete. Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve was severely impacted and remains temporarily closed as the county repairs Bear Creek Road, while Midpen crews repair landslides, remove damaged and downed trees and assess vegetation along the trails.
The good news is, the majority of Midpen’s 250 miles of trails remain open daily, free of charge. Thank you for your patience as Midpen staff do what they are best at: building and maintaining the highest quality trails for you and caring for your open space lands.
Named for its resemblance to a tiny bird’s nest, the bird’s nest fungus (family Nidulariaceae) measures a minuscule one centimeter across (about half the size of a penny). It is commonly found in the Santa Cruz Mountains, particularly in moist, disturbed areas with plant debris or mulch, such as the sides of trails. With many open space preserves still saturated from this year’s early storms, visitors paying close attention have been able to spot the fungus.
This fungus is unique for its appearance and reproduction technique, implementing what is known as a “splash cup.” As raindrops spatter onto the cup, it launches the fungi’s “eggs,” known as peridioles, which house the fungus’ spores. The peridioles launched by the raindrop are connected to a sticky cord that attaches to nearby grasses or branches. They either dry on the branch and release spores to reproduce or are eaten and dispersed through the gastrointestinal systems of wildlife.
Midpen recently worked with KQED to highlight the curious and delightful bird’s nest fungus for their Deep Look digital video series. Click on the screenshot below to watch.
Latino Outdoors Nature Exploration Walk
On April 30, Midpen partner Latino Outdoors held their Nature Exploration Walk at Ravenswood Open Space Preserve. Participants in the walk explored the preserve while making observations of the plants and animals we found along the way. This weekend walk was also a part of the City Nature Challenge, an international event that aims to motivate people worldwide to find and document wildlife and nature in and around their cities by using apps and platforms like iNaturalist. You can still take part wherever you are, in your backyard, around the block, or at your local park.
All you have to do is:
1. Find wildlife: It can be any plant, animal or any traces of life found in your city. 2. Take pictures: Take a picture of what you find. Be sure to note the location of the critter or plant. 3. Share: Share your observations through the iNaturalist website.
PROJECT UPDATES
Hawthorns Area of Windy Hill Open Space Preserve Seeking Candidates for Public Access Working Group
Are you passionate about open space preservation and recreation?
Are you interested in shaping ecologically sensitive public access to the Hawthorns Area of Windy Hill Open Space Preserve?
Do you enjoy participating in working groups and have the capacity to join approximately six in-person meetings, scheduled at 6-8 weeks starting this summer?
The Hawthorns Area of Windy Hill Open Space Preserve is a 79-acre property located within the Town of Portola Valley and owned by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen). The property is currently closed to the public.
Midpen is seeking representatives of the area who are interested in joining the Hawthorns Public Access Working Group. Working group members will collaborate with Midpen staff, other stakeholders, and elected official liaisons on a plan to introduce ecologically sensitive public access to the site in a manner consistent with Midpen vision and goals.
The working group would evaluate the following public access components:
Parking area and driveway location(s)
Trailhead location(s) and internal trail system
Trail connections with surrounding trails and pathways
Opportunities for regional trail connections
Proposed trail uses within the Hawthorns Area
Open recruitment is taking place May 1 through June 11 with a virtual Q & A on May 15. For more information, please visit openspace.org/hawthorns.
Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve & County Park Shuttle and Ride Hail Update
On May 23, the Midpen Planning and Natural Resources Committee will review data collection, public feedback, proposed performance measures and design concepts for Rancho San Antonio Multimodal Access Priority 1 Implementation Shuttle and Ride Hail Programs.
The Shuttle and Ride Hail Programs support the larger Rancho San Antonio Multimodal Access Study, which aims to encourage visitors to use greener modes of transportation and reduce parking demand and traffic while maintaining equitable access for both local and regional visitors.
Staff and project consultants have developed a vision of the Shuttle and Ride Hail Programs that will serve to be guiding principles for program development and implementation. Following feedback from the Planning and Natural Resources Committee, the project team plans to bring the revised performance measures and design concepts to the full board at a future date.
For more information about the Rancho San Antonio Multimodal Access Project, please visit openspace.org/multimodal-study.
Alma Cultural Landscape Wins Preservation Award
Midpen was recognized by the California Preservation Foundation for our work in rehabilitating the Alma Cultural Landscape in Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve. The California Preservation Awards showcase exceptional historic preservation work across the state.
What is now Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve was home to layers of history with ties to the 19th-century logging boom, the vast rural estates of early 20th-century industry leaders and Alma College, the first Jesuit school of theology on the west coast.
Balancing both the rich human history of the site as well as the natural and ecologic features of the land was a key priority for the project team. “We’re really proud of what we were able to achieve with this project,” said project manager Scott Reeves. “We hope the Alma Cultural Landscape will not only give visitors a glimpse into the history of the region, but will help them think about the wildlife in the area, the geologic formations and what it means to return heavily used areas back to a more natural state.”
Although this year’s storms have damaged roads and trails, forcing the closure of the preserve, interested parties can visit an online self-guided interpretive tour and explore the history of the landscape. We appreciate your patience as our crews work to repair the preserve and ensure it is safe for public access. Take the tour now!
Purisima-to-the-Sea Trail and Parking Area Feasibility Study
On May 24, the Midpen board will review the findings and recommendations from the Purisima-to-the-Sea Trail and Parking Area Feasibility Study.
The feasibility study sought to identify a new regional trail link between Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve and the existing Cowell-Purisima Coastal Trail, as well as a new parking area and public access trailhead. The new trail link will bridge the regional trail network between the Bay Area Ridge Trail to the California Coastal Trail and will continue the expansion of the Bay-to-Sea Trail.
Board acceptance of the recommended project elements will allow staff to begin an environmental review and collaborate with partners to identify the appropriate agency to implement the project elements not within Midpen lands.
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.
Midpen Board to review Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Budget and Action Plan
Over a series of four committee and board meetings, the Midpen Action Plan and Budget Committee and board of directors will review the proposed $82.8 million budget to fund 109 key projects and 15 supporting projects for the fiscal year running from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024.
The meetings to review and approve the budget include:
Wed, May 3: Action Plan & Budget Committee Meeting 1
Tue, May 16: Action Plan & Budget Committee Meeting 2
Wed, May 24: Public Hearing on the Proposed Budget
Tue, May 30: Action Plan & Budget Committee Meeting 3, if needed
Wed, June 14: Public Hearing on Budget Adoption
The Midpen board adopts the budget on a yearly basis and reviews a multiyear Capital Improvement and Action Plan (CIAP), which lists projects for the upcoming three years, to understand what projects and phases of projects the District will be pursuing in the near term.
Midpen’s primary revenue source is a share of the annual total property tax collected by counties within District boundaries. Other revenue sources may include federal and state grants, interest and rental income, donations and bond reimbursements.
We are excited to announce the launch of a completely online volunteer project where you can support the work of open space from the comfort of your sofa – no hiking boots required! Aimed at managing data captured on wildlife recording units throughout Midpen preserves, this project is the first of its kind for Midpen, and we need your help to make it a success!
We are looking for volunteers passionate about wildlife conservation and willing to dedicate some of their time to tagging and sorting wildlife camera images using an online software program called Wildlife Insights. These efforts will help biologists at Midpen analyze and understand wildlife activity in the preserves.
To participate in this project, you only need access to the internet, a computer, and confidence to learn a new software program; staff will provide all training and supplemental materials. Virtual attendance at a May 18 training is required.
In addition to supporting a worthwhile cause, volunteering for this project offers several benefits. As a volunteer, you will:
Gain new insights and knowledge about local wildlife.
Develop new computer and software skills.
Have the flexibility to volunteer from home or anywhere with an internet connection.
Gain a sense of pride knowing that you are contributing to vital conservation efforts.
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 toward 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/careersfor more information about working at Midpen.
Photo credits: Silvery Blue butterfly: Douglas Croft; Overwintering monarchs: Bill Kennedy; Single monarch: Dantesattic/Getty Images; Sudden Oak Death: Karl Gohl; Storm damage: Midpen; KQED screenshot: KQED; Latino Outdoors: Aurora Cortes; Photo contest photo: Larry Chow; Hawthorns at Windy Hill: Midpen;Rancho parking: Karl Gohl; Alma Cultural Landscape: Jack Owicki; Purisima Creek Redwoods: Karl Gohl; Chipmunk: Ken Hickman.
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