Inside this issue: How Midpen is helping a rare bird by providing quality nesting habitat, a new bike ride series offered in partnership with Silicon Valley Bike Coalition and keeping yourself, your pets, Midpen preserves and surrounding communities safe through the current heat wave and Fourth of July holiday.
Nature in July: Purple Martins Return to Midpen
Did you know that the largest and most consistent population of western purple martins (Progne subis arboricola) in Santa Clara County is on Midpen lands? This migratory swallow was thought to have disappeared from the county until Midpen began the restoration of Mount Umunhum and saw the acrobatic avians overhead and nesting in old utility poles.
In the years following this significant discovery, Midpen has been monitoring purple martin breeding activity and providing a variety of nesting structures to help purple martins return to and thrive in our region.
Safely Navigating the Heat Wave and Celebrating Fourth of July
It’s a triple-whammy this week! National Weather Service has declared excessive heat and red flag warnings for our region, just in time for Fourth of July. This means some Midpen areas may temporarily close.
Keep yourself and your pets safe (and first responders available to quickly respond to potential fires) by minimizing outdoor activities between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., and staying cool and hydrated.
For public and fire safety, Midpen rangers will strictly enforce preserve and parking lot closure times on July 4, 2024. There will be no access after sunset.
Celebrating 10 Years of Measure AA Accomplishments on OpenRoad
In case you missed it when it first aired in June, Midpen’s newest episode of OpenRoad with Doug McConnell and Friends airs again locally on NBC Saturday, July 6 at 7 p.m. You can also check it out on Midpen’s YouTube channel.
This episode takes you on a journey along the newly improved Alpine Road Trail in Midpen’s Coal Creek Preserve, and features a host of rare local wildlife that are benefitting from restoration efforts in Midpen preserves, all funded by voter-approved Measure AA.
Midpen Staff Receive Hands-On Fire Experience Through State Parks Partnership
One of many ways Midpen prepares for fire season is an annual spring training for our rangers and other wildland firefighting-certified staff to keep their skills current.
This year, following this annual refresher training (which does not include live fire), Midpen staff had an additional training opportunity to participate in a prescribed fire operation at Big Basin Redwoods State Park.
State Parks’ goal was to prepare an approximately 300-acre area for a future prescribed fire by burning a line in the brush around the perimeter of the area.
“These collaborative opportunities help our partners while providing invaluable live-fire training for Midpen staff,” said Midpen Supervising Ranger Miguel Perez, who participated in the State Parks prescribed burn. “The Big Basin burn was an amazing opportunity in a controlled environment for Midpen staff to refresh and practice their skills including seeing fire behavior, managing heat and smoke on the fire line, working with radios in a fire environment and more."
The Los Gatos Creek Watershed Collaborative held a tour for media and legislative representatives in the Lexington Hills last month to highlight the ecologically sensitive work it’s doing in Santa Clara County.
The Collaborative is made up of several agencies, including Midpen, with the common goal of supporting healthier forests and watersheds that are resilient to wildland fire and climate change.
At its seventh and final meeting on June 13, the Hawthorns Public Access Working Group voted and affirmed recommendations to forward to the Midpen’s Planning and Natural Resources Committee on a plan to introduce ecologically sensitive public access at the Hawthorns Area of Windy Hill Open Space Preserve, a 79-acre property in Portola Valley. Recommendations include:
Internal trail systems and connections with the surrounding Town of Portola Valley pathways
Opportunities for regional trail connections
Proposed trail uses within the Hawthorns Area
Parking area and driveway locations
The upcoming public committee meeting to hear the working group's recommendations will take place on September 17, 2024.
At their regular public meeting on June 26, the Midpen board of directors adopted an $89.5 million budget to fund 119 projects for the fiscal year running from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. The day before, on June 25, 2024, Midpen offered approximately $37 million in Measure AA bonds for sale to the public to further fund Midpen’s priority Vision Plan projects, including open space and agricultural land preservation, environmental restoration and improved and expanded public access opportunities.
Nearly a quarter of the projects being funded by the newly adopted budget are eligible for reimbursement through Measure AA, the 30-year, $300 million general obligation bond approved by voters in 2014.
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.
Public comments are welcome at all Midpen board meetings. You can speak for up to three minutes in-person, via Zoom or provide written comments for the board to read. Either way, get started by submitting a public comment form.
EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
Silicon Valley Bike Coalition's
New Ride Series to Midpen Preserves
Leave your stressors behind as you pedal to Midpen preserves through a new ride series in partnership with Silicon Valley Bike Coalition (SVBC)!
Join SVBC and Sports Basement for CycleFest 2024 on Saturday, July 20 featuring a pre-event ride to Ravenswood Open Space Preserve. Check in for this Group Road Ride will begin at 8 a.m. and leave from the Redwood City Sports Basement and loop through the Bayside preserve. Reservations are required. Please RSVP on Eventbrite.
Experience the joy of cycling surrounded by your family and friends with two family-friendly rides to Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve on August 10 and 24. These rides will include a visit to the exciting Deer Hollow Farm with ample bathroom breaks and opportunities to rest. Reservations are required. Please RSVP on Eventbrite.
As always, SVBC guides will demonstrate a safe and efficient route to these popular Midpen preserves, pedaling along trails, bike lanes and surface streets. SVBC will also perform bike safety checks, fit helmets and offer free refreshments before rolling out at each event.
2023 Photo Contest Winners: Landscape (Leor Pantilat) and Plant Life (Jordan Gans)
Last Chance to Enter Midpen's Photo Contest
Pick your favorite photos taken in Midpen preserves! Submissions to our annual contest are accepted online through July 31 in the following categories:
Wildlife
Plant Life
Landscapes
People in Nature
Aspiring Photographers (students K-12)
The Trail Less Traveled (Midpen’s lesser-visited preserves)
A winner from each category will receive a $100 REI gift card and Midpen gear.
Join a free docent naturalist-guided activity below with Measure AA in the title, and see first-hand some of the landscapes that have been protected in perpetuity, explore new trails that have been created and appreciate how nature has been cared for to benefit plants, animals and people thanks to the support of voters approving Midpen’s Measure AA in 2014.
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/careers for more information about working at Midpen.
Other photo credits: Purple Martin: Midpen staff; Fourth of July: Todd Ditchendorf, Dean Birinyi; LGCWC: Shreeya Aranake; Fire Training: Miguel Perez; Budget: Deanne Little; Biking: Karl Gohl; Guided Activities: Karl Gohl
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