Inside this issue: Learn about the potential creation of a new, large Midpen preserve near Pescadero, the reopening of Alpine Road Trail, the potential for upcoming trail closures due to mountain lion research, and get updates on other restoration, agricultural and public access projects in the works. Plus keep an eye out for our brand-new documentary airing on NBC Bay Area later this month! Scroll through to read or download a pdf version.
A Message from the General Manager
Reflecting on
a Year of
Celebration
All year long, we have been celebrating 50 years of caring for the land that cares for us and many of you have participated along the way. Thank you for your enthusiastic support!
Midpen was founded by community members just like you who saw the need to protect the nature that coexists around us. With your support, we have protected more than 65,000 acres, stretching east to the Bay and west to the Pacific, to create an interconnected greenbelt where people, plants and animals can thrive.
New Documentary is a Journey Through Time and Midpen Preserves
As a capstone to our yearlong 50th anniversary celebrations, Midpen is bringing our stories to you in a new documentary. From the comfort of your home, we’ll take you on an hour-long journey back into local history, out on the trails, up to the mountaintops and into the secret lives of local charismatic wildlife found in Midpen preserves.
Grab some popcorn and get ready to be inspired!
Airing:
December 24 at 4 p.m. | December 25 at 10 p.m.
on NBC Bay Area.
Bob Garcia was studying biology at San Jose State University in 1975 when he got the call from staff at Midpen, then a newly created public agency, in need of someone to help build out the ranger program and get eyes and ears on the ground in the first open space preserves. At the time, the agency was still known as the Midpeninsula Regional Parks District. When Garcia joined, there were fewer than 10 total employees.
It’s not every day in the Bay Area that you can enjoy a vivid sunset followed by the moonrise from a mountaintop. Midpen’s one-and-only backpacking camp atop Black Mountain in Monte Bello Open Space Preserve makes those experiences accessible to anyone willing and able to hike a couple of miles. For some, this site also provides an opportunity to learn how to backpack, which is camping on foot carrying everything you need in a pack.
Using digital tools to help plants, animals and people
Rapidly advancing technology may seem to be at odds with open space preservation, however new technologies such as digital mapping, apps, cameras and software are essential to Midpen’s work. These tools help us to understand and adapt to an ever-changing world, care for the natural environment and support the public in learning about and visiting the preserves.
Midpen recently received a 2022 Top 10 Innovation Award from AT&T and Government Technology! This award recognizes special districts that have utilized technology to improve internal operations with employees. Midpen was honored for not one but two projects: a new system that allows us to track and visualize the over 65,000 acres managed by Midpen and development of a new workflow to streamline the contract routing process throughout the organization.
EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
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 outdoor recreation.
Immerse yourself in nature and history to celebrate Midpen’s 50th anniversary with docent naturalists as your guides for the “All Preserves Great & Small” year-long hike series. Each preserve offers something special and retired Midpen ranger Frances Reneau, now a docent naturalist, created this series.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the original dates for the November Puma Project research have been rescheduled for one or two weekdays from December 12 through December 21. We anticipate only one preserve will be closed at a time.
The following preserves may be closed: Foothills, Fremont Older, Long Ridge, Los Trancos, Monte Bello, Rancho San Antonio, Russian Ridge, Saratoga Gap and Skyline Ridge.
Alpine Road Trail is now temporarily open for the winter of 2022-2023, as Phase I of the Alpine Road Regional Trail Improvement Project is complete. Midpen is reconstructing parts of the regional Alpine Road Trail in Coal Creek Open Space Preserve to protect the water quality of Corte Madera Creek, which supports several native fish and plant species. The trail improvements will also allow for the long-term repurposing of the former road alignment into a multiuse regional trail connection. Phase II will begin in the summer of 2023. Read more here.
Hawthorns Area Plan Visitor Survey
The Hawthorns Area is a 79-acre property located in the Town of Portola Valley, along Alpine Road across from Roberts Market. Part of Windy Hill Open Space Preserve, the area has been closed to the public as staff worked to restore native grasslands, improve community wildland fire safety and protect historic features on the property. Last year, Midpen began the multiyear public process to explore the feasibility of introducing ecologically sensitive public access to the undeveloped portion of the property.
As part of this effort, we are looking to better understand the existing traffic conditions around the project area, visitor preferences and alternative transportation options with a potential-user survey. Your answers to the survey questions will help inform planning efforts. The survey has been extended and will remain open through December 31. Please help us with your input.
Coastal projects support preservation, agriculture and access
The iconic red barn in Midpen’s La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve, as seen from Highway 84, serves as a visual gateway to the rural San Mateo County Coastside. Over the past couple of months, it has been under construction, receiving a new roof that will help the 120-year-old historic structure continue withstanding the elements, including better protection from potential fires. Midpen has maintained the barn since acquiring the property, conducting a major restoration effort in 2002.
Through a public process, staff is updating Midpen’s agricultural policy, which guides our role in regional agriculture on the San Mateo County Coastside. Join the Midpen board of directors for a public meeting both in-person and via teleconference on Thursday, December 8 at 2 p.m., as they will receive a presentation on public and stakeholder feedback received to date and suggested themes for updating Midpen’s agricultural policy. For more information, visit openspace.org/ag-policy.
Proposed Cloverdale Purchase
On Saturday, December 10 at 11 a.m., Midpen’s board of directors will consider approving the purchase of approximately 5,100 acres and an option to purchase an additional 1,200 acres of upland area of the larger Cloverdale Ranch property near Pescadero from Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST). The meeting will occur at the Pescadero Middle/High School at 350 Butano Cutoff in Pescadero. The proposed purchase would preserve coastal open space, protect conservation grazing and agricultural lands, protect habitat for multiple sensitive species and provide opportunities for future public trail opportunities in partnership with California State Parks. For more information, visit openspace.org/Cloverdale.
The Cloverdale acquisition will provide large, intact coastal grasslands which provide habitats for the federally threatened California red-legged frogs.
La Honda Creek Preserve Public Access Study
Recently, Midpen board members and constituents from throughout Midpen’s service area came together to participate in the La Honda Public Access Working Group to identify the best ways for expanding public access into the central area of La Honda Creek Preserve. Their resulting suite of recommendations have been evaluated by staff, including with technical studies.
Join Midpen’s Planning and Natural Resources Committee for a public meeting, both in-person and via teleconference, on Tuesday, December 13 at 1 p.m. where staff will share their findings, before moving to the next step of developing conceptual design plans for possible new public access facilities. Get details at openspace.org/LHC-access.
Reintroducing Prescribed Fire in 2023
As part of Midpen’s Wildland Fire Resiliency Program, staff is working to reintroduce prescribed fire to our land management toolbox in 2023. Join the Midpen board of directors for a public meeting, both in-person and via teleconference, on Wednesday, December 14 at 7 p.m., as they will receive a presentation on the developed prescribed fire plan and consider approving a related addendum to the certified Final Program Environmental Impact Report for the Wildland Fire Resiliency Program.
The goals of Midpen’s Wildland Fire Resiliency Program are to proactively expand ecologically sensitive vegetation management, establish healthy ecosystems, reduce wildland fire risk and facilitate fire suppression. For more information visit openspace.org/fire.
In a special meeting on November 9 at 5 p.m., the Midpen board of directors reviewed and approved the findings and recommendations of the Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve Multimodal Access and Transportation Demand Management Study report. The goals of the project were to evaluate existing preserve parking, access and visitation; identify strategies to address parking and traffic issues and better manage visitation; and develop an implementation plan. Get details at openspace.org/pcr-multimodal.
Upcoming Board Meetings
Meetings are hybrid: attend in-person or online. Links to the meetings and a dial-in number to listen by phone are included in the meeting agendas posted online 72 hours before the meeting.
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