PENINSULA OPEN SPACE TRUST
MARCH 2019
The unmatched beauty of the San Mateo Coast—sandy beaches, mountain forests and pastoral farms in between— have been central to the land protection work of Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) since 1977. Our commitment to the coast has deepened since completing our first projects for the Farmland Futures Initiative in 2015 and then publicly launching a fundraising effort in 2016. With the help of local farmers and landowners, we’re working hard to preserve half of this area’s farms and cropland by 2025. Like you, we value all of the benefits that agricultural lands bring to our landscape and that farmers bring to our communities. As a result, we’ve been investing in a variety of projects that improve infrastructure and ensure farmland remains available for farming operations now and in the future. In this Coastal Community Update you will find information about these investments and major projects completed in the region since 2015. This holistic approach is an exciting evolution for POST that we hope will continue to gain strong support thanks to many partners. In addition to farmers, ranchers and landowners, key partners have included the San Mateo Resource Conservation District (RCD), County agencies and representatives, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District and many nonprofit partners, community members and donors. You can find more information about this work at www.openspacetrust.org/farmland. Thank you for helping to make the San Mateo Coast such a special place. Benjamin Wright Farmland Program Manager bwright@openspacetrust.org 650-854-7696 Ext. 307
Our commitment to the San Mateo Coast is reflected in the more than $26.3M POST has invested in the region since 2015.
LAND PROTECTION $23,265,000 INVESTED
STEWARDSHIP PROJECTS $2,675,000 INVESTED
POST has been actively pursuing opportunities to preserve farms and expand public access along the coast. Since launching FFI, POST has invested over $23M to purchase land and conservation easements.
Through FFI, POST is actively investing in infrastructure projects, particularly for buildings and water systems in the Pescadero area. Since launching FFI, POST has directly invested over $2.6M with substantial additional funding coming from key stewardship partners.
SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPPORT $226,000 INVESTED
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS $165,000 INVESTED
Recognizing that POST owns a large amount of tax-exempt acreage in the La HondaPescadero Unified School District, we support the schools with voluntary payments in lieu of taxes. POST continues to pay full assessed taxes on all farmland.
POST has made direct contributions to key community partners whose work complements and extends beyond our own focus on land protection. Examples include sponsoring the Pescadero Farmers’ Market and grants to local school foundations.
HOUSING ADDED FOR FARMWORKERS Together with the County of San Mateo, POST and Blue House Farm added four three-bedroom housing units at our San Gregorio Farm property. These new units will help bring workforce stability to this locally-owned farm by ensuring farmworkers have an affordable place to live. Housing is just one way POST is helping set up farms for long-term success.
FAMILY FARM PROTECTED IN HALF MOON BAY POST purchased 32 acres of the Andreotti Family Farm that was for sale on the open market in 2017 and 2018. The farm has operated for over 90 years and is one of the last remaining farms in the Half Moon Bay city limits. Dino and Terry Andreotti, long-time farmers of the property, have signed an agreement to purchase the farmland from POST subject to an agricultural conservation easement that will permanently preserve the farmland. They currently lease the property from POST and continue to operate their farm stand.
TUNITAS CREEK BEACH PROTECTED FOR PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE In fall of 2017, POST purchased 58 acres on the southern end of Tunitas Creek Beach to protect it from previously unmanaged use, rehabilitate its natural features and prepare it to be opened as a brand-new public park. POST is working closely with San Mateo County Parks, which manages the property now and will own it in the future.
2  COA S TA L COMMUNIT Y UPDAT E
Mateo
El Granada
an 's C ree
k
nc
hm
San Carlos
Fr
e
Half Moon Bay
a Pi l
to r ci
re sC
ek
Redwood City
ANDREOTTI FAMILY FARM
Woodside
k ee Cr Cr ee k
b
s ito
Tun ita s
Lo
WAVECREST ADDITION
POTRERO NUEVO FARM TUNITAS CREEK BEACH
San Gregorio
Pacific Ocean
SAN GREGORIO FARM
San Gre go
rio
La Honda
Cre ek
Loma Mar e
k
Pescadero P
ro
e Cr
Bu
no ta
PEBBLE BEACH FARM
ad e esc
k ee Cr
ATEO COUNTY SAN M A CRUZ COUNTY
S A V E L O C A L FA R M S F O R U S A L L
FARMLAND STEWARDSHIP PROJECTS NEW LAND PROTECTED FOR FUTURE RECREATION PROTECTED LAND
sC
k e
zo
NEWLY PROTECTED FARMS
re
FOCUS AREA
SANT
G
a
PIE RANCH UPPER SLICE PIE RANCH LOWER SLICE
COA S TA L COMMUNIT Y UPDAT E  3
2 0 15- 2018 ACC OMPL ISH MEN TS
COASTAL PROJECT UPDATES
LAND PROTECTION
AGRICULTURAL BUILDINGS
Protected 6 farms totaling 529 acres and 2 coastal recreation properties that will provide beach access and walking trails.
Repaired and constructed 4 barns/sheds for farm and livestock operations with 5 more in progress.
HOUSING
AGRICULTURAL LEASES
Completed 2 farm labor housing projects and working on 3 more to provide 11 housing units with a total of 34 bedrooms.
Managed 17 farm and grazing leases to local operators on over 3,500 acres and replaced 7 miles of ranch perimeter fencing.
IRRIGATION AND DRINKING WATER
REPAIR AND RESTORATION
Developed 8 wells, 2 springs, and completed 1 farm pond with a second underway to give farmers water security and to reduce creek withdrawals.
Partnered with RCD on a 100-acre Butano Creek floodplain restoration project and completed emergency gully stabilization on Cloverdale Road.
4  COA S TA L COMMUNIT Y UPDAT E
openspacetrust.org