L ANDSCAPES Peninsula Open Space Trust Fall 2018
CONNECTIONS: THE KEY TO CONSERVATION When I think about what it takes to ensure that our landscapes thrive for years to come, one word comes to mind: connections. It’s not just the land that makes this place so special, it’s the fact that we have connected open spaces that form one living, breathing, healthy landscape that benefits all of us. Connecting people with those open spaces is a personal passion of mine. When people connect with nature, they discover new ways to look at life and the world around them. Connecting open spaces is also a priority for POST since connectivity is key to wildlife whose survival depends upon being able to move across the land to find food, water and mates, and evolve in a changing climate. In order to create a network of protected land before it is developed, we need to move quickly. POST has responded by organizing our work around five program areas: Wildlife Linkages, Public Access, Farmland, Redwoods and Coyote Valley. Connecting with other organizations in the form of strategic partnerships makes it possible for us to make a meaningful, enduring impact. As both the Vice President of Land at POST and a long-time 2
board member at Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen), I am particularly proud of our recent acquisition of 326 acres in Barrett Canyon, which occurred around the same time Midpen purchased an adjacent 154 acres at Twin Creeks. Together, these properties connect four preserves and expand a linkage that will allow wildlife and people to roam. I hope you enjoy reading this edition of Landscapes. It’s just one of the ways we aim to stay connected to you—our community, our supporters, our friends. Thank you for supporting our work. With warm regards,
Curt Riffle POST Vice President of Land
P.S. If you’re on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, we hope you’ll join us to stay connected! facebook.com/POSTfans @peninsulaopenspacetrust @POST_fans
TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S
©Andrea Laue 2018 / cover ©Teddy Miller 2017
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Barrett Canyon: A Key Piece of the South Bay Puzzle
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Coyote Valley: A Refuge for Birds
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Landscape Connectivity: The Flow of Life
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The Making of Giants: Healing San Vicente Redwoods
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Keeping it in the Family: The Andreotti Family Farm
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Tribute Gifts
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BARRETT CANYON
A KEY PIECE OF THE SOUTH BAY PUZZLE Since our founding, we’ve made tremendous progress toward creating a network of protected open spaces for all to enjoy. Though we are known for preserving large areas of land, we also work to connect these protected areas in order to safeguard critical wildlife habitat and expand recreational potential. Every acquisition helps to link our open spaces, but last spring, we took a significant step forward in the South Bay. In partnership with the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority (the Authority), we protected 326 acres of Barrett Canyon, south of the Almaden Reservoir. Around the same time, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen) protected 154 acres of adjacent land within the canyon—totaling 480 acres of newly protected open space. These two acquisitions connect 31,000 acres of land and will make it possible to link over 200 miles of existing South Bay trails. There is now a permanently protected corridor between Midpen’s Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve and the Authority’s Rancho Cañada del Oro Open 2
Space Preserve; the expanded network of open space also includes Calero and Almaden Quicksilver County Parks. The Authority will manage the POST-owned land within Barrett Canyon until we transfer it to them in about two years. The addition of this property will offer a wide range of opportunities to improve regional trail connections and offer the public new ways to enjoy the outdoors. Barrett Canyon represents an amazing threeway partnership and collaboration between public agencies, private non-profits and private landowners. It’s a winning formula that builds upon our past work, connects protected lands and adds to the network of open spaces that benefit all of us in the Bay Area.
©Teddy Miller 2018
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR WORK AT BARRETT CANYON, PLEASE VISIT OPENSPACETRUST.ORG/BARRETT-CANYON.
Barrett Canyon lies at the base of Loma Prieta, the tallest peak in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Water flowing north off the summit of the mountain converges within the canyon and flows, year-round, into the Almaden Reservoir, providing drinking water for much of San Jose. Perennial creeks such as this are rare in our area.
San Jose Los Gatos
Sierra Azul OSP
BARRETT CANYON ACQUISITIONS POST Midpen Other PROTECTED LAND
Almaden Quicksilver County Park
Calero County Park Rancho Cañada del Oro OSP
C O Y O T E VA L L E Y
A REFUGE FOR BIRDS Just south of San Jose lies Coyote Valley, a vital connection between the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Diablo Range. It’s one of the last remaining undeveloped valley floors in the Bay Area. Protecting and enhancing this landscape is essential to safeguard the health of the natural communities in our region which, in turn, helps support the resilience of each individual species that calls it home. Here, we have profiled five bird species that call habitat in Coyote Valley home for at least part of the year. Their survival is linked, in part, to the future of the valley floor.
AGELAIUS TRICOLOR
TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD Tricolored blackbirds nest in large groups, making it difficult for them to find suitable nesting habitat. The wetlands and certain types of agricultural lands in Coyote Valley are linked to this species’ local survival.
California Species of Special Concern 4
©Derek Neumann 2017 / birds left to right ©Marcel Holyoak 2005, ©Pat Gaines 2009, ©Teddy Miller 2018, ©Rus Wigh 2013, ©Becky Matsubara 2017
BUTEO SWAINSONI
AT H E N E C U N I C U L A R I A
LANIUS LUDOVICIANUS
ELANUS LEUCURUS
SWAINSON’S HAWK
WESTERN BURROWING OWL
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE
WHITE-TAILED KITE
In the spring, nearly the entire population of Swainson’s hawk migrates from Argentina to the grasslands and valley bottoms of North America to breed. But suitable habitat for this raptor is shrinking in California. The only documented breeding of this species in Santa Clara County took place in Coyote Valley.
Coyote Valley offers refuge for a few western burrowing owls, a species that relies on open, treeless areas with sparse vegetation. These birds winter in Coyote Valley, but leave in the summer to breed. It is likely they will soon disappear from Santa Clara County if we do not actively protect and restore their habitat.
Between 1966 and 2015, the global population of loggerhead shrike declined by over 75%, due primarily to loss of habitat. But if provided with the open space it needs to hunt efficiently, this species has the potential to make a quick recovery thanks to its incredibly fast reproductive rate.
White-tailed kites prefer to hunt for their meals, typically small mammals, in open grasslands and cultivated fields. After being rendered nearly extinct in California in the 1930s and ‘40s, they made a comeback and depend on the open valley floor of Coyote Valley to flourish.
California Threatened Species
California Species of Special Concern
California Species of Special Concern
California Fully Protected Species 5
THE FLOW OF LIFE
We live in one of the most naturally biodiverse regions in the world—a place that is teeming with life. In order to protect this diversity, we need to conserve and enhance the ecosystem connections that are vital to our regional health. But there is no “one size fits all” formula for this work, as different plants and animals have different needs, niches and relationships. Certain species need to roam far and wide; others may migrate through the seasons, or over the course of generations—but they all need connectivity to be able to move. Taking a regional view and a holistic approach toward land conservation, we are working to protect a range of habitats and to remove barriers that impede the natural flow of life across our region. This map shows a top-level view of existing connectivity on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. It is among the many tools we use to identify and prioritize areas for conservation. The brighter colors highlight areas where the flow between regions is constricted by surrounding land uses.
Connectivity Potential Low Flow
Map Source: The Nature Conservancy, California Chapter. Landscape Connectivity using Omniscape. ©2018
High Flow
CRITICAL CONNECTIONS a
Coyote Valley Our conservation and restoration work on this “last chance landscape” promises to increase connectivity between the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Diablo Range.
D b
Highway 17 Planned crossing structures near Lexington Reservoir and Laurel Curve will provide safe passage for wildlife and enhance connectivity across Highway 17.
B
c
A
Southern Santa Cruz Mountains This is a critical confluence of habitat choke points between the Santa Cruz Mountains, Mount Hamilton Range and Gabilan Range.
D c
Northern Peninsula Surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, life on the Peninsula faces isolation without regional connections.
THE MAKING OF GIANTS
HEALING THE FORESTS OF SAN VICENTE REDWOODS When we protected 8,532 acres at San Vicente Redwoods in 2011, we took responsibility for forests in dire need of help. Almost all of the largest trees had been cut down in the early 1900s—before anyone knew how devastating such a practice was. And while some areas of San Vicente have returned as healthy forests, several sections of the property are still struggling to recover.
of our local loggers, we are accelerating the forest’s recovery by removing some of the smaller, unhealthy trees. This technique—called selective thinning—is used by many land managers to eliminate some of the competition faced by the forest’s larger, healthier redwoods. With more available resources, the forest’s largest trees will have the chance to grow bigger and stronger faster.
Much of the forest that has grown back over the past 100 years at San Vicente Redwoods is drastically out of balance, overcrowded and stressed from competition for resources like water and sunlight. Where there used to be one giant old-growth tree, there are now many small, unhealthy redwoods.
We’re bringing back the giants.
But we have a plan to heal this forest. Using the latest in conservation science and the practical knowledge
As one of the largest protected areas in the Santa Cruz Mountains, San Vicente Redwoods is a vital refuge for wildlife in our region. Its health directly impacts the species that call it home and supports the health of the entire mountain range. We’re excited to watch as the giants of San Vicente Redwoods return and this forest, once again, finds its balance.
Learn more about this project on our website at openspacetrust.org making-of-giants. 8
ŠMatt Dolkas 2018
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K E E P I N G I T I N T H E F A M I LY
THE ANDREOTTI FAMILY FARM Healthy farms play a key role in the wellbeing of our region, especially on the San Mateo Coast where farms border protected lands, the California Coastal Trail and streams vital to salmon and trout. More than just providing beautiful views and fertile soil, farms enhance our local histories, communities and economies. And to have healthy farms, you need more than just rich, undeveloped land. Farms need farmers!
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For all of these reasons, we’re thrilled to have protected one of the oldest family farms in Half Moon Bay: the Andreotti Family Farm. In the family since 1926, it is now managed by second generation farmers Dino and Terry Andreotti (pictured right) and their children Frank and Haley.
POST quickly purchased the farm center in 2017 and then another 10 acres in 2018 while working with Dino and Terry on a conservation plan for the whole property. This fall, the once fragmented land will be owned entirely by Dino and Terry with 70 acres protected by an agricultural conservation easement, ensuring that it will remain a farm in perpetuity. The easement also makes the land more affordable, allowing Dino and Terry to secure the whole farm. It’s a collective win for the family, Half Moon Bay and everyone who loves to visit their farmstand.
Meeting the needs of new and growing generations is a common challenge for farmers, and in 2017, after the founding generation had passed away, the heart of this historic farm was put up for sale on the open market. Still, Dino and Terry were determined to preserve their way of life and keep the farm in the family. That’s where POST came in.
Farms give us a direct connection to the bounty of the natural world and allow us to participate in the land’s seasonal rhythms. At POST, we are committed to ensuring that future generations of farmers on the San Mateo Coast can continue to find fulfillment and economic stability while putting food on our tables.
Learn more about our Farmland Futures Initiative and our progress toward tripling the number of protected farms on the San Mateo Coast at openspacetrust.org/ffi.
Terry Andreotti in their historic barn
ŠTeddy Miller 2017 / right ŠMatt Dolkas 2018
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JANUARY 1 - JUNE 30, 2018
TRIBUTE GIFTS IN MEMORY OF Elizabeth H. Allyn Marian Anderson Richard Arnold Dorothy Beatty Wendy Bilanski Marjorie Harris Blockhan Frank Brookie Joan Plummer Boyce Jobst Brandt Bibbits Brown Robert Caravalho Jeanne Carevic Regina Danz Tom Della-Rose Paul Doherty Jeff Donnelly Kaye Dugoni John K. Dumanske Samantha Elizabeth Dweck Lenora Fitting Henry Follett Kenneth Gobrecht Jane A. Grisham Akiko Hamlin Bill Happ Lynne Calavano Helstrup James and Marilyn Hoag Fenwicke W. Holmes Mary Hood
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IN HONOR OF Stanley Judd Martha Kahn Tyler Kendall Robert C. Kirkwood Lori Kohnke Virginia Langenheim Jean Lauer William Lowden Dora Lum Joellen Maguire Franklin M. Matsumoto, M.D. John J. McCartney Sarah Adams Model Constance Morgan Harriet Piatt Michael Pickering Li Qinghui Mark Rich Dorothy Shannahan Norman Lewis Slocum Sun Starr George E. Sundquist Jim Thurber Ernest Marc Torczyner Julia Vega Upton Betty Van Arsdale Elaine Weibright Suzanne Pfeifer Williams Joyce Wool
Mark Aaker Cameron Ashton Helen Blau Bill Callahan Janet Carlson Gordon Clark Danielle Cole Jeanine Crider Karl Darr Matt Dolkas Donna Dubinsky Katie and Laurence Edwards Jeanne Gadol Frank Galli and Lisa Querimit Ted and Sissy Geballe Craig Goldberg John Hessel George Honegger Don Horsley Rob Jordan Martha Kahn Rita Kaplan Richard Kilner Jill Kunishige Barbara Kux Joan Lane Sara Lewis and John O’Neill Tom Longo Asha and Anil Loonawat
Dorothy Lunn Norman Matteoni Mark Medeiros and Volunteers Stephen Monroe Elizabeth Nielsen Katy Obringer Michael Pickering Marilyn Proffitt Arno Ruben Audrey Rust Tyler Scott Scout Margaret Stein Claire Stratus Susan Taylor Stephen Vencel
Protecting our treasured local open spaces is an ongoing effort. By becoming a monthly donor, you’ll provide us with the dependable funding we need to continue our work and stay prepared for future opportunities. It’s easy, affordable and convenient. Become a POST monthly donor today.
VISIT
openspacetrust.org/monthly
dponce@openspacetrust.org
RETURN
CALL
The enclosed envelope
(650) 854-7696 x334
Landscapes is printed on 30% post-consumer paper with soy inks. Published by: Peninsula Open Space Trust Design: The Point Collective, Inc.
222 High Street, Palo Alto, CA 94301 (650) 854-7696 openspacetrust.org
Editor: Liz Torczyner
We make every effort to accurately list the names of POST tribute gifts and apologize for any errors or omissions. Please call our office at (650) 854-7696 to notify us of any errors. POST is a public benefit California corporation and is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to POST are tax-deductible. ©Teddy Miller 2017
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2019
PENINSULA OPEN SPACE TRUST 222 HIGH STREET PALO ALTO, CA 94301 (650) 854-7696 OPENSPACETRUST.ORG
With a stellar lineup of leading writers, thinkers and activists, our Wallace Stegner Lectures deliver thought-provoking and entertaining evenings that cover important issues related to land, nature and conservation. Subscriptions for our 2019 season go on sale October 4 at openspacetrust.org/lectures.
DR. VANDANA SHIVA
JOEL SARTORE
VAN JONES
February 12, 2019
March 12, 2019
April 23, 2019
All lectures are at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts at 8 p.m.
NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID SAN JOSE, CA PERMIT NO. 1513