Fall Landscapes - 2020 by Peninsula Open Space Trust

LANDSCAPES Peninsula Open Space Trust Fall 2020

RESILIENT TOGETHER

In the midst of COVID-19 and overdue attention on racial injustice, I recently took on the role of POST’s Vice President of Conservation. In my 15 years here, there has never been a time when the connections between the health and safety of our natural communities and our human communities have been more evident. People’s increased appreciation for natural spaces during the pandemic is inspiring. It’s also become even more clear that there are real inequities in the ability to access local open space, and that there are many who don’t feel welcome on our local trails. At POST, we are listening, learning and taking steps toward a fuller expression of our mission to protect land “for the benefit of all.” This issue of Landscapes includes stories of resilience and our work toward meaningful change. You’ll read about what we are doing to bring diverse perspectives to the planning process when preparing for public access to our natural lands. You’ll discover how our farm partners displayed incredible resilience when faced with unprecedented surges in demand this past spring.

Finally, we’ll give you a glimpse into a restoration project already underway in Coyote Valley — work that will make that landscape more resilient and improve habitat for wildlife. These stories remind us that we have the strength and will to make positive change. We are committed to our mission and believe that the land we’ve been protecting for over 40 years is critical to the overall health and resilience of our region. We are also committed to transforming our organization to authentically engage and include Black, Indigenous and people of color who have been marginalized in the land conservation field for too long. Despite the challenging times, I couldn’t be more excited for what’s to come. With warm regards,

Noelle Chambers Thurlow Vice President of Conservation

P.S. As we prepare to send this issue to print, we are closely following the many fires around the Bay Area. Our thoughts are with those who have lost lives and homes, those who have had to evacuate and are worried about their futures, and those working tirelessly to contain the devastation. We’re heartbroken that the forests you’ve helped protect are burning, and we are more committed than ever to our land protection and stewardship work. cover

IN THIS ISSUE:

More Voices at the Table Listening to All the Communities We Serve

Set Up for Success Local Farmers Rise to the Occasion

New Beginnings Restoration Underway in Coyote Valley

M O R E V O I C E S AT T H E TA B L E

LISTENING TO ALL THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE Recent events have underscored how essential parks and preserves are to our ability to cope, find respite and get grounded outdoors. But one thing that sheltering in place also highlighted is that access to open space is not simple for everyone. In fact, some people face barriers to experiencing natural landscapes and the benefits they provide. Keeping open space accessible in a changing world is a complex, multi-faceted challenge that requires collaboration across many different organizations. Our natural spaces offer tremendous support for our physical, mental and emotional well-being. The global pandemic has highlighted this as we have depended on fresh air, wide open skies, ridgelines of big trees, cool creeks and sandy beaches to stay balanced. But as more people have sought the great outdoors, crowding and parking issues have made it challenging for land managers to keep users safe and healthy. To address this, the members of TOGETHER Bay Area (a consortium of 57 Bay Area open space conservation organizations) joined forces to educate the public 2

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ÂŠ Teddy Miller 2020 / bottom right ÂŠ Teddy Miller 2016

on how to use parks safely so that they might stay open. POST took the lead in coordinating this effort, facilitating an effective digital communications plan when it mattered most. Shelter-in-place orders, while vital, also underscored inequities that exist in accessing the land. Not only is it harder to get to parks and preserves that are far from densely populated areas, but Black, Indigenous and people of color may also feel less welcome in places that were established for public benefit without their input on its features or how it is used.

POST is taking a closer look at what we truly mean when saying we protect land â&#x20AC;&#x153;for the benefit of allâ&#x20AC;? in our mission statement. There is much to do to ensure equitable access to our open spaces. 3

So we don’t repeat this cycle, we have been working with our partners on public access plans for several major POST projects, making it a priority to include all of the diverse community groups that may be impacted. Designing new parks, preserves and trails in close collaboration with community members who can provide varying perspectives is a critical step toward ensuring that everyone can enjoy the Bay Area’s natural treasures. We are excited about each of these projects and are prepared for the many years of work that they will require. We look forward to updating you on our progress in the months and years ahead.

TUNITAS CREEK BEACH In 2017, we protected a 58-acre beach at the mouth of Tunitas Creek, just south of Half Moon Bay. We have since transferred ownership and management of the property to San Mateo County Parks (SMCP) who is working to create a new county park. We are supporting SMCP as they solicit input from the public on the design of this new park. Most recently, we helped gather feedback from a broad audience that included people whose voices have not traditionally been heard on projects like this. We believe this will result in a park where all feel connected and welcome. Learn more: TunitasCreekBeach.org

Siena Youth Center participants were invited to provide input on how Tunitas Creek Beach can be improved and got to spend some time enjoying the property in summer 2019.

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BAY TO SEA TRAIL

COYOTE VALLEY

A continuous trail from the San Francisco Bay to the Pacific Ocean has been a vision of POST and our partners for decades. Late last year, we took a significant step forward when 11 participating partners signed a letter of intent, committing to collaborating on this ambitious long-term project.

Together with the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority (the Authority) and the City of San Jose, we protected 937 acres at the northern end of Coyote Valley in November 2019 — forever safeguarding an essential landscape that connects the lifesustaining habitat of the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Diablo Range.

POST is the catalyst for this work, bringing key partners to the table and engaging stakeholder groups from communities along the trail, including many that have not traditionally been involved. We are working hard to fulfill community members’ wishes for a trail that leads into the hills from urban areas like East Palo Alto, East Menlo Park and Redwood City. These trail entry points will require extensive and complex planning. Learn more: BayToSeaTrail.org

We are now supporting the Authority as they begin to restore this landscape’s ecological function and plan for public access. As the Authority and POST are both deeply committed to equity and inclusion, we are working to forge relationships with all of the impacted communities around the valley to carefully listen to their needs and interests in the future use of this land. Learn more and provide your input: OpenSpaceAuthority.org/ CoyoteValley

We are incredibly proud of the work we’ve done in partnership with local farms over the years. This story is a reflection on how our efforts have helped strengthen the local food system, readying it for unpredictable events like the pandemic. Unfortunately, as we prepare to go to print, local fires have required the evacuation of both people and animals from many of these farms, and we do not yet know the extent of damage to land and infrastructure. We hope for the best and are committed to working with our farm partners to recover.

SET UP FOR SUCCESS

LOCAL FARMERS RISE TO THE OCCASION © Andrea Laue 2018

This past spring and summer, demand for local food surged as a result of the pandemic, making it clear how essential our local farms — their operators, workers and products — are to the health and well-being of our communities. As consumers grew concerned about national supply chain shortages and contaminated food, their interest in local food went through the roof. People clamored for home delivered Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) boxes and fresh produce from local farmer’s markets. These essentials had never been more appreciated, and farmers had to quickly pivot their business models to meet the rapidly escalating demand. During these challenging times, it has become clear that the investments POST has made in protecting local farmland and improving the aging agricultural infrastructure on the San Mateo coast are truly paying off. We recognized early on that for these farms to thrive, they need more than just access to fertile soil. A successful farm business needs barns, pack houses, irrigation, reservoirs, roads, bridges, farm stands and more — the right tools to get the job done. Alongside key partners and our farming tenants, we have made significant investments in agricultural infrastructure over the past few years, including refurbishing barns at Root Down Farm and Johnston Ranch, building new reservoirs at Blue House Farm and R&R Fresh Farms, rebuilding a bridge that provides vital access to and from fields at Fifth Crow Farm and much more.

R E S E R V O I R AT BLUE HOUSE FARM

F E N C E AT C L O V E R D A L E COASTAL RANCHES

BRIDGE NEAR FIF TH CROW FARM

HOUSING FOR FARMWORKERS AT BLUE H O U SE FA RM

B A R N AT J O H N S T O N R A N C H

FA R M S TA N D AT R&R FRESH FARMS

Improvements like these provide farmers with a foundation from which to build their operations and the stability they need to meet unexpected challenges. These local farms are more resilient and able to meet the increased demand for healthy, local food in part because of the investments POST donors have made. Of these investments, some of our most important work has been the construction of low-cost housing for farmworkers and their families on three farm properties on the San Mateo coast. In partnership with the San Mateo County Department of Housing, we helped build seven units complete with 22 bedrooms that provide safe and affordable housing for farmworkers. This was absolutely critical for the viability of our local farms, particularly in light of a regional affordable housing shortage. Housing security helps farmers recruit and retain essential members of their teams and our community — people we rely on to grow and harvest our food.

Housing for farm employees is just one example of our efforts to help these businesses build resilience and stability. As in nature, resilience comes from the ability to grow deep roots. For our farming tenants, we offer long-term leases, some with the option to buy the land outright. Structuring agreements like this gives farmers time to plan for the long term, to diversify revenue streams and to grow their businesses from the ground up. Our work gives them the space and time they need to fully commit as stewards of the land. After experiencing the initial wave of the pandemic, it’s evident that our investments in farmland protection and critical infrastructure have made a big impact. Each acre protected and each season of growth is another small step toward building a more resilient local food system so that, in times of need, when the essentials become that much more essential, we have local farms to turn to for one of the things that matters most — food for our families.

Learn more about our Farmland Futures Initiative (FFI) that aims to preserve the coastal farming heritage of San Mateo County at OpenSpaceTrust.org/FFI.

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NEW BEGINNINGS

RESTORATION UNDERWAY IN COYOTE VALLEY 10

In November 2019, we protected 937 acres in Coyote Valley, safeguarding the largest, most functional pathway for wildlife moving between the Diablo and Santa Cruz mountain ranges. With our partners, the Authority and the City of San Jose, we are committed to restoring vital linkages like this one in order to bolster the natural resilience of the entire Bay Area, especially as our climate continues to change. Work to restore this critical landscape — the last intact valley floor connecting two of the Bay Area’s largest mountain ranges and the 1.13 million acres of core wildlife habitat they contain — has begun. Winding through the heart of Coyote Valley is Fisher Creek, a modest watercourse that was channelized in the early 1900s and converges with Coyote Creek before it flows to the south end of the San Francisco Bay. At first glance, the creek doesn’t look like much. But field research done in collaboration with our partner organizations has revealed that the creek corridor is an essential lifeline for wildlife moving along the valley floor. This past summer, the Authority initiated the restoration of a section of this creek within POST-protected Fisher’s Bend, a property in mid-Coyote Valley that we acquired in 2017. This project marks the beginning of our collective effort to restore the valley floor’s ecological health by healing its waterways.

Fisher Creek winds through the valley floor, as seen in dark green, center frame.

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Under the Authority’s leadership, the San Jose Conservation Corps removed invasive plants and tons of trash from the creek bed and banks. Over 90 used tires were removed and recycled, clearing the way to plant native vegetation along the creek bank in order to improve the creek’s function, health and habitat. Habitat is key because many animals moving along Fisher Creek need cover to travel safely and successfully across the landscape. Restoring native shrubs to the creek’s banks creates more sheltered space for a diversity of wildlife to move through and live in. This vegetation also provides food for a wide range of native insects and birds, some of which are threatened or endangered. Restoring this section of the creek is a small but important step toward making Coyote Valley and its residents more resilient in the face of a changing climate. Soon, the Authority will kick off a public planning process to further inform the ongoing efforts to conserve the valley, including wetland restoration, wildlife crossing infrastructure, ecologically sensitive public access and more. At POST, we are with them every step of the way. Your continued involvement and support are critical as we embark on this new phase of our work.

Right: The Authority led efforts to remove invasive plants as well as many loads of trash, clearing the way for healthier and expanded habitat.

To share your thoughts about Coyote Valley and provide input on its future, visit News.OpenSpaceAuthority.org/CoyoteValleyStories.

LET’S STAY CONNECTED

VISIT US ON YOUTUBE TO WATCH PAST EVENTS!

We miss seeing you in person, but it’s been exciting to connect in new ways. Recently we’ve hosted virtual events with incredible guest speakers who discussed bird language, mountain lions, Indigenous history in the Bay Area and more. Please make sure to visit OpenSpaceTrust.org/Events regularly for upcoming events, and follow us on social media for fun, engaging updates, including recordings of past virtual events.

Facebook.com/POSTLandTrust

Instagram.com/POSTLandTrust

Twitter.com/POSTLandTrust

YouTube.com/POSTPaloAltoCA

We look forward to joining you on the trails for our group hikes as soon as it is safe to do so!

Published by: Peninsula Open Space Trust, 222 High Street, Palo Alto, CA 94301 (650) 854-7696 OpenSpaceTrust.org Design: The Point Collective, Inc. Editor: Liz Torczyner Landscapes is printed on 30% post-consumer paper with soy inks.

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PROTECT LAND TODAY Make an impact with a gift of stock or a distribution from your donor-advised fund. And increase your impact with your company’s matching gift!

PLAN FOR TOMORROW Support our future work with a legacy gift in your trust or IRA. You’ll be invited to exclusive events for Open Space Legacy Society members.

Learn more at OpenSpaceTrust.org/give or call Jeanine Crider at (650) 352-6312.

POST is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and contributions to POST are tax-deductible. Our taxpayer identification number is 94-2392007.

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PENINSULA OPEN SPACE TRUST 222 HIGH STREET PALO ALTO, CA 94301 (650) 854-7696 OPENSPACETRUST.ORG

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