spring 2008 outlook, santa clara county open space authority newsletter

8/3/2019 Spring 2008 Outlook, Santa Clara County Open Space Authority Newsletter

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OS

AOUTLOO

K

Spring2008

Vol.2

No.1

1OSAworks

w

ithother

agenciesto

acquirethe

BlairRanch

2OSAand

SV

LCwill

offerCoyote

Rid

gehikes

2O

utdoor

projectsfor

vo

lunteers

2N

ativeplant

nurseryin

th

eworks

3Summer

daycam

p

se

ssions

planned

3AldoLeop-

oldnature

education

trainin

g

INSIDE

photobyLark

Burkhart

Santa Clara County

Open Space Authority

6830 Via del Oro, Ste 200

San Jose, CA 95119

OSA is working to protect sensitive lands, preserve natural communities,and manage open space in ways that promote agriculture and compatible recreation.

Springtime is a great

time to get out and

enjoy the Authoritystrails and preserves.

We have volunteer

opportunities that will

take you to lands not

open yet and training

for trail volunteers and

nature educators. And

with SVLC were offer-

ing docent-led hikes

on beautiful Coyote

Ridge.

Viewsstretchin

alldirectionsfromtherid

gesofthe

Authoritysnewestacquisitioninthefoothillsofthe

SantaCruzMountains.TheBlair

pro

pertyabutsRa

ncho

CaadadelOro

andoffersawealthofnaturalhabitat

andtheopportu

nitytoextendexistin

gtrailnetworks.


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Staging Area

Calero

County Park

Rancho Caada del Oro

Open Space Preserve

Llaga

sCree

k

Mt. Chual

Bald

Peak

sTrail

Longwall Canyon Trail

Llag

asCreek

LittleUvas

Cre

ek

UVASROAD

CASALOMA ROAD

McKEAN

ROAD

Catamount

Trai

l

Mayfai

r Ran

chTr

ail

P

Blair Ranch

Ranch Land Addition for OSA

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Plant communities found on theproperty include California an-

nual grassland, purple needlegrass,bigberry manzanita and Californiasagebrush as well as California bay,

buckeye and sycamore trees andcoast live and blue oaks.

State and federally listed plants

found on the Blair Ranch includesmooth lessingia, most beautifuljewel-ower, Santa Clara Valleydudleya and Halls bush mallow.

The ponds and grasslands providehabitat which may support Califor-nia red-legged frogs, California tiger

salamanders and Foothill yellow-legged frogs.

The purchase was negotiated and

partially funded by Peninsula OpenSpace Trust. Other partners includethe Gordon and Betty MooreFoundation, California Coastal

Conservancy and Santa Clara

County Parks and Recreation. Thepurchase price was $8,680,000.

With this purchase OSA and thecounty parks department togetherprotect 7,378 contiguous acres in

this part of the Llagas and Uvascreeks watershed. OSA plans toopen these beautiful hills andvalleys to visitors within ve years.

The Open Space Authority will

acquire 868 additional acres in thefoothills of the Santa Cruz Moun-tains when the purchase of a portionof the Blair Ranch is completed in

March. The property lies along thesouthern border of Rancho Caadadel Oro Open Space Preserve.

A working cattle ranch, the land hasbeen in the Blair family since the1950s. Its rolling hills are dottedwith oak trees, and seasonal creeks

feed several ranch ponds. Grazingwill continue to be part of the man-agement plan for this property.


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When the Open Space Authority purchased theFurtado property in the east foothills several

years ago, it also acquired several old ranchbuildings.

The barn had been used for many years in a

cattle operation and was still structurally sound.

It has required a lot of clean up, repair, and theaddition of fencing to keep out browsing deer,

but the old building is being readied for newservice as a native plant nursery.

One aspect of habitat restoration on OSA lands

is the reintroduction of native plant species inareas that have been disturbed and overrunby invasive weeds. Native bunch grasses andvalley oaks are returning to Llagas Meadow on

Rancho Caada del Oro Open Space Preserve as part of a current revegetation project.

Native plant stock grown at the nursery will provide specimens to use in reestablishing

plant communities that can support native birds, insects and animals.

Homegrown Natives

See Coyote Ridgen Springtime

A volunteer

carries 2 weed

wrenches

across Uvas

Creek.

The Open Space Authority is

collaborating with Silicon Val-

ley Land Conservancy to openCoyote Ridge to the public during

the spectacular display of spring

wildowers.

Docent-led hikes will introduce

visitors to the unique natural

history of the area, which includes

430 native plants and 20 threat-

ened or endangered species as

well as some of the best views in

the county.The hikes, a 4-hour moderate

walk, are currently scheduled

from March 29 through May 4

every Wednesday, Saturday,

and Sunday. The hikes ll quickly

so reserve your spot soon at

www.siliconvalleylc.org.

2

Is There A Weed Wrench In Your Future?Invasive plant eradication is a rite of spring on OSA lands. If you enjoybeing outside, working hard, getting dirty, having fun, meeting people and

improving the environment, this is a volunteer opportunity made for you.A number of volunteer projects are scheduled in the coming months on theFurtado property near Alum Rock Park and lands adjacent to Uvas CanyonCounty Park. Inclement weather will cancel a work day.

Saturday, April 5: FurtadoFriday, April 18: Uvas

Friday, April 25: Uvas

Saturday, May 17: Uvas

Saturday, May 31: Uvas

Or a Shift on the Trail Helping Others?Trail patrol volunteers are the eyes and ears that help keep OSA staff

informed about trail conditions. They answer questions and provide direc-tions for visitors. And they work on horseback, on a bicycle or on foot.

The next trail patrol training will be held in May. To participate, volunteersmust attend one indoor training session and the eld session.

May 13, 57 p.m. Program expectations, rules and regulations

May 14, 68 p.m. Program expectations, rules and regulations

May 18, 10 a.m.4 p.m. Field training and guided hike

For more information about becoming a eld volunteer, send an email to

Derek Neumann at [email protected].

photob

yLarkBurkhart

photobyDavidTharp


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Santa Clara County Open Space Authori6830 Via del Oro, Ste 200 San Jose, CA 951

tel 408.224.7476 fax 408.224.75

www.openspaceauthority.o

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Not Your Ordinary TarantulabyTeriRogoway

We have a new addition to our interpretive animal familyhere at OSA. She is a Chilean rose-haired tarantula, about 4inches from toe to toe and mostly brown with a slight orange

tint. A young female, her name is Rosie Sayadinah.Rosie has already been on a eld trip to visit a class of sec-ond graders. They were thrilled to meet her after learningabout spiders during a eld trip to Rancho Caada del Oro

earlier in the year. I explained to the children that Im actu-ally afraid of spiders and am overcoming this fear througheducation and familiarization, in hopes that they too couldovercome their fears the same way.

Anyone interested in spiders can request a program andactually see one up close. Contact me at 408.224.7476or email [email protected].

Variable Checkerspot by Cait Hutnik

Join the Aldo Leopold Education

Project, a program designed by

Pheasants Forever to help kids and

adults reconnect with nature. Train-

ing, based on the writings of Aldo

LeopoldsA Sand County Almanac,

will be held this spring. Its a hands-

on, interactive outdoor experience

gentle enough for every student.

The rst evening will be spent

indoors exploring activities that can

be taken back to the classroom or

youth program. The following day

in the eld is a chance to learn

about our areas plants and animals.

The training will be 5 to 8 p.m.

Friday, May 9, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Saturday, May 10. The cost is $30.NATUREEDUCAT

IONTRAINING

photo

byTeriR

ogow

ay

Plan Now for Summer Day CampA free day camp program for grandparents and their grandkids is return-

ing to Rancho Caada del Oro this summer for the week of Monday, July7, through Friday, July 11. Aschedule of outdoor activities,crafts and nature explorations

will run from 9 a.m. to noon.

New this year is a day campsession designed for children

with developmental specialneeds. Parents are invited toaccompany their child for agentle, safe and nurturing out-

door experience. This sessionwill be from 9 a.m. to noon,Monday, August 11 through

Friday, August 15.

These programs are designedfor children 5 to 10 years of

age who can attend with a grandparent, parent or guardian. To enroll your

child or learn more, contact Teri Rogoway at 408.224.7476 or [email protected].

photob

yLarkBurkhart

spring 2008 outlook, santa clara county open space authority newsletter

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