Santa Clara County Open Space Authority 6980 Santa Teresa Blvd.

, Ste 100 San Jose, CA 95119 Open space is your place for activities, hikes and volunteer opportunities that help wildlife thrive. Take a tarantula hike, ride your bike at night, sign up to battle French broom, or learn to be a docent so you can lead others in nature adventures. Its all happening at the Open Space Authority. Just look inside.

STANDARD PRE-SORT U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #2196 SAN JOSE, CA

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

INSIDE

3 Fall schedule of events

2 Training session for docents planned

photo by Lark Burkhart

2 Volunteers needed for French broom removal at Uvas

2 Albertson Parkway project dedicated

1 New lands in Santa Cruz Mountain foothills increase important wildlife habitat

OSA OUTLOOK

Fall 2009 Vol. 3 No. 3

In OSAs first special-access program on Palassou Ridge, visitors were able to explore the Coyote Creek meadow and learn from staff interpreters about the Anza expedition that camped there in 1776.

Albertson Parkway Opens

Funded in part by $400,000 from the Authority, the City of San Joses latest urban open space project has transformed an unsightly utility corridor next to Santa Teresa County Park. This neglected land has been redeveloped with a meandering trail and native landscaping, turning wasted space into a recreation corridor and bird habitat.

From

The parkway is named in memory of Gary Albertson, an area resident who lobbied for highway safety in South County and was tragically killed, along with his wife and daughter, on Monterey Road. This is one of 15 OSA urban open space projects which have received funding of over $6.95 million.

To

YOU and the War on Weeds

Picture it: Teams of volunteers spreading out across open space to battle the invader, French broom. This could be you, environmental superhero. (Tights and cape not provided.) What you do get is a chance to make a big difference for wildlife that rely on native species for food, cover and nesting materials. French broom crowds out the plants that provide all of this. The Open Space Authority is scheduling two work days on the weekend of October 3 and 4 on land along Uvas photo by Michele Acua Creek. This area is not yet open for general public use, so youll get a peek at something not many people see. Come one day or both from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wear long pants and sturdy shoes. A long-sleeved shirt is recommended. Gloves, drinks and snacks are provided. Bring a lunch. To sign up, contact Derek Neumann at 408-226-3175 or dneumann@openspaceauthority.org.

Do you docent?
Would you like to learn how? If youre one of those people who stares at clouds, watches bugs, and considers the natural world to be generally fascinating, OSAs interpretive program may be the place for you. Docents lead activities and hikes that allow them to share their enjoyment of nature with others. Helping people feel comfortable outdoors is an important step in spreading the conservation ethic. Sharing your enthusiasm be it for trees, spiders, birds, grasses or all of them together is a docents main task. Saturday, November 14, OSAs interpretive coordinator will offer a one-day training that can set you on the path to outdoor adventures that inspire others. Contact Teri Rogoway at 408-224-7476 or trogoway@openspaceauthority.org for details.

photos by Rachel Santos

The project also features bioretention basins to absorb and filter rainwater that otherwise would wash into the storm drain system and into the Bay.

Santa Clara County Open Space Authority

6980 Santa Teresa Blvd., Ste 100 San Jose, CA 95119 tel 408.224.7476 fax 408.224.7548
photo by Derek Neumann

www.openspaceauthority.org

Fun for Fall

Bike Night at Rancho
SPECIAL-ACCESS ACTIVITY All the trails at Rancho Caada del Oro will be open just for cyclists during this evening event. Trails range from moderate to difficult with the Catamount Trail having a slope of about 40%. Riders must register on-site between 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. in the Casa Loma Road parking lot. Parking is limited to the first 50 vehicles. This activity is restricted to adults. Riders must wear a helmet and have bike lights. Friday, September 11 6:30 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Hearty Hikers

Casual docent-led hikes to explore the trails of OSAs two preserves. Fun things to bring: water, a hat, camera, binoculars, snacks and walking stick. The Rancho hike is 8.5 miles through woods, grasslands and meadows. Meet at the staging area. The Sierra Vista hikes offer 5.6 miles of grasslands and great views. Meet at the electric gate inside Alum Rock Park across from YSI. Sunday, September 27, 3:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Rancho Caada del Oro Sunday, October 25, 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. Sierra Vista Open Space Preserve Sunday, November 15, 8 a.m. - 11 a.m. Sierra Vista Open Space Preserve

Baby n Nature
A docent-led activity for parents seeking a nature walk for babies, toddlers and small children. No dogs or other pets allowed. Bring drinking water. Rain will cancel. Saturday, September 19, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. Rancho Caada del Oro Saturday, October 17, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. Penitencia Creek Trail meet at the corner of Jackson and Maybury roads

The Tarantula Trail

Fall brings out the tarantulas, who leave their hideaways in search of a mate. Join an OSA docent on the Mayfair Ranch Trail for a 4.5-mile hike in search of arachnids. Meet at the staging area on Rancho Caada del Oro. Good things to bring: hat, water, camera, snacks and walking stick. Saturday, October 10 2 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Bring Your Bike to Blair Day

SPECIAL-ACCESS ACTIVITY A one-day opportunity to explore the Blair Ranch addition to Rancho Caada del Oro. Cyclists will check in (and out) with OSA staff at the overflow parking lot on Casa Loma Road, pick up a map, and explore more than 7 miles of ranch roads. Trails are moderate to difficult with some grades of up to 40%. Sunday, September 27, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Details and directions are available on our website at www.openspaceauthority.org or by calling 408-224-7476.

he Open Space Authority has recently closed escrow on several properties in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The Dowmar and Johnson acquisitions, total-

a coordinated effort among park and open space agencies over a number of years. Together the Authority, Santa Clara County Parks, California State Parks and Midpeninsula Regional Open

Room to Roam
ing 192 acres, are the latest addition to Rancho Caada del Oro Open Space Preserve. At 4,074 acres, this is the Authoritys largest contiguous protected habitat. Calero County Park, which preserves another 3,476 acres, is just next door. What this means to the animal species that make this foothill area their home, especially the large mammals like bobcats, deer and mountain lions, is space to hunt or forage, to find a mate and to raise their young. Mountain lions have the largest geographical range of any land mammal in the United States. To maintain the local population of lions in viable numbers with healthy genetic diversity will require Space District have already protected nearly 32,000 acres in the southern Santa Cruz Mountains. If these and other lands can be connected by future acquisitions, they will create the opportunity for a regional trail network as well as vital wildlife corridors. The newest addition to Rancho Caada del Oro was purchased from Peninsula Open Space Trust for $650,000. The parcels are remote and unspoiled, a combination of oak woodland and chaparral, with wetlands that can pro-

Calero County Park

Santa Cruz County

Rancho Caada del Oro Open Space Preserve Mt. Chual

vide habitat for protected species like the California red-legged frog and tiger salamander. The lands also protect the watershed and viewshed of Almaden Reservoir.
Santa Clara County

Santa Clara County

Uvas
Uvas Canyon County Park

Open Space Authority Lands

Other Protected Lands

As climate change tightens its grip on the Bay Area in the years ahead, the ability of species to migrate from one area to another may be their saving grace. Extended preserves connected by wildlife corridors are a way of keeping options open for the large mammals that share our environment.