Spring Landscapes - 2019

L ANDSCAPES Peninsula Open Space Trust Spring 2019

THE BUSINESS OF FOREVER By the time you get this edition of Landscapes, spring will be upon us, reminding us all how quickly a year goes by. Time is a heady thing to contemplate—especially in the business of land conservation. Mother Nature’s grand sense of time is so different from the human scale, it can be hard to justify the two together.

At POST, one of the things we have learned in our nearly 42 years is how to work productively by finding a balance between taking immediate action and planning for the very long term. That balance generates a model for conservation that was critical when we started and is even more relevant today.

Effective conservation strategies require us to look 10, 20, even 30 years into the future to predict the best uses of our local landscapes, and then work today to develop the science, the strategies and the funding

cover

©Andrea Laue 2018

necessary to bring big, bold, regionally significant projects to fruition over time.

We think of it as the “business of forever.”

In this edition, you will read about a variety of projects that have taken long-term vision and immediate execution in order to deliver the environmental, economic and social outcomes we all want to see.

These examples reflect the reality of land conservation today.

Thanks for reading Landscapes, and for your support and patience through the years as we bring these, and many other exciting projects, to life.

Warmly,

Marti Tedesco POST Chief Marketing Officer

A Journey in the Making

Worth the Wait

From Bay to Sea

The South Bay’s New Redwood Park

Data-driven Conservation

Coyote Valley

Big Thinking for the Long Term

A New Vision for the Valley

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A JOURNEY IN THE MAKING

FROM BAY TO SEA

Imagine lacing up your boots in the baylands east of Redwood City, heading west, making your way up and over the mountains and crossing four north-south regional trails on your way to the Pacific Ocean. The possibility of taking this extraordinary trek is becoming more and more of a reality.

Giving people living in urban areas the opportunity to experience a continuous trail from the San Francisco Bay across the Peninsula to the Pacific Ocean has been a vision of POST’s for decades. And we’ve been hard at work protecting land along the Bay to Sea Trail’s route in coordination with a variety of dedicated partners who share this vision.

Our tenacity is paying off. We are taking a significant step forward with 10 partner organizations who are committed to seeing this complex project through to completion. We know that plans this grand take time and persistence to execute and we’re looking forward to bringing this vision to life in the decades to come.

bay to sea trail partners

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TR AIL R OUTES TR AIL R OUTES TRAIL ROUTES

Conceptual Bay to Conceptual Bay to Generalized Generalized Regional TrailsRegio (Trail routes are incompleteRegio Generalized (Trail routes are incomp and contain gaps) Conceptual Bay to Sea Trail

(Trail routes are incomp

PR O TECTED PROTECTED AREAS AR EAS PR O TECTED AR EAS Open Access Parks

Open Access Park Open Access Park Restricted or No Access Restricted or No A Restricted or No A

and Open Space

A Network of Trails Years from now, trail users will have the opportunity to explore diverse terrain, from lively urban areas and lush mountains to rugged coastal bluffs.

The Bay to Sea Trail will link up with four north-south regional trails. These connections will make it easier than ever to explore the Bay Area’s natural beauty.

3 ©Karl Grohl 2019 / map ©GreenInfo Network 2019

WORTH THE WAIT

THE SOUTH BAY’S NEW REDWOOD PARK

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©Leigh Ann Gessner/Midpen 2019

Just three miles south of Los Gatos lies Bear Creek Redwoods, a spectacular park that will soon be open for you to explore and enjoy.

Protecting this 1,432-acre property was a top priority for POST for much of our early history. With steep canyons thick with redwoods and perennial creeks that feed Lexington Reservoir below, Bear Creek Redwoods offered the potential to create a breathtaking redwood preserve in the heart of the South Bay, just a short drive off Highway 17. Getting to this point has been a labor of love and determination.

In 1999, in partnership with the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen), we protected this land, narrowly saving it from becoming a golf course with luxury estate homes. Our intention was always to open the preserve for public use, but dilapidated buildings, hazardous old roads, invasive species and a lack of safe parking made that a prohibitively expensive and complex undertaking at that time.

Momentum to open this preserve picked up speed in 2014 when voters approved POST-sponsored Measure AA—a $300 million bond with funds designated for public access improvements within

Midpen’s properties. Over the past four years, they have been hard at work preparing this new preserve for everyone to enjoy.

There is a rich natural and cultural history at Bear Creek Redwoods to explore: Native American mortar stones stand near the new preserve entrance, as do stumps of ancient redwoods once harvested for the construction of San Francisco and a few old-growth trees that were spared. Though not accessible to the public, the remains of Alma College, the first Jesuit school of theology on the west coast, are still visible.

A historic pond that was once part of a lavish estate lies at the heart of the preserve and will provide the setting for an accessible path with interpretive information. Later this year, approximately six miles of trails will open for hikers and equestrians in the western portion of the preserve, good progress toward the 20 miles of planned multi-use trails.

So, get your hiking boots ready. For the first time in its long history, Bear Creek Redwoods will be ready for visitors this summer.

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D ATA - D R I V E N C O N S E R VAT I O N

BIG THINKING FOR THE LONG TERM Safeguarding the ecosystems of the Santa Cruz Mountains means protecting the critical connections within and beyond our region.

To create a resilient network of protected wildlife habitat, we need to look beyond jurisdictions and property boundaries in order to understand the complex natural relationships of our landscapes. This means taking a regional perspective that crosses city boundaries, roads and highways, and county lines.

We’re making great progress toward this end and have been working with many partners to study wildlife movement throughout our region, paying particular attention to scientifically recognized critical linkages that connect major habitat areas.

We’ve shared a lot of stories about Coyote Valley recently, and for good reason. This last chance landscape is POST’s top priority when it comes to conserving the regional connectivity that is so essential to the long-term health of our environment.

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photos

©Pathways for Wildlife 2018-2019

At the same time, we have initiated a landscape-scale study at the southern edges of POST’s working area, where the Santa Cruz Mountains connect to the Diablo Range to the east and the Gabilan Range to the south.

In the last year, we have been collecting data from over 50 remote-sensor cameras and systematic roadkill surveys. The resulting data help us understand how wildlife are navigating between these ranges, determine where they can safely cross highways, and identify areas where we need to improve wildlife passage.

With this information, POST and our partner organizations can better prioritize the land acquisition, wildlife crossing infrastructure and habitat restoration projects we need to do to create vital and viable regional connectivity. It’s an early investment that is sure to pay dividends in the years ahead.

R A C C O O N | N E A R H I G H W AY 1 5 6

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what makes a healthy landscape linkage? visit openspacetrust.org landscape-linkage to learn more.

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ŠDerek Neumann 2015

C O Y O T E VA L L E Y

A NEW VISION FOR THE VALLEY If you could climb into an airplane and fly over the South Bay before the late 1800s, you would have seen a very different landscape than you do today.

The Santa Cruz Mountains and Diablo Range to the east were linked by the native habitats of the Santa Clara Valley. From the ancient oaks on the valley floor to the wind-blown summits of Loma Prieta and San Benito, the tallest peaks in both ranges, the landscape was bound together as one intact ecosystem.

Looking back at this history helps us understand how the landscape has changed and what its future might hold. As Silicon Valley grew, the connection between these two ranges disintegrated. Agriculture, rail and roadways, industry and other urban development gave rise to the neighborhoods we live in today. This fragmented the natural landscape into a rough mosaic of disconnected parts.

We are lucky here in the Bay Area that generations past had the foresight to protect our open spaces before they were lost forever. Within these two great mountain ranges, over $3.5 billion has been invested to conserve over 500,000 acres of extraordinary land. But even with this tremendous investment, the work to ensure our region’s future remains unfinished.

One of the last linkages between these two mountain ranges lies in the unprotected Coyote Valley, just a few miles south of San Jose. The possibility of developing this landscape and severing the connection between these two ranges is an imminent threat to the health of all of our open spaces, the wildlife that live there and the region as a whole.

This is why we are working in partnership with the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority to protect the vital landscape linkage that is Coyote Valley. POST has already protected almost 100 acres of the valley floor. This focus will continue as we believe that the valley provides immediate ecological benefits, as well as the opportunity to conserve and restore robust native habitats, fully functioning waterways, wildlife-friendly agriculture and recreation opportunities for residents and visitors.

Even with the steps we’ve taken so far, there is uncertainty about what’s next. But rest assured, we are working to ensure a bright future for this last chance landscape.

Read more about Coyote Valley’s history on the following pages. à 9

CHANGING THE CONVERSATION For decades, Coyote Valley has been a target for the development of tech campuses and housing. But thanks to the persistence of the conservation community, the conversation has changed. This timeline takes you through the history of Coyote Valley and the significant events that have made a new vision for the future possible.

1980s

2000s

San Jose adopts a General Plan that envisions tech campuses and houses in Coyote Valley. Tandem Computer and Apple Computer abandon massive office park plans, something that will be repeated by Cisco Systems in the 2000s.

A growing body of scientific research identifies Coyote Valley as a critical linkage between the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Diablo Range. Citing challenges with environmental review and entitlement hurdles, Coyote Housing Group scraps plans to build 25,000 homes in 2008.

1960

1970s In 1976, IBM completes the 620,000 square foot IBM Labs facility at 555 Bailey Road.

This remains the only large tech development in Coyote Valley. In what will become a trend, Hewlett Packard chooses Alviso instead of Coyote Valley as the site for its new headquarters.

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background

©Derek Neumann 2015 / 1980s ©Tom Rumble / 2000s ©Teddy Miller 2017 / 2017 landscape linkage report ©The Authority 2019 / 2017 acquisitions ©Teddy Miller 2018 / 2019 ©Andrea Laue 2018

OUR HOPE FOR THE FUTURE Along with our partners in the conservation community and the City of San Jose, POST is working to create a sustainable and resilient landscape linkage in Coyote Valley. With the many positive environmental, social and economic benefits to be had here, we continue to work on safeguarding our regional biodiversity through the acquisition of land, long-term habitat restoration and the construction of viable infrastructure to support wildlife movement.

2017

2017

Landscape Linkage Report

With support from POST, the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority publishes The Coyote Valley Landscape Linkage Report, summarizing the scientific importance of the valley to wildlife movement across the region, as well as water storage and quality.

Acquisitions

The 30-acre Fisher Flats and 63-acre Fisher’s Bend properties are protected

by POST and the Authority.

2019 The San Jose City Council holds study sessions to discuss the future of Coyote Valley and Measure T spending.

2020

2018 In June, San Jose voters reject Measure B, which would have allowed developers to bypass development zoning regulations. In November, San Jose voters approve Measure T, providing up to $50 million for land protection in Coyote Valley.

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J U LY 1 - D E C E M B E R 3 1 , 2 0 1 8

TRIBUTE GIFTS IN MEMORY OF Peter & Philippa Althaus John Anderholm Neal Atchison John Attwood Gary Baldwin Sherry D. Barba Phil Barkan Richard Beck Brendan Bogue Richard Brain Janet Brase Frank Brookie Jeanne Carevic Dean Christon Victor Connett Paul Cooney Dwight & Betsy Crowder David Daniels Loring A. & Francine De Martini Wim de Wit Papa Donal Diana Duff John Dumanski Ronald Allen Dunkin Dee Eberle Gail Edwards Haist Merritt Elmore Walter Fant Jannis Kemp Farlowe

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Andrew Feiss Martin A. Fischler Lenora Fitting Hazel Gibson Ida Grace Armor Irving Grossman Dale Gunwall Carolyn & Peter Harstad James Heckenbach David Heinaman Spencer Hiraki Charlotte Irvine Francois Jamati Adaline Jessup Darlene Jones Jennifer Joyce Martha Kahn Kathy’s Aunt Hugh D. Kennedy Geraldine Kirchgatter Eric R. Kristofferson George Kromhout Samuel Ladabaum James Leonard Lake Nancy Jo Lake Jean Lauer Donald Littell Victoria Loufakis Paul A. Maccan Gerald MacKay Anna MacKichan Harikrishna Majmundar

IN HONOR OF Ken & Rhoda Martyn Janet McEntee Tim McGrew Donna McIntosh Ernst Meissuer Hans Midstokke George R. Millar Jacquelyn Miller David W. Mitchell Betty Morrissey Charmaine Moyer David L. Nelson Bill “Boppa” Noeller Jean Walls Olmstead W. Frederick Ostrander Hee-Kyun Park Barbara Peterson Pete Pfohl Frances Pierce Francesca Pierotti Mary Jean Place Harriet Platt Mark Rich Gordy Ringeon Paul V. Roberts Eleanor Myer Roe George Roupe Dr. James Ryder Edward H. Ryono Joan Safajek & Bob Tyler

Stephen Salveter Mike Schilling Tyler Schwalm Robert Segbarth Carolyn Jean Shebalin Evan Spanier Bryn Page Sullivan J. Michael Sullivan John Thacker Paul Thiene Daniel Toby Lynn Torin Paul Trotman-Hall Lawrence & Jeanne Vais Betty Van Arsdale Louis & Genie Van Tyle Ruth Waldhauer Marilyn Walter Kim Weden Edwin A. Wells Patsy & Joseph Whiteley David Wieczorek Heide Marie Wilson Perry Baker Wilson Aki Yamaoka George Yee William Zschaler

The Aldens Marlene V. Anderson Alexandria & Dwight Ashdown Ernestine Atherton Harry Barba Susan Basso Liane Benedict Gabriel Bernadett-Shapiro David Bernstein David & Carol Bomberger Boz Susan Boyd Gary Bradski Robert & Barbara Bruce Dea Burmeister Jim Caldwell Bob & Susan Christiansen Cecily Rose Clark Gordon Clark Fulton Collins Mark Cuson June V. Daly John Damon Dennis DeBroeck & Nancy Heinen Joe Devlin & Emily Berk Lindsay Dillon Alex Dolginow & Dan Streit

John Donegan & Mary Anne Doane Paul Edwards Ken Engstrom Christine E. Evans Robbie Evans David Farabee Rene & Peter Fenerin Leslie Fisher Sue & Mike Gagliardi Robert & Madeline Gillete Spencer Gump Sophia Gunning Alan Hakimi Kathryn Hickey Mike Higgins Robert & Mary Hillebrecht Don & Carol Hohl Christy Holloway Carrie & Glenn Hout Chase Hurwitz Taylor Jang Elliot Johnston Tommy & Holly Joseph Ginny & Jerry Kaminski Karen Keefer Jill Kunishige Barbara Kuposky Whitney Lane Oded Noy & Galia Linn

Brad MacDonald Margaret MacNiven Robert Manson & Katherine McDonell-Manson Socorro Marquez Lisa McGee-Bergerol Paco Melo Clive Merredew & Linda Zablocki Cindy Miller Travis Morgan Lisa Morrison Matthew Noel Dick & Judy Opsahl Mary Paine Julia Elizabeth Penrose The Pepper Family Brandan Pesa Harry Peterson Margaret Peterson Daniel Phillips Marj Pitchon Marilyn Proffitt The Quealto-Perez Family Rancho Hikers John & Erica Randolph Steve & Ann Ravel Bill Reller The Renner Family The Root Family Robert Ruth

Mark Saifer Tom & Thea Sawyer Craig Schillig & Lindsey Crittenden Diane Schultz Jeff Scroggin & Courtney Yuen Nick Shekelle Lincoln Smith Stanford Dean of Research Team Dianne J. Stauffer George Stromeyer Tom & Peggy Annette Vaughan Ted & Nancy Vian Heather Wakelee Loren & Erica Walden Gwen Weisner Alison Werner Barbara White Helen Wirth Betty Wood Jane Woodward George Wortiska Gail W. & Kimberly M. Young

GIVE. PROTECT. REPEAT. Monthly giving is an easy, effective and affordable way to protect the lands you love. Visit openspacetrust.org/monthly or call (650) 854-7696 ext. 334 to enroll.

YOUR LEGACY OF LANDSCAPES By naming POST a beneficiary of your IRA or 401(k), your gift is tax-free. Let us know if we are already in your plans and enjoy invitations to exclusive outings and events.

Learn more at openspacetrust.org/legacy.

Contact Jeanine Crider jcrider@openspacetrust.org (650) 854-7696 ext. 312 POST Tax ID number: 94-2392007

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 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.

Landscapes is printed on 30% post-consumer paper with soy inks.

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. ©Paolo Vescia 2018

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OUT AND ABOUT

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

EXCLUSIVE EVENTS FOR DONORS

OPENSPACETRUST.ORG

Walks & Talks

Donors who give more than $500 annually and Open Space Legacy Society members are invited on special tours of POST-protected lands. Learn more at openspacetrust.org/walksandtalks.

BRING YOUR FRIENDS POST hosts many events for the whole community throughout the year. Coming up:

Wild & Scenic Film Festival May 26, 2019

Bike the Coast with POST June 22, 2019

Little Basin Family Campout August 10 & 11, 2019

Learn more at openspacetrust.org/events. ©Matt Dolkas 2018

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID SAN JOSE, CA PERMIT NO. 1513