summer 2007 outlook, santa clara county open space authority newsletter

8/3/2019 Summer 2007 Outlook, Santa Clara County Open Space Authority Newsletter

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OSASumme

1 OSA Buys

Doan and

Nielsen

Ranches

in South

County

2 New Trails

Dedicated

at Rancho

Caada del

Oro OpenSpace

Preserve

3 New

Summer

Day Camp &

Senior Walks

3 Schedule

Moonlit

Hikes &

Starry Nights

3 Interpretive

Program

Partners

with Schools

The new 3.1-mile

del Oro Open Spa

staging area direc

Bald Peaks trails. A

and welcome hik

INSIDE

OpenSpaceAuthor

ity

6830ViadelOro,

Ste

200

SanJose,

CA95119

workingtoprotectsensitivelandsfromdevelopment,

pre

servenaturalcommunities,

andmanageopenspaceinwaysthatalsopromoteagricultureandcompatiblerecreation

702acresadded

toOSAlands

InJuneOSAcomple

ted

thepurchaseof702

acres

ofranchlandsinthe

easternfoothillsofsouth

county.

TheadditionoftheDoan

andNielsenranches

bringsto13,0

61the

total

numberofacresofo

pen

spaceprotectedsinc

e

OSAacquireditsfirst

parcelin1999.


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Rancho

Caada del Oro

Open Space

Preserve

Trails

DedicatedOn June 2 Open Space Authority directors and members of the Citize

Advisory Committee cut the ribbon officially opening three new trails o

Rancho Caada del Oro Open Space Preserve.

The recent opening of morethan five miles of new trails

has created access to

Rancho Caada del Oro OpenSpace Preserve for many newvisitors.

Dozens of bicyclists attended OSAsdedication event June 2 for theirfirst chance to explore the Mayfair

Ranch and Catamount trails. Priorto construction of the new trails, theonly access to the preserves exist-ing trails was through Calero County

Park where bicycles are prohibited.

Now cyclists as well as equestri-ans and hikers can begin their visit

at the staging area on Casa LomaRoad. Mayfair Ranch Trail runsfrom the parking lot, across the road

and up the hill into chaparral andoak woodlands where views of the

valley and distant ridges quickly

become visible.The preserves trail system of morethan eight miles covers a range ofelevation from approximately 800

to 1800 feet above sea level. Somestretches are steep and have littleshade, which can make them chal-

lenging in the summer months.

Drinking water is not available atthe staging area so visitors are

encouraged to bring their own as

well as protection from the sun.Though mountain lion sightings arerare, hiking or biking with a partner

is also recommended.

Visitors looking for a shorter or lessstrenuous trail experience can enjoy

the Llagas Creek Loop Trail. Thenearly half-mile paved nature trail

circles the meadow next to thestaging area. Its a great place

for exercise, whether

walking, jogging,roller blading or

cycling. Parents withstrollers, children on

tricycles, and visitorsusing wheelchairs will

feel comfortable here.

NEW MULTI-USE TRAILS:

Llagas Creek Loop Trail .46

Catamount Trail 1.7 miles

Mayfair Ranch Trail 3.1 mile

One of the things to

look out for on the

Mayfair Ranch

Trail is poison

oak. Many

of the 3-leaf

clusters are

bright red

at this time.

2photo by Cait Hutnik


3/4

Santa Clara County Open Space Aut6830 Via del Oro, Ste 200 San Jose, CA

tel 408.224.7476 fax 408.22

www.openspaceauthor

Interpretive

Program

Puts Kids

Into Nature

Students from Eva Swopes fourth grade class at Morgan Hill Charter

School learn the impacts of climate change on plants and animals during

a recent visit to Rancho Caada del Oro with OSA interpreter Teri Rogo-

way. The interpretive activities complemented their classroom studies. Teri

can tailor a variety of free programs to meet curriculum needs.

OSA AuditionsDay Camp andSenior Walks

Cat Around Night HikeSaturday, July 28, 9 p.m.

Rancho Caada del Oro

Mountain lions, bobcats and ho

cats all have some things in com

Learn what on a night hike with

staff. Meet at the staging area a

bring a flashlight.

Ohlone Indian Starry Night

Saturday, August 11, 7:45 p


Learn about the regions rich cu

history as you wait for the stars

come out. Then enjoy an evenin

stargazing with local astronome

Bring a flashlight.

Night Hike with the Pioneers

Saturday, August 25, 7:30 p


Learn about the pioneers and fa

who took care of this land as yo

to the top of the ridge with OSAMeet at the staging area and br

flashlight.

Special Spider Starry Night

Saturday, September 8, 7:45


Its almost tarantula mating seas

and the tarantulas are migrating

Learn about them as you wait f

stars to come out for an evening

stargazing. Bring a flashlight.

Tarantula Night Hike

Saturday, September 29, 6:3


Learn about the secret life of tar

las as you hike to the top of the

to view the city lights with OSA

Meet in the staging area. Bring

clothing and a flashlight.

Moonlit Hikes & Starry N

This summer OSA will offer twopublic programs that introducenew activities to its roster of

community services.

The first is Discovering NatureSummer Day Camp, a free event forkids that will also help staff develop

future programs for children withspecial needs.

Two week-long sessions will offer

activities, hikes, arts and crafts anddaily nature programs for childrenentering second through fourth

grades. The camps will run from9 a.m. till noon Monday throughFriday at Rancho Caada del Oro

and are limited to 15 students per

session. The first session is July 23

through July 27 and the second ses-sion is August 6 through August 10.

The second new program provides

an opportunity for senior citizens toget out for a walk and enjoy naturein the company of others. EverySaturday in August staff will be on

site at Rancho Caada del Oro from8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

An interpreter-led nature walk on a

half-mile paved trail will begin at 8a.m. Walking and visiting continueall morning. There are picnic tables,parking, and a restroom at the stag-

ing area. The trail and all facilitiesare wheelchair accessible.

For more information about these

activities visit the web at www.openspaceauthority.org or contactTeri Rogoway at 408.224.7476 or

[email protected].

photo by Cait Hutnik

photob

yLa

rkBurkhart


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Acres:

Acquired:

Cost:

Location:

Preservation Goals:

702

January and June, 2007

$7,116,935

North of Highway 152

Habitat

Viewshed

Ranch Land

OSA Protects Valuable Ranch La

Santa Clara

County

Ponds provide aquatic habitat for

plants and wildlife. The ranches also

support grasslands, oak woodlands

and mixed stands of walnut,

sycamore, bay and willow trees.

W

ith the recent purchaseof the Doan and Nielsenranches the Open Space

Authority has protected their oak-studded rolling hills, a landscapecharacteristic of the region, for alltime.

The two properties totalling 702acres were acquired in two sepa-rate transactions inJanuary and June of

this year at a cost of$7.1 million. Theranches have been

active cattle opera-tions for a numberof years and grazingwill continue to be

a significant partof OSAs grasslandmanagement pro-gram.

The lands are hometo a wide range ofwildlife including

bobcats, grey foxes,golden eagles andmountain lions.

They also preservean important cor-ridor for animalsmoving between

Approximately 10 miles of old ranch fencing cro

land where cattle graze. OSAs grassland mana

will require repairing, replacing or removing fen

appropriate to meet open space goals.

the Santa Clara Valley floor anDiablo Range.

Several ponds are located on t

ranches and San Ysidro Creekthrough both properties. They Caada Road north of Highwa

152 and are located just a few west of Henry Coe State Parkssouthern tip.

OSA field staff have begun the

cess of surveying and mappingnatural and cultural resources

photosbyLarkBurkhart

found on the land. When fund

becomes available, the planninimprovements such as trails anparking can begin, and commu

input will be invited.

Preserving the land from develment was the first step; the secstep of creating public access i

expected to take a number of y

summer 2007 outlook, santa clara county open space authority newsletter

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