CC 05-04-2021 Item No. 2 MidPeninsula Regional Open Space District Introduction and Update_PresentationMIDPENINSULA REGIONAL
OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
District Introduction and Update
Pete Siemens, Board Member, Ward 1
Yoriko Kishimoto, Board Member, Ward 2
May 4, 2021
CC 05-04-2021
Item No. 2
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About Midpen
Public agency, created in 1972 by a grassroots voter
initiative
770,000 constituents (2018)
Elected board: seven directors
Funded primarily through property tax
26 Preserves in Santa Clara, San Mateo and Santa Cruz
counties
Preserved more than 65,000 acres, 240+ miles of trails
Preserves are free and open to the public
Main office in Los Altos + field offices
180 employees, ~1000 volunteers
$300 million voter-approved general obligation bond
passed in 2014 to support public priorities
240 miles of open space hiking trails
16 preserves with mountain bike trails
11 preserves are dog-friendly (1 off-leash area)
Black Mountain Backpack Camp
Dozens of free docent-led hikes (current on hold)
Volunteer opportunities (limited)
Equestrian trails
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Free Open Space Activities
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Midpen Jurisdiction and Open Space Preserves
Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve
5Photo: Chris Toomey
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Mount Umunhum
Fremont Older Open Space Preserve
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Picchetti Ranch Open Space Preserve
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9
Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Reserve
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0
What’s New(t)? –Project Updates
Improving Rancho San Antonio multimodal access
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Saratoga to the Sea: Saratoga to the Skyline Trail
Regional Trail Context
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Highway 17 Crossings Project
Goals:
Link over 30,000 acres of habitat and protected public lands
–Identified state critical habitat linkage
Improve motorist safety.Maintain healthy wildlife populations.
–Improve Santa Cruz Mountains mountain lion genetic diversity
Provide for safe movement of wildlife and recreational trail users across Highway 17.
Connect over 50 miles of existing regional trails (Bay Area Ridge Trail)
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Lehigh Quarry Reclamation Plan Amendment
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Wildland Fire Resiliency Program
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CZU Lightning Complex Fire, 2020
Photo: Brad Pennington
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Thank You! Questions?
www.openspace.org
info@openspace.org
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