Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority News (2)

Ring in the New Year

As part of a trial program aimed at enhancing safety on the multi-use trails, the Open Space Authority has recently introduced a Bike Bell Station at the information kiosk of Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve. This addition encourages mountain bikers to prioritize responsible recreation by ringing their bells when passing fellow visitors and navigating blind turns to contributes to the safety and overall enjoyment of all trail users.

Christmas Bird Count Takes Flight in Santa Clara valley

December 2023 marks the 124^th Christmas Bird Count, the nation’s longest-running community science bird project. From mid-December to early January each year, the Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society (SCVAS) sponsors these efforts by coordinating volunteers who venture out to the open spaces of San José, Palo Alto, Morgan Hill, and Mount Hamilton to take part in assessing the health of bird populations and to help guide future conservation action.

Pajaro Plantings: Restoring the river

During the first week of December 2023, nearly 100 sixth and seventh grade students took a field trip to the Pajaro River Agricultural Preserve to help kickstart the restoration of a riparian forest. Over the course of the day, the students from the Indigo Program at the Oak Grove School District in San José planted roughly 200 native trees, shrubs, and forbs. By restoring important riparian habitat, this project promotes biodiversity as it provides for native wildlife and creates long-lost creekside habitat along a degraded stretch of the Pajaro River.

Community Day Recap

The Open Space Authority thanks everyone who came out to Community Day 2023 at Máyyan ‘Ooyákma – Coyote Ridge Open Space Preserve! It was a day full of fun, family, and friendly faces at your brand-new open space preserve.

Staff Spotlight - Meet David

David Mauk, Natural Resource Technician at the Open Space Authority, has been a lifelong nature lover, so it only makes sense that he works every day to protect wildlife and the places where wildlife live here in the Santa Clara Valley.

Open Space Authority Awards Nearly $800K to Local Organizations in 30th Anniversary Year

San José, CA (July 21, 2023) – The Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority’s Board of Directors voted to award nearly $800k in Measure Q and Measure T grant funding to six local organizations for the second installment of the 2022 - 2023 cycle of the Urban Grant Program.

Staff Spotlight - Meet Rowan

“This work is so rewarding,” says Rowan O’Brien, an Open Space Technician with the Open Space Authority. As a tech, Rowan serves as an ambassador for the agency, connecting people to nature, creating a welcoming environment, and helping with public safety. “I help keep it a place that people want to visit to experience and enjoy nature.”

Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority Awards over $910K for Local Environmental Programming during 30th Anniversary Year

San José, CA (May 19, 2023) – The Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to award over $910k in Measure Q and Measure T grant funding to 13 local organizations for the Program category of the 2022 - 2023 cycle of the Urban Grant Program.

One-way Trails: Why Have Them?

In December 2021, the Open Space Authority launched a survey to gather public opinion about one-way (also known as directional) trails, inform their future at open space preserves, and ultimately evaluate how we can provide more meaningful, safe, and functional nature experiences for all. Currently, one-way directions are in effect on the Arrowhead Loop Trail (Coyote Valley) and Aquila Loop Trail (Sierra Vista).

Staff Spotlight - Meet Jackie

Jackie Latham always knew that she wanted to pursue a meaningful career path. “I wanted to do something good for earth and people, and I feel that the conservation world is doing just that.”

News!