Your Nature News & Events from the Open Space Authority
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DECEMBER 2025 | NEWS & EVENTS
We care for nature, so nature can care for you.
📽️ Featured Video: Unlocked 🔓 Increased access to local nature!
A momentous day for an iconic landmark!On November 5, the City of Morgan Hill and the Open Space Authority approved an agreement to create future public access at El Toro Peak. This milestone will bring nature and recreation within reach for thousands of Morgan Hill residents while protecting vital wildlife habitat. Stay tuned for updates, including when the preserve will be accessible to the public and how to be a part of the trail planning process.
Free Nature Events
🌿 Nature is for everyone, and we welcome all to join our events!To register, use the links embedded in each event title below and be part of the experience.
Saturday, December 6: BioBlitz at Spreckels Hill Work with scientists and other community members to help count and document the plants, animals and other organisms living at Spreckels Hill. Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful will be hosting this special event called a BioBlitz! Reserve your spot for the BioBlitz.
Saturday, December 6:Full Moon Hike Series (Part 4 of 4) Join the Open Space Authority for a moonlit, four-mile guided hike at Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve. Participants will ascend the Arrowhead Loop Trail at golden hour, watch the sunset with a 360-degree view of Coyote Valley and descend once the moon is shining bright. Sign up for the Full Moon Hike.
Sunday, December 7:Birding at Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve Come explore open space and native bird habitat during a moderate hike at Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve! Bird experts from the Santa Clara Valley Bird Alliance will help attendees identify seasonal species and answer your questions about birds that live in and migrate through the region. Reserve your spot for the birding event.
Saturday, December 13: Starry Nights! The Open Space Authority and the San Jose Astronomical Association (SJAA) invite you to a community star party at Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve. Register for the Starry Nights event.
Protecting Communities through Wildfire Resiliency
On November 20, the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority announced that it was awarded a $240,000 wildfire resiliency grant from the California State Coastal Conservancy. The funding will be used to purchase specialized equipment that increases our capacity to remove flammable vegetation and create additional fuel breaks, reducing the likelihood of wildfires spreading to our communities and enhancing landscape resilience. Read the official press release to learn how this grant supports our ongoing conservation and wildfire prevention work.
Currently Seeking: District 6 Representative
The Open Space Authority currently seeks a District 6 representative for its Citizens' Advisory Committee! The dynamic committee consists of volunteers who are passionate about conservation, recreation and connecting the community to nature and exists to provide input to and from the diverse communities within the Authority's jurisdiction. The representative must be a current resident of District 6 and will serve a term through June 30, 2027. Apply to be the District 6 representative here.
Celebrating Sikh American Awareness and Appreciation Month
The Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority Board of Directors approved a resolution honoring November as Sikh American Awareness and Appreciation Month. By honoring this month, we reaffirm our commitment to inclusivity, respect and appreciation for the diverse traditions that strengthen the communities we serve. View more photos from the resolution approval.
Planning for the Future of Agriculture
As part of the Authority's mission and work to continue supporting agriculture in our region, staff have begun working on the Authority's Agricultural Strategic Plan. The plan, which will lay out the Authority's vision and goals for our agricultural work, will be created in close collaboration with key partners who work in the agricultural and food systems and important stakeholders, including local farmers, ranchers and community members. Watch a presentation about the Agricultural Strategic Plan.
A Guide to Fall & Winter Feathered Friends
Did you know there are some birds that you can only see in Santa Clara Valley during the fall and winter? Thanks to the Pacific Flyway, a flight path for migratory birds that passes through California, we get the chance to see a rich variety of bird species that live elsewhere during other times of the year. Meet seven of our region’s migratory birds here.
Healthy Soils = Healthy Communities
In celebration of World Soil Day on December 5, the Open Space Authority is highlighting what healthy soil looks like and the important role it plays in creating a well-balanced ecosystem. Watch this video to learn more about healthy soil.
The Open Space Authority public meetings are held in a hybrid format, giving you the flexibility to attend in-person, via Zoom teleconference or watch on YouTube.
Thursday, December 11 : Board of Directors | 6:30 p.m.
We acknowledge that the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority works within lands that were originally stewarded by the Awaswas-, Chochenyo-, Mutsun- and Thámien-speaking peoples. Today we are honored to partner with the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area and the Tamien Nation in our shared work to protect and restore the environment and connect people to land. Learn more about our Tribal Partnerships.
Photo Credits: El Toro: Derek Neumann; Sikh American Awareness & Appreciation Month: Elizabeth Loretto; Citizens' Advisory Committee: Derek Neumann
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