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OPEN SPACE OUTLOOK
December 2022
Happy Holidays!
Happy holidays and cheers to an exciting new year! After nearly 30 years of protecting nature together, forever, we at the Open Space Authority are grateful for your ongoing support.
We look forward to the many milestones to come and hope to see you out on the trails! If you aren't familiar with all of the open space preserves yet, please click the link below for more information.
We're making a list and checking it twice. Can you guess which critters are naughty or nice? While it's true, the list is in review, determining who will claw their way off the naughty list is up to you!
Three cheers for Open Space Authority volunteers and their many accomplishments in 2022! We are grateful to our hundreds of volunteers for the thousands of hours they dedicate to land stewardship and protection, and educational programs for all.
What do fifth graders know about oak trees? Just ask the students of San Martin/Gwinn Environmental Science Academy, who recently visited Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve to learn about watersheds and help restore oak habitat.
Keep reading to see what happens when a group of 90 fifth graders joins forces with Point Blue Conservation Science.
Thanks to a generous donation from the Bay family, the Open Space Authority is protecting 80 new acres of open space. This addition expands the Croy Redwoods Preserve to 192 acres, featuring beautiful redwood stands and rich riparian habitat feeding into Uvas Creek. This property plays a key role in promoting climate resilience and further protecting the local watershed in times of drought and flooding.
Click below to learn more about the donation and the region's critical conservation value.
Who Am I?
I am a semi-parasitic plant that attaches to other plants with tube-like “roots” to take their mineral nutrients and water for myself. This eventually kills the host plants, but I'm not all bad! My white berries are a food source for some wildlife, and many small animals nest in my mass of branches. Who am I?
We're Almost Thirty!
In 2023, the Open Space Authority celebrates 30 years of protecting open spaces and connecting people to nature.
The year promises exciting events, opportunities to get outside, and so much more. Stay tuned for chances to participate and celebrate together!
VIRTUAL EVENT: The Secret Lives of Tiger Salamanders
Friday, December 16 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Zoom Webinar
What’s black and yellow and always smiling? The California tiger salamander! Join us for this virtual Friday lunch presentation to learn all about these rare and secretive amphibians. We will discuss their lifecycle, where salamanders live and breed, why they are endangered, and how the Open Space Authority works to protect tiger salamander habitat. Bring your lunch and learn with us! Register here.
Who Am I? - October Answer
I am the Pacific Mistletoe, just one of 1,300 species of mistletoe! My scientific name, Phoradendron, means “thief of the tree” in Greek. Happy Holidays from this seasonal symbol!
Last month’s “Who Am I?” was the CALIFORNIA BUCKEYE TREE (Aesculus californica)!
Congratulations to our readers who answered correctly: Allen B., Annette M., Bob L., Connie R., Ellen T., Gwen H., Hannah B., Janet H., Jim F., Judy L., Kathleen C., Kathleen V., Kathlene H., Kevin C., Marilynn S., Neal W., Pam C-H., Prerna J., Rick M., Robert S., Sarah W., Sue C., Suzanne W., Teresa S., Tian l., Trisha S.
Photo Credits
Holiday Card photos – Cait Hutnik, David Mauk, Marc Bergreen Volunteers - David Mauk Measuring oak tree - Kat Hill Croy Redwoods - David Mauk Who Am I - Cait Hutnik California tiger salamander - Michael Van Hattem, USFWS
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 and Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area in our shared work to protect and restore the environment and connect people to land. Learn more.
