Update: Mount Umunhum Environmental Restoration and Public Access Project

The demolition contractor was issued a Notice to Proceed in November 2012. However, because live power must be removed prior to demolition activities, the demolition project work has been delayed. PG&E expects to remove live power by May 17, 2013. The demolition contractor anticipates beginning on-site demolition work between mid-August and mid-September.

Great news! On Feburary 14, 2013, the District received a $1M grant from the California Coastal Conservancy. The grant will support project implementation and fund construction of a staging area near Bald Mountain, a trail to the summit (anticipated to connect with the Bay Area Ridge Trail), and visitor amenities at the summit including an ADA trail, seating at viewpoints, and interpretation of the site's rich natural and cultural history. Please see the press release for more information.

For questions or comments regarding the Mount Umunhum Environmental Restoration and Public Access Project, please contact Meredith Manning, Acting Planning Manager, at 650-691-1200.

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Previous Meetings

October 17, 2012: Board Approves Interim Action A for the Mount Umunhum Environmental Restoration and Public Access Project

About 120 people attended the public meeting at the Historic Del Monte Building in Sunnyvale on October 17, where the Board voted unanimously to keep the Mount Umunhum radar tower for five years to allow time for supporters and proponents of retaining the radar tower to develop partnerships needed for long-term preservation. The approval of "Interim Action A: Near-term repair and securing of structure while considering external partnerships" came after considering a number of factors, including existing policy, public input, the tower's impact on the recreational and educational opportunities at the site, and the potential for long-term partnerships to help fund the retention of the tower.

Interim Action A: Near-term repair and
securing of structure while considering external partnerships

The interim action provides time (five years) for proponents of the tower to consider partnerships, outside funding, and additional resources to allow for implementation of Option 3, Retain and Seal, on a permanent basis. However, if no partnerships or additional funding are secured during this time frame, the Board may reconsider all the options based on future funding and staffing constraints.

This near-term solution would provide interim "Life Safety" repairs necessary to allow public access to the exterior base of the tower during this time period. Access to the interior of the structure would only be allowed to District employees, potential funding partners, and repair contractors. The near-term repairs needed for Interim Action A are estimated to cost $414,855 and would include the following:

• Sealing all exterior openings
• Performing epoxy crack repair on the first floor
• Replacing guardrail on the rooftop
• Replacing missing interior stair handrails
• Improving stairs to the rooftop and roof hatch
• Installing fortified locks at interior doors to each floor
• Covering floor openings inside the structure
  

In other Board actions, the following project elements were approved on a phased, conceptual basis:

• Summit area amenities
• Future public vehicle access to the summit via Mt. Umunhum Road
• Iterative approach for a future shuttle service
• Additional staff positions to be phased as needed
  (two rangers, one maintenance staff, and one administrative staff)
• Phased Project Implementation Plan
• Design of a parking fee system

Providing public access to the summit as early as possible is a primary goal of the project. The first phase, which includes access to the summit via a new, multi-use trail (hiking, biking, and equestrian) from a new parking area near Bald Mountain, is expected to open to the public in 2016.

September 19, 2012

About 50 people attended the public meeting at the Arrillaga Family Recreation Center in Menlo Park on September 19, where the Board approved a number of public recreational opportunities (such as trails, picnic tables, and a hang-gliding launch) as well as additional environmental restoration for the project.

Photo credit: Nate Donovan Photography

All approved project elements (excluding the radar tower and summit area) included:

• A new parking/staging area at the Bald Mountain trailhead
• A new multi-use trail from Bald Mountain to the Mount Umunhum summit
• Interpretive and educational features
• A potential visitor center
• A new multi-use trail from Mount Thayer to Ralph's Mountain in the Lexington Basin
• Safety upgrades and improvements to Mount Umunhum Road
• Restoration of the site’s natural drainage channels and native plant habitats

The Board also unanimously voted to consider a backpack camp as part of a larger, more regional effort to provide public access within the greater Sierra Azul + Bear Creek Redwoods Master Plan process, which is anticipated to resume next year.

Preliminary Drawings

Preliminary drawings and video visualizations presented at the July 18 community open house and Board workshop showing the three design options were are provided below.

Google Visualizations: Radar Tower Options 1-3

Project Schedule and Implementation Phasing Plan
*Indicates Public Input Opportunity

Oct17 2017	Deadline for proponents of the tower to establish and develop partnerships, funding, and other resources to allow for implementation of Option 3, Retain and Seal (per Interim Action A).
Aug - Sep 2013	Demolition of all structures at the former Almaden Air Force Station except the radar tower.
May 2013	PG&E to remove live power from the site prior to start of demolition work.
Feb 2013	Demolition contractor expected to begin site clearing, setup, and tree removal.
Nov 2012	Demolition contractor issued the Notice to Proceed.
Oct17 2012*	Public Hearing where the Board of Directors selected Interim Action A: Near-term repair and securing of structure while considering external partnerships. This action defers the radar tower options for up to five years, giving the community interested in preserving the radar tower the opportunity to seek partnerships and develop viable preservation options before the Board makes the final decision on a radar tower option.
Sep19 2012*	Public Hearing where the Board of Directors reviewed public input received regarding the Mount Umunhum Environmental Restoration and Public Access Project and approved: All remaining project elements except for the radar tower and summit area; "Factors to Consider for Structures," guiding the disposition of the radar tower and other existing District structures or structures under consideration for purchase by the District. The Board also unanimously voted to consider a backpack camp as part of a larger, more regional effort to provide public access within the greater Sierra Azul + Bear Creek Redwoods Master Plan process, which is anticipated to resume next year. No decision on the radar tower was made at this time.
Jul18 2012*	Community open house and board workshop where information was presented on design opportunities and constraints, short- and long-term maintenance, and costs for all three radar tower design options.
Jun12 2012*	Public Hearing where the Board of Directors certified the FEIR and approved demolition of all structures except the radar tower. No decision on the radar tower was made at this time.
May25 2012*	Release of Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) for public review. Copies will be available at the Los Gatos Public Library, the Almaden Branch Library, the District's Administrative Office, and online.
Feb10 2012*	Comment period deadline for the public environmental review process of the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Jan18 2012*	Public Hearing to provide comment on the environmental analysis.
Dec12 2011*	Release of Environmental Documents for Public and Board of Directors Review.
Dec9 2010*	Public Hearing to Consider Recommendation for Public Access and CEQA Scoping Meeting.
Nov18 2010*	Public Open House to Present Recommended Vision for Public Access.
Nov17 2010	Informational Update to the Board of Directors.
Oct 2010	Development of Vision for Public Access.
Sep 2010*	First Public Workshop to Present Project Themes.
Aug 2010	Development of Project Themes.
May - Jul 2010*	Background Project Research + Stakeholder Meetings.

Closures in Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve Announced (7/22/2011)

Since the hazardous material abatement of the former Almaden Air Force station atop Mount Umunhum in Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve, the District has seen an increased number of trespassers.

Effective July 22, 2011:
In order to protect public safety and guarantee security, some portions of Sierra Azul's Mount Umunhum area are closed until the site is fully remediated and secure public access can be established.

Please note that the Mount Umunhum and Mount Thayer areas, where remediation work is ongoing, are designated Hazardous Closed Areas. That means anyone who trespasses into the area will be cited for a misdemeanor.

Areas that are adjacent to Mount Umunhum and Mount Thayer are declared Temporary Closed Areas. Trespassers will be cited for an infraction.

Please refer to the attached map for details.

On July 20, 2011, KQED QUEST aired a television piece entitled Mount Umunhum: Return to the Summit.

Mount Umunhum Remediation Project Photo Gallery

On July 8, 2011, the Army Corps' contractor completed the hazardous materials remediation work on site. The contractor completed miscellaneous cleanup and security work for the remainder of July.

Draft Mount Umunhum Environmental Restoration and Public Access Plan

Project Goals and Objectives

The goal of the proposed Project Plan is to establish a fiscally sustainable visitor destination that balances public access, enjoyment, and education with environmental restoration. This goal aligns with two directives of the District's Mission: to protect and restore the natural environment, and to provide opportunities for ecologically sensitive public enjoyment and education. This goal will be achieved through the following objectives:

• Create a destination that is accessible to and accommodates a broad range of user groups and introduces new visitors to open space.
• Remove or permanently cap physical hazards and restore the native landscape and habitat for wildlife as much as possible.
• Provide minimal visitor amenities that complement and highlight the world-class views and open space experience.
• Provide ample, rich, and diverse trail experiences for hikers, bicyclists, and equestrians.
• Highlight the rich natural and cultural history of the site through self-discovery and focused interpretive and educational opportunities.

The former Almaden Air Force Station at Mount Umunhum, located near Los Gatos,
was acquired by the District and added to the Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve
in 1986. This high peak, with views as far as Monterey Bay, is special to the
military personnel and their families who were stationed there. Mount Umunhum is
also important to the Ohlone people as part of their creation belief. Current Santa
Clara Valley residents know Mount Umunhum as the intriguing location of the huge,
cement radar tower visible for miles. Federal funding will allow the District to begin
cleaning up the site so that planning for restoration and public access to this
spectacular local landmark can start.

For more information, please contact mt.um@openspace.org or call the Administrative Office at 650-691-1200.

History

The District acquired Mount Umunhum, the second-highest peak in the Santa Cruz Mountains, in 1986 when it purchased the 44-acre former Almaden Air Force Station and surrounding lands from the United States Government. Prior to transferring the property to the District, the Department of Defense acknowledged that the site, which had been intensely developed with nearly 90 structures, underground conduit tunnels, and interconnecting pipelines, was contaminated due to past defense activities.  While the extent of contamination was unknown, the Department of Defense assured the District that the federal government would decontaminate the site. Unfortunately, over the next 20 years, the Army Corps of Engineers conducted only limited cleanup.

In 2010, for the first time, Congress appropriated $3.2 million in funding for the cleanup of Mount Umunhum. While this is a significant step forward, total costs for site cleanup and site work for public access are estimated to be $11 million.

Future

With its scenic views, Mount Umunhum offers tremendous potential for environmental education and public recreation. As with other open space lands, the District wishes to:

• Restore the site to its natural condition.
• Protect the natural environment.
• Provide the public with education and recreational access to the mountain's peak, with spectacular vistas of the greater Bay Area.