Summary
On November 19, the California Wildlife Conservation Board awarded a $1.5 million grant to the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District for the Los Gatos Creek Watershed Wildland Fire Resiliency Project. The grant will support implementation of Midpen's new Wildland Fire Resiliency Program, aimed at assisting ecosystems in becoming healthier and more resilient, reducing wildland fire risk and facilitating fire agency response.
Specifically, the new grant will fund vegetation management work for wildland fire and ecosystem resiliency in priority areas on approximately 353 acres in Midpen’s Sierra Azul, Long Ridge, Saratoga Gap and Bear Creek Redwoods open space preserves in Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties. Ecological and archeological surveys of these project sites will ensure environmental protection. The grant leverages Cal Fire funding secured by the Santa Clara County FireSafe Council for the Los Gatos Creek Watershed Collaborative Forest Health Grant, of which Midpen is a participant. In addition, the new grant includes major habitat restoration on approximately 10 acres of a former Christmas tree farm.
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