The rainy season is just around the corner, meaning newts will be on the move towards bodies of water to lay eggs and breed! To help keep these migratory amphibians safe, please minimize traffic on Alma Bridge Road during and after rain events.
Each rainy season, newts, along with other semiaquatic species make the trek from their dry season habitats within Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve down to the Lexington Reservoir near Los Gatos. However, along the journey, wildlife must traverse the perilous Alma Bridge Road.
Midpen and our partners at Santa Clara County have been working together to reduce roadkill and provide habitat connectivity to sustain local newt population near Lexington Reservoir since 2019. In 2023, the team completed the first phase of the project, which included feasibility investigations, identification of design options and selection of an environmental clearance path to pursue.
Phase 2 of the project is well underway! During this phase, we will be conducting numerous technical studies, advancing the engineering design up to 65%, obtaining environmental review clearance and submitting environmental permits.
In addition, the volunteer-led Newt Patrol is actively monitoring newt activity and mortality along the road, sharing their findings with the project team
Thanks for doing your part to help protect these charismatic crawlers.