Newsletters

Inside this issue: New trails open, Midpen reintroduces prescribed fire for ecosystem health and wildland fire resiliency, and get into fall spirit with guided activities, trails featuring colorful foliage and more!

Inside this issue: Pallid bats make a Midpen preserve their home, the Highway 17 Crossings Project clears a key milestone, how Midpen is staying ahead of wildland fire and much more!

Inside this issue: New trails are opening this fall, and nearly 60 more acres of open space are preserved (thank you Measure AA). It's also awards season! Check out our photo contest winners and learn about our GIS department's newest accomplishments, including an amazing tool that will help you find the trail that’s right for you.

*Note: In the printed version of the Fall 2024 Views, there was a mistake on the Hawthorns article regarding architect Julia Morgan as the designer for the house, cottage, barn and garage at the Hawthorns Historic Complex. Only the garage was reportedly designed by Morgan. We apologize for this misattribution. 

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Inside this issue: A mysterious seabird nests at Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve, Midpen's continued efforts to prepare for and prevent wildland fire and how we partner with our communities to grow and train the next generation of environmentalists.

Inside this issue: How Midpen is helping a rare bird by providing quality nesting habitat, a new bike ride series offered in partnership with Silicon Valley Bike Coalition and keeping yourself, your pets, Midpen preserves and surrounding communities safe through the current heat wave and Fourth of July holiday.

This month, we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the approval of Measure AA, a $300 million, 30-year general obligation bond supporting priority projects in Midpen’s community supported Vision Plan.

Throughout this issue, enjoy some of the current highlights from 10 years of progress made possible by Measure AA, including the purchase of the 644-acre Johnston Ranch property and completion of major repairs and improvements to Alpine Road Trail, an important regional connection.

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In this issue, a brand new preserve guide takes you on a tour of your Midpen open space lands, an opportunity to participate in community science during this year's sudden oak death blitz and news about ways Midpen cares for the land to promote biodiversity in the Santa Cruz Mountains from timed mowing to goat grazing.

In this issue, learn how Midpen is restoring nature one acorn at a time, how you can help protect our region's beautiful and biodiverse wildflower blooms and all you need to know about an upcoming opportunity to explore Midpen's newest preserve on a docent-led hike.

Plus, read about Midpen's progress on Measure AA-funded projects, including work to expand public access at La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve.

Inside this issue: Grassland wildflowers you can spot in Midpen's coastal preserves. Plus, read about how Midpen is preserving agricultural roots and enhancing bat habitat in an historic coastal barn, protecting watersheds and unearthing interesting artifacts at a dump cleanup site and how your Measure AA dollars are furthering Midpen's mission. Read about these and plan your next docent-naturalist led spring outing!

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In this issue, learn about how the Santa Cruz Mountains region's rich biodiversity produces several winter flowering plants and where you can spot them. Plus, read more about the accomplishments of Measure AA in a recently released report and how that bond measure is funding new visitor amenities in La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve.