Santa Clara County Open Space Authority 6980 Santa Teresa Blvd.

, Ste 100 San Jose, CA 95119

NEW THIS FALL

Moonlight bike rides at Rancho Caada del Oro Open Day Bikes, at Blair Ranch, Sierra Vista and Doan Ranch Staff-led nature hikes at Palassou Staff-led horseback programs at Blair Ranch and Doan Ranch Explore OSA lands not yet open to the public. Check www.openspaceauthority.org for details.

OSA is working to protect sensitive lands, preserve natural communities, and manage open space in ways that promote agriculture and compatible recreation.

INSIDE

3 Training opportunities Whether the activity was hiking, playing Ohlone games, or shaking cream into butter, Alex Osby was an avid participant at the Authoritys summer day camp for kids and their grown-ups.

3 Fall activity schedule

photo by Lark Burkhart

3 Halloween celebration planned

2 New office location

2 Supreme Court decision

2 Summer day camp was a hit with kids and parents

1 Managed grazing was the topic for farm tour guests at Doan Ranch

OSA OUTLOOK

Fall 2008 Vol. 2 No. 3

News & Notes Supreme Court Decision

The Open Space Authority learned July 14 that the California Supreme Court found in favor of two taxpayers associations in a lawsuit contesting the Authoritys 2001 benefit assessment. The case has been returned to the lower courts for final resolution in accord with the Supreme Courts decision. No judgment has been made about disposition of $56.6 million in assessments collected and held in reserve during the seven years of legal proceedings.

The Authority has completed the move of its administrative office to the Bernal Business Park at the corner of Bernal Road and Santa Teresa Boulevard. The office is on the first floor with direct outdoor access. We are located next to Realm Drive at 6980 Santa Teresa Boulevard, Suite 100.

November 4 Election
The terms of four OSA directors will expire at the end of 2008. Two incumbents were unopposed and will continue to serve. In District 1 and District 7 two candidates have qualified to run for the directors seats. These districts include Morgan Hill and the unincorporated county and portions of the Edenvale and Evergreen areas.

Summer Camp Recipe:

Scratch an adult whos committed to protecting the environment and youll often find a child who spent time in the woods. And poking in creeks. Watching ants. Studying clouds. For the Open Space Authority getting children into nature is a way to ignite that spark of connection in the next generation. It will be their task to preserve the open space their parents and grandparents have collectively paid for. This summer children and their parents spent a week exploring Rancho Caada del Oro. They learned about the animals and plants found there, the interconnections among them, and the people who lived in the area in earlier times. A second kidsand-parents day camp was held at Ulistac Natural Area in the city of Santa Clara. In addition, OSA provided three day camps for children with physical and developmental disabilities. These camps, at Blackford and Oster elementary schools, were a pilot program designed to test activities and teaching styles that can serve children with special needs.

Mix kids, nature, and fun ways to learn

photos by Angela Menke

Santa Clara County Open Space Authority

6980 Santa Teresa Blvd., Ste 100 San Jose, CA 95119 tel 408.224.7476 fax 408.224.7548
photo by John Scanlon

www.openspaceauthority.org

Tracking the Wild Tarantula

Volunteer Paul Billig will lead two hikes this fall during the time male tarantulas make their annual circuit looking for females.

Six-mile hike, elevation gain of 1,500 feet. Meet at the Casa Loma Road staging area.

Sunday, October 5, 16 p.m. Boccardo Loop Trail

Six-mile hike, elevation gain of 1,400 feet. Meet by the electric gate, at the end of the road in Alum Rock Park. Both hikes are on fairly steep trails, but the pace will be slow. Bring water, a light snack, and sun protection.

A Walk in the Forest

Join volunteer Cait Hutnik on Rancho Caada del Oro Open Space Preserve for three morning hikes this fall. Learn about the preserves native trees, shrubs and wildlife from an experienced observer.

Were having a Rockin Rancho Halloween this year so mark your calendar for October 25. Enjoy trick or treating, games, crafts, and live critters. We also encourage costumes. Daylight fun for the family from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Rancho Caada del Oro Open Space Preserve.

Learning to Lead: Nature Classes

The Authority will offer several opportunities this fall for teachers and group leaders to develop their nature education skills. Teacher Take a Hike Training will give teachers the confidence to lead their own classes on fun-filled, informative hikes. This one-day workshop will be held Saturday, November 15. A $10 charge will cover supplies. On December 6 and 7, OSA interpreter Teri Rogoway will lead a class based on the teachings of Aldo Leopold. His land ethic became the basis of modern ecology. A $35 fee covers instructional materials participants will take home. Sign up now for either of these classes by contacting Teri at trogoway@openspaceauthority.org or 408-224-7476.

Saturday, September 20, 8 a.m.12:30 p.m. Rancho Caada del Oro

Mayfair Ranch Trail, 4.5 miles. Meet at the Casa Loma Road staging area.

Saturday, October 18, 8 a.m.12:30 p.m. Rancho Caada del Oro

Mayfair Ranch Trail, 4.5 miles. Meet at the Casa Loma Road staging area.

Saturday, November 15, 8 a.m.12:30 p.m. Rancho Caada del Oro

Longwall Canyon, Bald Peaks and Catamount trails, 6 miles. Meet at the Casa Loma Road staging area.

photo by Lark Burkhart

Sunday, September 28, 16 p.m. Rancho Caada del Oro

Pink Darth Vader, a.k.a. Allie Mundstock 2007

Meanwhile, Back at the (Doan) Ranch

Lunch is served at Doan Ranch, one of several stops on this summers CGF farm tour. where, and for how long have to be made anew each year and often month by month. Theres also a major investment in infrastructure and transportation. Opening and closing areas to achieve conservation goals requires boundary and cross fencing. Water sources have to be provided and maintained, with consideration for the habitat of riparian species and their life cycles. And cows dont fly any better than pigs do: They have to be moved by trailer.

stop at Doan Ranch on the Committee for Green Foothills farm tour in June was a crash course in ranch economics and the balancing act of modern grazing management. While about 40 guests enjoyed lunch amid views of graceful hills, oak trees, and golden summer grass, OSA general manager Pat Congdon and long-time rancher Don Silacci described what it takes to bring cattle and open space lands together so that both benefit.

photos by Cait Hutnik

Pressures

Today, rising oil costs, expanding development, foreign competition and other factors make ranching a precarious venture. At the same time a secure, and preferably local, food base is becoming more of an issue. The environmental coalition of open space agencies and ranchers can improve the odds that ranching, healthy grasslands and a sustainable local food supply will be here in the future. It comes down to an observation Don made: I need to leave enough feed here to protect the feed next year. . . I have to take care of it like it was my own.

Partnership

As the land manager and the grazing leaseholder on the 702-acre Doan Ranch property, Pat and Don are an environmental partnership working to keep both the grasslands and the practice of ranching sustainable for the long term. Besides being a food source and part of our states heritage, cattle can have a positive impact on the land. They trim populations of invasive plants, create openings for native vegetation, reduce flammable fuel, and return nutrients to the soil.

Benefits and Costs

These benefits dont come easily or cheaply. How many calf/cow units a given property can support depends on the grass, which depends on the rain. Which means decisions about how many cattle to graze,

L to R: Cynthia DAgosta, Don Silacci, Walt Hayes, Tom Jordan

OSA general manager Pat Congdon