Russian Ridge, Judith Zimmermann
PRESERVE PROTECT RESTORE EDUCATE ENJOY
District Introduction and
Update
Margaret MacNiven, Board Member, Ward 6
July 15, 2026
Midpen’s Mission(s)
2 Midpen’s mission: to acquire and preserve a regional greenbelt of open space land in perpetuity, protect and restore the natural environment, and provide opportunities for ecologically sensitive public enjoyment and education.
On the Coast, Midpen has an expanded mission to acquire and preserve agricultural land of regional significance, preserve rural character and encourage viable agricultural uses of land resources.
Lands We
Protect
3 Midpen’s Board of Director Wards
4 5
Protected by Midpen to date:
• 7,400 acres of redwood forests
• 6,900 acres of grasslands
• 40 acres of serpentine grasslands
• 288 special status species (87 wildlife, 201 plants)
• 23 threatened or endangered species
• 77 miles of perennial creeks; 1,400 ac. riparian veg
• 103 water bodies …….. AND GROWING!!
Some Midpen Facts • Public agency, created in 1972 by a grassroots voter initiative
• 763,000 constituents (2020)
• Elected Board with seven directors
• Funded primarily through property tax
• 27 Preserves in Santa Clara, San Mateo and Santa
Cruz counties
• Preserved over 72,000 acres & 260 miles of trails
▪ Over 15,000 acres of grazing land on the San Mateo
Coast
• Preserves are free and open to the public every
day of the year
• Main office in Los Altos + field offices
• ~250 employees, ~1000 volunteers
• Measure AA: $300 million voter-approved general
obligation bond passed in 2014 to support public
priorities
6 Nearby Preserves
Photo: Erica Namba 7
Ravenswood
Open Space
Preserve
Photo: Madhur Kulkarni 8
El Corte de Madera Open Space Preserve
Photo: Karl Gohl 9
La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve
Photo: Randy Weber 10
Purisima Creek Redwoods
Open Space Preserve
11 Photo: Karl Gohl
Windy Hill Open Space Preserve
Photo: Vaibhav Tripathi 12
Long Ridge. Charles Tu
Program & Project
Updates
13 Wildland Fire Resiliency Program
Implementation
Cherry Springs Prescribed Burn, 2024
Photo: Michael Gorman 14
Wildland Fire Resiliency Program:
San Mateo County
For more information, please visit www.openspace.org/fire 15 Prescribed Burns
• Benefits of Prescribed Burns
▪ Reduces wildfire risk and intensity
▪ Helps preserve grassland habitats by
burning encroaching shrubs and trees
▪ Cycles carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus
through the ecosystem
▪ California’s native plant community is
adapted to and dependent on periodic
fires sweeping through the landscape
• Burn Goals
▪ Training for Midpen staff
▪ Ecosystem restoration
▪ Fuel reduction
16 Midpen Staff at Prescribed Burn, 2024
Photo: Michael Gorman
Ranger Training
17 CZU Lightning Complex Fire, 2020
Photo: Brad Pennington
Wildland Fire Training
Photo: Chris Barresi
La Honda Community Shaded Fuel Break
• 30-acre shaded fuel break to
improve fire safety for the
town of La Honda
• Contractors use Midpen's
ecologically sensitive
practices to treat ladder fuels
while protecting special
status species and natural
resources
• Collaboration with CAL FIRE
and San Mateo County RCD
18 For more information, please visit
www.openspace.org/fire
Enhancing ADA Accessibility within Preserves
19 Conservation Career Fair 2026
20 Interpretation & Education Programs
21 Daniels Nature Center
Photo: John Green
Spaces & Species Field Trip
Photo: Anouchka Gaillard
Docent-Led Hike
Photo: Karen DeMello
Docent Naturalist Program
• ~100 Docent
Naturalists (DNs),
who lead guided
activities
on preserves
• Activity topics are
diverse, creative,
intentionally
thematic, and
place-based
22 Photo: Dave Kocsis
Photo: Catherine
Crawford-Swent
Photo: Joyce Tang Photo: Lindsay Joye
23 2025 Highlights: Partnership Program
“As we reflect on our work in 2025, it is clear that our impact is a direct result of the collaborative
partnerships we share with organizations like yours.”
-Aurora Cortes, SF Bay Area Regional Coordinator
Latino Outdoors
Student Conservation Association at Los Trancos Preserve Latino Outdoors at Bear Creek Preserve
Saved by Nature at El Corte de Madera Preserve
Critical Wildlife Linkages
Interconnected habitat
is essential • Supports species with
large home ranges
• Facilitates animal
movement in response
to changes in habitat
(e.g. wildfire, pollution,
or changing weather
patterns)
• Promotes gene flow to
keep wildlife populations
diverse and healthy
24 Highway 17 Undercrossing
Photo: Ken Hickman 25
Highway 17 Overcrossing
26 Current Status & Next Steps
Date Task
2024-2026 Caltrans Plans, Specifications, & Estimates
(Final Design)
Fundraising!
2027 &
Beyond
Bidding & Construction (funding dependent)
VTA is the project delivery partner
Current target groundbreaking – 2027
27 Key Partners:
28 Rodenticide Outreach
For more information:
openspace.org/rodenticides
The choices you
make at home affect
open space.
Rodenticides impact
the very wildlife that
already naturally
control rodent
populations.
Six Miles of New Trails: La Honda Creek Preserve
29 Long Ridge. Charles Tu
Visit a Preserve &
Get Involved
30 Join Us! Midpen Events Calendar
31 Find us at
openspace.org/events
Get Involved!
32 Subscribe to Midpen’s newsletter! Join an event or activity! Join a volunteer project! Follow us on social media
@midpenopenspace
33 We are Midpen!
Our capacity to innovate, problem-solve, partner, leverage opportunities, and face new challenges showcases our capacity to lead Questions?
openspace.org
[email protected]
Los Trancos, Thirumalai Suresh
Sign up for eNews at:
openspace.org/subscription-interests