Open Space Committee annual report to the Portola Valley Town Council 12 February 2025
Open Space Value of Dorothy Ford Park
Nona Chiariello
1. Dorothy Ford Park supports recreation alongside revered “witness trees” base image: UCSB Aerial Photography Library
http://mil.library.ucsb/ap_indexes/FrameFinder/
2 Valley Oaks that were nearly
as large 95 years ago as today
2. Dorothy Ford Park is a riparian corridor, which is a habitat of special significance California has lost ≥ 90% of its preEuropean riparian habitat Riparian trees protect creeks,
organisms that live in creeks, and
people who live near creeks
3. Maps suggest century-scale creek stability, consistent with riparian woodland protection Base map: The Coon and Felt Tracts
(https://purl.stanford.edu/kd554qs2019)
1890s 2022
4. Without riparian woodland, bank instability puts infrastructure and people at risk In the ¾ mile NORTH of Dorothy Ford Park, 5 meanders have eroded into the Alpine Road right-of-way. San Francisquito Creek: one of the few remaining runs of Steelhead Trout in the San Francisco Bay drainage.
In PV, Los Trancos Creek is their only spawning option Additional information from sites on Los Trancos Creek about steelhead, red-legged frog, western pond turtle, raptors, etc:
5. Every link in a riparian corridor is important for native & sensitive species Base image: San Francisquito Creek watershed and
subwatersheds
Janet M. Sowers, 2005, Oakland Museum of California
https://explore.museumca.org/creeks/1460-SFrancisquitoWSBig.html 3343 Alpine Rd Environmental Information Form, Appendix D Stanford University HCP Physical and Biological Setting 575 Los Trancos Rd, Palo Alto Biological Resource Constraints Analysis
6. Dorothy Ford Park: open space value going forward
Open space value
Recreational benefits
Remnant oak savanna / witness trees
Intact riparian buffer
Native and sensitive species
Recommendations
Protect the creek bank along DFP and
consider expanding the setback
Help protect the bank of Los Trancos
Creek opposite from DFP, using the 25ft
creek conservation easement when
appropriate