Shani Kleinhaus, Environmental Advocate and Giulianna Pendleton, Environmental Advocacy Assistant
Gschwend Residence: SCVAS has opposed the Gschwend Residence Project in the Santa Teresa Hills, San Jose since 2018. The location of the proposed residence is within a critical wildlife corridor linkage between the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Diablo Range. The driveway from Santa Teresa Blvd. to the planned house is adjacent to the Coyote-Alamitos Canal where it crosses Santa Teresa Blvd. This is one of the most important road undercrossing culverts for wildlife to safely travel across Santa Teresa Blvd. The residence site has been identified as a critical linkage in the Conservation Lands Network Linkage as well as the Valley Habitat Plan. We believe that the residence and its driveway could permanently sever wildlife connectivity for the American Badger and Mountain Lion. In addition, the site is included in the Critical Habitat Map for the endangered Bay Checkerspot Butterfly, and includes stands of milkweed that are important if migratory populations of Western monarch butterflies are to persist.
The City of San Jose has prepared an Environmental Review (Mitigated Negative Declaration) for the project. We provided substantive comment letters and secured expert testimony from Pathways for Wildlife—a wildlife connectivity research group that has been studying wildlife movement and safe crossings in Coyote Valley and its vicinity for over a decade. We asked the City of San Jose to deny the Conditional Use Permit for this project, or require a full Environmental Impact Report for the project.
Tideline Ferries Protest: Earlier this year, we filed a formal protest along with the Sierra Club and the Citizens Committee to Complete the Refuge, against Tideline Marine Group, a private commercial ferry operator. Tideline filed an application with the California Utilities Commission seeking approval for unlimited on-call boat service throughout the Bay and its navigable rivers and tributaries.
We were concerned that this service could disturb rafts of migratory diving ducks as well as bay marshes and the birds that depend on them. The company claimed that since there was no physical construction associated with this service, environmental review was not needed. We disagreed! The operations would have significantly increased the geography of Tideline’s service area, allowing ferries to venture into waterways running through or adjacent to the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. The proposed change to Tideline’s service area and routes would have allowed unlimited regular or daily charters to employment centers and destinations in the South Bay, resulting in many ferry trips on certain routes in smaller waterways with adjacent sensitive tidal marsh and mudflat habitat, including habitat of the endangered Ridgway’s Rail, which has previously been found to be impacted by ferry wakes.
Our formal protest succeeded! Tideline Marine Group withdrew the application for bay-wide service. Instead they applied for permission to add only South San Francisco to the cities they currently serve.
PG&E Retrofits Power Poles: A pair of Great Horned owls has been nesting at Rancho San Antonio year after year, providing birders with a wonderful opportunity to watch the parents raise their young. In June 2021, the single owlet fledgling was electrocuted at one of the power poles at Deer Meadow. Birders have asked PG&E to retrofit the power poles so that owlets, and other raptors, will not meet a similar tragic end. PG&E responded promptly and retrofitted the poles.
If you notice dead raptors at power poles in Rancho San Antonio (or elsewhere), please take pictures, note the location, and let us know so we can follow up with PG&E.
California 30x30: In October 2020, Governor Newsom called for an increase in the use of nature-based solutions to reach California’s carbon neutrality goals. Known as California 30x30, the plan aims to protect 30% of all public lands and water in California by 2030. SCVAS has been working with a large number of environmental, wildlife and open space groups to identify lands, waters and wildlife connectivity priorities and advocate for their inclusion in the plan. Our focus areas have been the San Francisco Bay, Coyote Valley, and wildlife connectivity at Pacheco Pass between Santa Clara and San Benito Counties. In San Benito County, we also highlighted rangelands surrounding Panoche Valley and Pinnacles National Park. Protecting habitat for birds and wildlife and migration corridors is critical at this time, as we are facing a global sixth mass extinction. We must protect biodiversity by protecting and expanding habitat and connectivity.
Newt Mortality: The day after the first winter storm on October 24th, “Newt Patrol” volunteers led by Dr. Merav Vonshak counted 100 dead newts, as well as many other species run over by cars. The Newt Patrol has been studying the newt population around Alma Bridge Rd. for several years, alerting us to the massive roadkill and to the threats to Pacific Newt populations in the area. Advocacy with Santa Clara County, POST, and MROSD has resulted in the commission of a 2020- 2021 study by a consulting firm. We now look forward toward a long-term solution to reduce mortality and provide safe passage across the roadway.
Update: See our December Conservation Corner and Help Save the Newts articles for more updates!
Boston Properties: In September San Jose City Council approved the Almaden Office Project adjacent to the Guadalupe River. With an 18-inch setback from the river’s dripline and no feasible mitigation strategy, we are disappointed in Council’s decision. Council prioritized downtown development over riparian habitat protections, weakening the city’s riparian corridor setback policy. We thank our friends at the Sierra Club for filing a lawsuit against the City of San Jose on this travesty.
RWF Outfall Lighting: The San Jose-Santa Clara County Regional Wastewater Facility Outfall Bridge is adjacent to Artesian Slough and the Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge, critical wetlands for migratory birds. San Jose was planning to add lighting to the bridge—bright, white light turned on 24/7. This type of lighting would harm insects, confuse migratory birds, and make wildlife more visible to nocturnal predators. Along with the Citizens Committee to Complete the Refuge, we asked San Jose to install a switch so light can be used only when needed. Our request was accepted!
Los Gatos General Plan: Earlier this year Los Gatos included our recommendations for bird-safe design and dark sky policies within their General Plan Update. We are now calling for riparian lighting setbacks and considering habitat value of tree selection. Look out for Action Alerts for upcoming public meetings on this issue!
Cuesta Park Pollinator Garden :This year, we have been collaborating with GreenspacesMV to advocate with the Mountain View Parks and Recreation Department and create a pollinator garden in Cuesta Park. A motivated community is getting involved and, working with the California Native Plant Society, we have come up with a plant palette for the garden. Look for announcements for volunteer opportunities! We look forward to this community-led restoration project in a popular Mountain View park!