Conservation Corner March/April 2019

By Shani Kleinhaus, Environmental Advocate

Light Tower Corporation Plans for Arena Green Park

In our most recent Avocet, we discussed the ubiquitous impacts of light pollution on all living things, and our concern over the prospect of a monumental lighted structure in a San Jose park. The Light Tower Corporation initially proposed to resurrect the San Jose Light Tower (1881-1915) as an iconic tourist attraction. Wikipedia tells us that the tower was possibly the world’s tallest free-standing iron structure at the time. It was so bright it cast distinct shadows a mile away, and impacts to wildlife were evident. Local police even sold birds that collided with the tower to restaurants. In May of 1900, the tower reportedly attracted a swarm of beetles, which were pursued by insectivorous birds; birds and beetles were electrocuted, causing stray cats to mob the base of the tower. Disruption of reproductive rhythms in birds were also reported by local farmers.

SCVAS has effectively protested the plans to resurrect the Light Tower. Recently, the San Jose Light Tower Corporation decided to focus instead on an iconic structure at Arena Green Park (part of Guadalupe River Park). An international design competition will be conducted to select the structure. We remain concerned, since Arena Green is where Guadalupe River and Los Gatos Creek converge - an ecologically sensitive site where Steelhead Trout migrate, beavers are occasionally observed, and dozens of species of birds nest or migrate. We are also concerned by the use of parkland to support a large, lit structure. City Council is tentatively scheduled to approve the site selection (Arena Green) and the process for the design competition on March 12. San Jose residents, please sign up with Advocate@scvas.org for updates!

Dark Sky Policy

As our cities transition to LED lighting, light pollution and sky glow are increasing throughout our landscape. LED lights are excellent in saving energy, and are thus important in efforts to reduce emissions. However, we must also consider their impact on light pollution. SCVAS is asking the cities of Sunnyvale and Mountain View to review their policies and operations with the goal of reducing light pollution and implementing dark-sky policies and practices. Mountain View and Sunnyvale residents, please sign up with Advocate@scvas.org for updates!

Loggerhead Shrike by Sergey Pavlov

Coyote Valley

In January, our volunteers joined in with hundreds of people gathered in front of San Jose City Hall to Rally for Coyote Valley prior to the City Council discussion of Coyote Valley. At stake is the allocation of up to $50 million in Measure T funding for the purchase of land in Coyote Valley - land that can conserve agriculture and open space, and provide critically important habitat for birds and wildlife. Staff presentation to the City Council clearly favored industrial development in the valley, but it seems that pro-development arguments are starting to shift from the quest to develop the entire valley to more of a compromise. We believe that the undeveloped land in Coyote Valley should remain open space, and will continue to advocate towards the preservation of this important land.

Sally Jewell, former U.S. Secretary of the Interior, in a letter to San Jose City Council, January 22, 2019: “As you study the future of your region and sharpen the vision you would like to make a reality, I encourage you to shape your policies and investments to preserve irreplaceable natural spaces, not only for today, but for the health and wellbeing of the people and critters for generations to come.”

Migrating Newts Killed by Traffic

We love birds, but sometimes we aim to protect migration routes for other species. In Coyote Valley, it’s terrestrial mammals. In the Santa Cruz Mountains: Pacific and Rough-skinned Newts. In recent years, thousands of newts have been killed by traffic on Alma Bridge Road east of Lexington Reservoir as they migrate between the hills and breeding ponds. Our Environmental Advocacy group is working to raise awareness in the hope that solutions will be found to minimize this carnage.

Conservation Corner January/February 2019

By Shani Kleinhaus, Environmental Advocate

In the November-December issue of The Avocet, we described the options evaluated by the City of Palo Alto for the Emily Renzel Wetlands and ITT property in the Palo Alto Baylands. We are glad to report that the “Preferred Alternative” recommended by the Parks and Recreation Department looks to remove derelict infrastructure and fully restore the site to wetlands and habitat, while allowing access on the perimeter. SCVAS submitted a letter to the California Restoration Authority Governing Board in support of the allocation of Measure AA funding for the Renzel Marsh Restoration and Enhancement Project. Stay tuned as this process continues through City, public, and permitting processes, and looks to integrate into the Comprehensive Conservation Plan for the Palo Alto Baylands.

Measure T in San Jose wins, what next? SCVAS endorsed Measure T, the Disaster Preparedness, Public Safety and Infrastructure Bond aimed at reducing stormwater pollution of creeks and the bay, preserving open space in Coyote Valley, and repairing streets to increase San Jose’s resilience. In November 2018, San Jose voters approved the bond, which included $50 million for flood protection provided by Coyote Valley. On January 22, the San Jose City Council is bringing the future of the valley to a special study session to discuss the allocation of funding for the purchase of land in Coyote Valley. Please join us for a Rally for Coyote Valley on January 22 at noon outside of the San Jose City Hall (contact advocate@scvas.org to sign up). We need your help to show City Council there is broad public support for the protection of Coyote Valley.

Coyote Valley by Merav Vonshak

Coyote Highlands becomes Coyote Canyon - In 2012, SCVAS fought the Coyote Highlands Cluster Subdivision, a luxury home development proposed on the last undeveloped hillside east of Morgan Hill. This site contains three creeks and is important for nesting raptors, including Golden Eagles. We were able to convince the County Supervisors to require a wildlife-friendly perimeter fence to allow the property’s bountiful wildlife to thrive. In 2015, the property was acquired by Santa Clara County Parks, and thus became permanently protected. Now, the County Parks and Recreation Department looks to open the site (renamed Coyote Canyon) to the public. The County is working on a Natural Resources Management Plan which currently includes multi-use trails, as well as grazing, and fencing that is not wildlife-friendly. We have expressed concerns and will continue to advocate for fencing that allows wildlife access to drinking water and escape routes from fire. Please join us at the County Parks Commission meeting on the evening of February 6, 2019 (contact advocate@scvas.org to sign up).

We are also following: Google’s plans for North Bayshore (Mountain View) and the Diridon Area (San Jose); wildlife-friendly fencing in Los Gatos, the Light Tower Project in San Jose, Sargent Ranch sand quarry proposal in South County, Stanford expansion and General Use Permit, and much, much more.

Conservation Corner November/December 2018

By Shani Kleinhaus and Dashiell Leeds

As always, the SCVAS Environmental Advocate has been working on many issues throughout Santa Clara County. For this Conservation Corner, we chose to highlight a planning effort from Palo Alto.

Palo Alto Baylands: Should derelict infrastructure continue to blight wetlands?

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Palo Alto Baylands Option 4

In 1921, the Federal Telegraph Company leased approximately 200 acres of saltmarsh in Palo Alto to build a radiotelegraph transmitting station and support ship-to-shore communications. The station was located in the marshlands because transmission bounced off the high water table and wetlands, so the wetlands were an ideal location for this function. The station was eventually sold to International Telephone and Telegraph (ITT), who operated it to transmit overseas cables, telephone calls, and other communications. Technology and the advent of satellite transmission later rendered the ITT facilities obsolete.

Over the years, most of the land was acquired by the City of Palo Alto to become an integral part of the Baylands and Emily Renzel Wetlands. However, 35.6 acres remained in control of ITT. Meanwhile, hydrological integrity was impaired, the marshlands were degraded and partially dried out, and the infrastructure fell to disrepair. In 2017, the City of Palo Alto purchased the remaining acres, and promptly dedicated the property to parkland.

Now, Palo Alto is considering the future of the 35.6 acres of the former ITT property. Our Advocate and several SCVAS members - including the honorable Emily Renzel herself – have been participating in the planning process. Central to our interest is the obsolete ITT infrastructure that is still present on the land. There is a very large sealed building and a field of 22 antennae. The building is unattractive, and it would cost millions to make it useful. Access and parking would negatively impact wildlife. The antenna field is a collision hazard to birds. The tall poles and buildings also provide raptors with perches to hunt the endangered animals of the wetlands. We are also concerned with the damage to the hydrological integrity of the site; tidal flow through the marshlands is in dire need of restoration.

Palo Alto is considering several options for the future of the property and the infrastructure in the wetlands. We support a variation of the option named “Return to Nature” (see Option 4 photo) in which the ITT building and all of the antennae are removed in an effort to return the wetland habitat to its natural state and to provide a contiguous area large enough to restore a functional marshland habitat. We also advocate for limiting human access to the outside perimeter of the site in order to regenerate a robust ecosystem and to protect it from fragmentation and disturbance. And naturally, we support restoring hydrological integrity to the marshlands.

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Palo Alto Baylands Option 3

However, there are other options being considered that could harm the wetlands habitat. An option called “ITT Park” (see Option 3 photo) would keep the ITT building intact for historical value, even though it is the wetlands that are most historical. Pedestrian access would be encouraged and new trails would be built, bringing disturbance across the heart of the wetlands. The freshwater effluent treatment pond would have its footprint expanded, reducing the total area of the saltmarshes. Two antennae would be left standing. History buffs support keeping the infrastructure and activating the buildings. SCVAS and other nature-oriented stakeholders oppose this option because the buildings, new trails, and increased human activity will further disturb the habitat and prevent full restoration of the site for the benefit of birds and wildlife. 

Fortunately, Palo Alto is still early on in its planning process and there is still time to get involved! The City plans to hold two community/stakeholder meetings (dates TBD). The draft action plan will be completed this month, and the final plan in December. Palo Alto residents can help us advocate to restore the wetlands that reflected the radio waves, not the building where the radar sat! Please email advocate@scvas.org and we will keep you posted on opportunities to help advocate for the marshes!

Conservation Corner September/October 2018

By Shani Kleinhaus and Mackenzie Mossing

Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society is one of the most active and successful conservation organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area. Over the past year, our Environmental Advocacy Team has engaged in dozens of issues that are critical to protecting birds, wildlife, and habitat in Santa Clara County and beyond. Through our efforts we have delivered significant conservation victories on state, regional, and local levels. We could not do this important work without your help.

Looking back on the past year, we have many accomplishments to celebrate. Here are some highlights of our work:

• • Measure B on San Jose’s 2018 primary ballot put Coyote Valley, North San Jose, and the Evergreen Foothills in the crosshairs for residential sprawl, threatening thousands of acres of open space with development. Together with other environmental organizations, community leaders, advocates, and volunteers, our team spent the better part of 2018 engaged in a grassroots campaign to defeat the measure. Measure B lost by a landslide at the ballot box.

• • Our ongoing campaign for bird-safe building design in Santa Clara County made great strides. We successfully advocated for bird-safe design in several planning efforts and development projects, including the North Bayshore Precise Plan in Mountain View, the new Vallco shopping center in Cupertino, and the future Civic Center (County headquarters) in Downtown San Jose.

• • We participated as a stakeholder for Cupertino’s new Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Our engagement is evident in the draft plan, as it includes science-based objectives aimed at preserving and restoring habitat in Cupertino’s parks to reflect our regions ecology. Goals in the plan call for habitat connectivity, pollinator gardens, water sources for birds, and increased tree canopy, to name a few.

There is still a lot of work to do. We are currently engaged in a number of efforts to protect open space, creeks, birds and wildlife from habitat degradation and development:

• • As Burrowing Owls continue to decline in Santa Clara County, we are working with partners regionally and statewide to study the status of Burrowing Owls and implement emergency strategies to save them locally. At the same time, we are advocating with both Google and the City of Mountain View to install fencing around Burrowing Owl habitat at Shoreline Park.

• • The City of Campbell is in the process of updating their General Plan – a blueprint for future development in the city. As the Bay Area continues to boom, significant redevelopment is expected along the Los Gatos Creek Corridor, and so we have been advocating for policies that protect riparian habitat, birds, and wildlife from encroachment.

• • Approved by Santa Clara County voters in 2012, the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program gave Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD) the go ahead to start planning the separation of Ogier Ponds (Coyote Valley) from Coyote Creek in order to improve fish habitat and migration. Ogier Ponds is important to birders, and we see this as a unique opportunity to restore seasonal wetland habitat on the valley floor for birds and other wildlife. We are advocating with SCVWD and the County for a plan that prioritizes natural resources and includes a mosaic of habitats for birds.