Preserving & Protecting the Open Spaces of Pacifica and Surrounding

Preserving & Protecting the Open Spaces of Pacifica and Surrounding Areas. Land News Autumn 2020 Vol. 17 No. 1

Contents Love (for Open Space) San Pedro Creek – Steelhead Trout Wildlife Camera New Board Member Open Space Award PLT Featured Photograph On the Coastside Magazine Article Pacifica Land Trust Financial Report Donations

President’s Message 2020 Kathy Kellerman I am thrilled to announce that the PLT is the 2020 recipient of the City of Pacifica’s Open Space Preservation Award. (See the article and Proclamation on page 6.) We are proud and grateful for this recognition, and thank the City and the Open Space and Parkland Advisory Committee for this honor. We are equally grateful to all our partners, donors, stewards and volunteers who made this award possible. The PLT was also honored to be featured in a wonderful article in Mori Point, now part of the GGNRA, a Pacifica Land Trust and the October issue of On the Coastside Magazine. In case you missed Trust for Public Land preservation project. it, you can read it on our website under “In the News.” In a welcome serendipity, my favorite pastime has turned out to be my solace during these interesting times: enjoying the outdoors. And in an amazing twist, the United States Congress shared my enthusiasm and passed the Great American Outdoors Act. This will provide $900 million each year for the Land and Water Conservation Fund and ensure that important land and water resources will be preserved for the benefit of all Americans. After fifty years of environmental advocacy, this legislation was finally enacted with widely bipartisan support. On a local scale, the Pacifica Land Trust also strives to preserve our land, water and open space for wildlife and recreation alike. Check out the articles in this issue on local animals and how to enjoy them safely. Here is a heartfelt wish for the health of our communities and our wildlands! Pedro Point Headlands. Pacifica, CA. 2014. Photo by Stephen Johnson.

Love (for Open Space) in the Time of Covid Early development patterns left much of the Peninsula’s open and systemic social inequity. At the same time, our planet is fac- space concentrated on the coast, including around Pacifica. A ing crises of man-made climate change and of biodiversity loss, Pacifica resident can easily experience the frigid waters of the which, like Covid-19, have been shown to disproportionately im- Pacific, the sight of a blue heron fishing, or just be alone with pact already disadvantaged communities. Preservation of nature nature on the bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Those of us can provide direct health benefits to people, slow biodiversity who live in Pacifica are lucky to have easy access to county, state, loss, and buffer the impacts of climate change. These benefits and national parks, but it is important to remember that these should not be a privilege, but a right of all people. We must all are paid for by the tax dollars of much broader constituencies. join the fight to preserve open space and improve equitable access to the benefits of nature. Within the city boundaries of Pacifica, 51% of land is dedicated to open space. This was not by accident. From Land’s End to Years ago, communities saw the value in creating village greens Sweeney Ridge, Mori Point, Linda Mar Beach, and the Pedro that provided an open-air meeting place for the local people. Point Headlands, the Pacifica Land Trust, with the support of The current pandemic has shown us the value of open space many partners, had the foresight to fight for a vision of a city and the need to create more of it for ALL of us to share. There that included nature as an essential element. Since the Covid-19 are also many current and future opportunities to protect pandemic hit the Bay Area, Pacifica’s open space has been busy undeveloped land within the city of Pacifica and throughout the with people seeking relief from the stress and isolation we are Bay Area; both are important so that everyone can easily access all facing. People are finding spiritual rejuvenation, a break from protected open space within their own community. The Pacifica constant anxiety, and opportunities to safely exercise in the Land Trust will continue to take advantage of these opportunities. beautiful open space in and around Pacifica. Yet on more than Please remember that the hard work to preserve open space, one occasion our elected leaders, rightly so, have had to shut protect cherished wildlife, and improve human welfare, is predi- down much of our open space to visitors due to the dangers cated on a shared responsibility to protect open space and to presented by the inability to maintain safe physical distancing support each other in this fight. With your help, the Pacifica when so many people are flocking to the same place. Land Trust will continue to defend your right to enjoy the out- Recent events, including the vastly different impacts of Covid-19 doors in this time of great need. Your dedication to The Pacifica on different communities, have helped expose the deep dispari- Land Trust is wholly appreciated! ties in our nation that have stemmed from generations of racism San Pedro Creek – Home To Steelhead Trout San Pedro Creek, which runs through Linda Mar in Pacifica, Upon entering the ocean, the steelhead change to a silvery col- is home to a population of steelhead trout. Steelhead are or and alter their physiology in adaptation to salt water. Many anadromous, meaning that they live in both salt and fresh water. coastal creeks have a lagoon on the beach where steelhead have Closely related to rainbow trout, they are listed as a threatened a chance to adapt to salt water slowly. Lake Mathilde was such species in the central coastal area. Certainly they are threat- a lagoon in the San Pedro Creek watershed, but it is gone, filled ened here, where their well-being is a major concern of the San in by artichoke farmers long before urbanization. Once out in Pedro Creek Watershed Coalition and the Pacifica Land Trust. the ocean, steelhead grow larger for 1 to 4 years before return- ing to their home creek or river to spawn. From Eggs to Maturity: The Journey of Steelhead Trout Steelhead can grow up to several feet long, and weigh 8 to 11 Threats to Steelhead pounds, although we have accounts of larger fish before urban- There is no question that the population of steelhead in San ization of the watershed. They are named for their silvery color Pedro Creek has declined since the build-out of Linda Mar in and rounded head. In freshwater, their body changes to a green- the 1950s and 1960s. Both the Watershed Coalition and ish hue with a pink stripe lengthwise, like rainbow trout but not the Land Trust consider it a duty to help the remaining steel- as strongly colored. Steelhead are revered by fishermen, but be head by making the creek as healthy as possible. aware that state law prohibits fishing for them in creeks near the coast, including San Pedro Creek. As in many cities, the creek serves as a storm sewer collector, so anything that washes onto the street goes into the creek via Mature fish migrate from the ocean into the creek to spawn a storm sewer. For example, soap from washing cars or trucks from January to April. It is especially important that the mouth diminishes the ability of steelhead to breathe. Herbicides and of the creek not be blocked by stones or logs to allow steel- pesticides washed into the creek may reduce amounts of zoo- head a chance to enter. During spawning, a female fish digs a plankton and macro-invertebrates that are food for steelhead. shallow hole called a redd with her tail in a gravelly part of the Emptying a swimming pool into the creek years ago effectively creek, lays 500 to 1,000 eggs, and covers them with gravel. Then wiped out all the steelhead for a season. males fertilize them. Unlike salmon, steelhead can return to their “home” creek or river multiple times to spawn. Report- Barriers to their migration upstream to spawn, such as “plunge” edly, they live up to 11 years. pools several feet below bridges or culverts, are another culprit in declining steelhead numbers. The Watershed Coalition and The eggs hatch within 30 days. The hatchlings begin feeding on Land Trust are working with the Resource Conservation Dis- the yolk sac and the “fry” emerge from the redd after 4 to 6 trict of San Mateo County to address one of the worst barriers weeks. They move to shallow areas of the creek but with some on the creek below the Adobe Drive bridge. Join us in our fight current. There, the fry feed on zooplankton and small insects. to save these magnificent fish in San Pedro Creek! As they grow into juveniles called parr, they develop bars on the sides of their body. After 1 to 3 years in the creek, they migrate out to sea. Less than 1% survive their first year. Pedro Point Wildlife Camera Our friends at Felidae Conservation Fund have installed a wildlife camera at Pedro Point Headlands as part of the Bay Area Puma Project (BAPP). BAPP is a long-term study of the Bay Area’s pumas, their habitats and the potential for conflict with humans. Cameras are placed in research grids to collect data on all wildlife, and then the data is used to answer important questions on Bay Area species, with a focus on mountain lions and bobcats, and their prey. If you have any questions or are interested in volunteering to check cameras/review data, please contact them: [email protected] or [email protected]. Point San Pedro. Pedro Point. 2015. Photo by Stephen Johnson. Featured Photograph PLT Featured Photographs highlight Pacifica’s natural environment.

On the Coastside Magazine Features the Pacifica Land Trust Many thanks to On the Coastside for their wonderful article in their October 2020 issue. You can read the whole article here: www.pacifica-land-trust.org/in-the-news/ New Board Member Ellen Natesan We are pleased to introduce Ellen Natesan, who joined the board of the Pacifica Land Trust in April 2020. Ellen has a PhD in wildlife and fisheries science and over 20 years of experience in natural resource protection. Ellen has lived in Pacifica since 2008 and she decided to move to Pacifica in large part because of the abundance of beautiful and unique natural areas in and around Pacifica. In her day job, Ellen manages a team of scientists and planners responsible for environmental regulatory compliance, habitat restoration, and ecological monitoring associated with utility operations and watershed land management for San Francisco’s Public Utilities Commission. She is committed to using her expertise to help protect local natural areas and has been a member of Pacifica’s Open Space Advisory Committee since 2017. Ellen is excited to join the board of the Pacifica Land Trust and looks forward to par- ticipating in efforts to secure the protection of open space for the benefit of current and future generations.

PLT Wins Open Space Preservation Award We are proud that the PLT was selected by the Pacifica Open Space and Parkland Ad- visory Committee for the City of Pacifica’s 2020 Open Space Pres- ervation Award. The award was presented at the November 9, 2020 City Council Meeting. It is truly an honor to be recognized for our nearly 30 years of efforts in preserving and restoring many of our treasured public open spaces. We are ex- tremely grateful to the City and all of our grant funders, including the California Coastal Conservancy, the County of San Mateo and the California De- partment of Parks and Recreation. We couldn’t have succeeded without the additional support of other partners including POST and the Trust for Public Land, as well as all our volunteers, stewards and donors. Among the PLT’s successes are the two most prominent headlands in Pacifica (Mori Point and Pedro Point Headlands), an important creek restoration project (Pacifica State Beach/ San Pedro Creek), watershed protection for the north peninsula Pacifica Trail Map (the Gateway to Sweeney Ridge in San Bruno), and significant Mapmaker Ben Pease has allowed us to publish a version of his additions to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Many of Pacifica Trail Map to benefit the Land Trust. these areas would have been lost to inappropriate development if the PLT hadn’t made the effort to protect them and keep Get this handy 11x17 folded map and help the PLT at the same time! them accessible for public recreation and enjoyment. $5. Available at Stephen Johnson Photography. 1220 Linda Mar Blvd. Pacifica, CA You can read the proclamation on our website at: Trail Map use Donated by Pease Press Maps. www.peasepress.com Pacifica Land Trust Financial Report 2019-2020 The PLT is a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation under the IRS code. The main program activities of the Land Trust in Fiscal Year 2020 were related to the Pedro Point Headlands project, where ongoing work was supported with two grants, one from San Mateo County (“Mea- sure A”) and one from the California State Coastal Commission. Our Measure A grant is now complete and we expect to continue limited stewardship work in the Pedro Point Headlands under the Coastal Commission grant in FY 2021.

Virtual Pedro Point Donations A visit to the Pedro Point Headlands offer a deeper sense of Our mission is to preserve, protect and enhance the natural, educational engagement, interaction and appreciation with the scenic, recreational, cultural, historic and open space environ- new mobile friendly website, Virtual Pedro Point. ment including waterways and wildlife corridors of Pacifica and the surrounding community for present and future generations. This interpretive website enriches the experience of those walk- Please consider adding or renewing your support today. We ac- ing the trails along the headlands cept checks sent to the address on the back of this Newsletter or as they encounter numbered donations may be made online through our PayPal account linked Learning Stations, explained by a from our home page on the net. a visitor’s cell phone serving as a mobile educational unit. Users are able to access text, Got Email? videos, photographs, maps and graphics that will interpret the We’ll keep you up-to-date, electronically! diverse communities, flora, fauna, From time to time issues arise that require a speedy response. geologic and cultural history of Public hearings, land development proposals, and restoration the headlands. projects (to name a few) are often up for review with relatively www.vppt.org short notice. A growing list of concerned Pacificans’ emails will help us keep you informed, and enable you to respond if you are inclined. Interested? Email us at [email protected]. We will not share your email or bother you needlessly.

A PayPal link can be found on our website: www.pacifica-land-trust.org website: our on found be can link PayPal A

Send check made payable to : Pacifica Land Trust P.O. Box 988, Pacifica, CA 94044 (650) 359-3275 (650) 94044 CA Pacifica, 988, Box P.O. Trust Land Pacifica : to payable made check Send

Administrative Assistant Administrative

Romany Hall Sieferman Hall Romany

Email Phone Daytime

ZIP ZIP State City

Ellen Natesan Ellen

Celeste Langille Celeste

John Keener John

Address

Stephen Johnson Stephen

Samuel Casillas Casillas Samuel

Name

Treasurer

Other $______Other $100 $75 $50 $25 $10 Meiman Andrew ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏

Keep up the good work! good the up Keep

Secretary

Michael Crabtree Crabtree Michael

protecting our precious Pacifica resources. resources. Pacifica precious our protecting

I support PLT! support I

Please use my donation below to continue the work of of work the continue to below donation my use Please

Vice-President

Dinah F. Verby F. Dinah

serving our community. our serving

President

Kathy Kellerman Kathy as generous as your budget allows so the Pacifica Land Trust can keep keep can Trust Land Pacifica the so allows budget your as generous as

Board Members Board open spaces and protect our lands for generations to come. Please be be Please come. to generations for lands our protect and spaces open

Your generous donations allow us to continue working to preserve our our preserve to working continue to us allow donations generous Your Pacifica Land Trust Trust Land Pacifica

NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID PACIFICA, CA 94044 Pacifica Land Trust PERMIT NO. 175 P.O. Box 988 Pacifica, CA 94044

Address Service Requested

‘Like’ us on Facebook. Follow the link from: www.pacifica-land-trust.org