Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority

The Open Space Authority is excited to announce Kathy Sutherland as our newest Board member, representing District 4! 🎉 Director Sutherland has been a member of the Open Space Authority’s Citizens’ Advisory Committee for the past 11 years, and we look forward to her continued involvement on the Board of Directors.

December 12 marked a heartfelt and memorable evening at the Open Space Authority's final Board meeting of the year. District 4 (D4) Director Garnetta Annable stepped down after an incredible 20 (cumulative) years of dedicated service on the Board. She also served for nine years on the Citizens' Advisory Committee (CAC). As one of the founding members of our agency, we are deeply grateful for Garnetta's unwavering commitment and passion to protecting Santa Clara Valley's parks and open spaces over the last 30 years. Another touching moment was Kathy Sutherland being sworn in to take Garnetta's place as the new Director for D4, bringing her own wealth of experience from serving on the Citizens' Advisory Committee for 11 years. Fun fact: it was Garnetta who initially invited Kathy to join the CAC! The meeting was attended by many members of the public, including several founders of the Open Space Authority, making it a truly emotional and joyous occasion. Here's to new beginnings and honoring the legacy of those who have paved the way! 🌿💚 #OpenSpaceAuthority #CommunityLeadership

It's a great day for Coyote Valley! Last week, the Wildlife Conservation Board approved a $5 million grant to the Open Space Authority to preserve and protect 142 acres of wetland, oak woodland and riparian habitat in Coyote Valley. This landscape, located between the Santa Cruz and Diablo mountain ranges, serves as a key migration corridor for native animals and provides important climate resilience for humans and wildlife alike. This grant is one of 24 habitat conservation and restoration projects that is receiving funding from the Wildlife Conservation Board, totaling $52.3 million in project funding across 25 counties. The Open Space Authority looks forward to the continued protection and stewardship of Coyote Valley's precious landscapes!

‼️BREAKING NEWS‼️ Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) has announced the official transfer of 376 acres of land in North Coyote Valley to the Open Space Authority. Public ownership of Coyote Valley continues to grow thanks to the consistent support of countless partners, donors, policymakers, scientists, advocates and the citizens of Santa Clara Valley.

Did you know that monarch butterflies are closely connected to Día de los Muertos? The holiday, celebrated on November 1 and 2 each year, coincides with monarchs arriving to Mexico during this time of year to seek out warmer weather for the winter season. As a result, the monarch has become a significant cultural symbol that represent the souls of deceased loved ones returning home. Learn more about the connection between monarchs and Día de los Muertos as well as the fluctuations researchers have seen in this population over the last few years by reading this article from the Open Space Authority.

The Open Space Authority's David Mauk gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at a day in his life as the agency's Natural Resources Technician II! Learn more about David's work with biological monitoring, pest management and restoration projects by watching the video below. 🐄🌿🦋

The Open Space Authority's General Manager, Andrea Mackenzie, and Long-Range Planning Manager, Nick Perry, were featured on a recent episode of the Jumpstart Nature podcast that highlights the history and significance of Coyote Valley! Listen here: https://lnkd.in/gN3CZVhz Thank you to Jumpstart Nature for taking a special interest in this crucial landscape in Santa Clara Valley!

The Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority is looking for an Educational Program Coordinator to deliver high quality programming and nature experiences for the public, connecting them to the mission of the Authority. A creative and passionate story teller with solid grounding in organization skills will thrive in this role! Applications Due: Tuesday, October 10, 2024 at 5.00 p.m Learn more and apply: https://bit.ly/3B4f0s4

On April 1, 2024, Larry Coons, the first General Manager of the Open Space Authority passed away. Larry had a 40-year career in public service and dedicated much of the end of his career to securing funding and community support for the Open Space Authority. Learn more about Larry's legacy on the Open Space Authority's blog: https://lnkd.in/gP9_CQug 

The Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority seeks an Open Space Technician II to join our Field Operations team in the work to steward our protected lands and foster positive visitor experiences by maintaining a high standard of care in our open space preserves. This position also serves as a bridge to the authority’s volunteer program ensuring the successful completion of stewardship projects.   Applications Due: Tuesday, October 08, 2024 at 5.00 p.m   Learn more and apply: https://bit.ly/4efXmj8