Landscapes Newsletter, Spring 2001 ~ Peninsula Open Space Trust

8/9/2019 Landscapes Newsletter, Spring 2001 ~ Peninsula Open Space Trust

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Standing amidst the elds of brussels sprouts onhistoric Johnston Ranch, with the spectacularSan Mateo Coast at your back and pastoral,grass-covered hills stretching in front of you, itshard not to be struck by the contrast. At the edge

of the property line, just a few feet from the lastrow of crops, intense development is underway.

Rarely has POSTs missionor POSTschallengebeen more evident than at JohnstonRanch, an 862-acre property immediately adja-cent to Half Moon Bays city limits. The ranch,

located just east of Highway 1 where the ArroyoLeon valley opens onto the coastal terrace, con-tains rich agricultural land, grassy hills, scenicvistas, and important wildlife habitat.

Three years ago, during our last campaign,

we acquired 647 acres of the property. Now, bypurchasing an additional 215 acres, we reunitedthe original ranch, created a boundary on fur-ther development, and ensured that valuablefarmland will continue in production.

(continued on page 2)

LANDSCAPES SPRING 2001

PENINSULA OPEN SPACE TRUST

An Important Addition to

Johnston Ranch


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city limit to allow new development may have beenapproved by voters, resulting in the permanent lossof farmland and scenic views of coastal hills thatdene the rural character of this land.

This acquisition also offers a good illustration

of the advantages POST enjoys as a private organi-zation. Thanks to your support, we have theability to act quickly when important land-savingopportunities arise.

Mission AccomplishedBy protecting this land, weve accomplished

several important biological, recreational, andagricultural objectives.

POST has established a rm boundary on urbandevelopment on the southeastern border of Half Moon Bay.

The Johnston Ranch property, highly visible fromHighway 1, is an important part of the sceniccoastal corridor. Its protection from developmentensures that these grand vistas will be protectedin perpetuity.

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L A N D S C A P E S

Photo: Brian

In 1991 the property was purchased by a con-sortium of offshore buyers who planned to developa golf course and high-end housing. Following theoverwhelming defeat of a ballot measure (83% of thevote against) that would have extended the city limits

to allow this development, the ownership group wasrestructured, resulting in the division of the propertyinto two pieces.

In 1998 POST acquired the larger, 647-acreportion of the ranch for $2.6 million. This purchasewas made possible by contributors to POST and a$1 million challenge grant from the Kresge Foundation.In the fall of 2000, after Akihiro Yoshikawa, the ownerof the smaller portion, indicated his willingness to sellthe land and keep it as open space, we entered into

an agreement to purchase the remaining 215 acres for$3.05 million. The transaction closed in January.

The difference in the purchase prices for thetwo parcels ($2.6 million for 647 acres three yearsago, $3.05 million for 215 acres now) illustratesboth the appreciation of real estate and the threat of potential development along the San Mateo Coast.A different more reasonable proposal to expand the


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the endangered San Francisco garter snake, werepreviously split between protected and unprotectedland. Now that the reservoirs are under the sameownership, POST can address important waterissues relative to sh migration and habitat andagricultural use. (see related story on page 4).

The PropertyThe Johnston Ranch addition is comprised of

two parcels of land. A 49-acre parcel lies east of MainStreet, bordered by the Half Moon Bay city limits tothe north and Higgins-Purisima Road to the south.A larger, 166-acre parcel lies immediately east of Highway 1 and south of the larger section of the

Johnston Ranch property.The propertys diverse landscape ranges from

prime agricultural lowland to upland coastal scruband grassland. The Arroyo Leon stream owsthrough the property and forms the majority of theeastern boundary between the new addition and thelarger parcel purchased by POST three years ago.

Local farmer, Aldo Giusti, has leased the agri-cultural land on Johnston Ranch and kept it in row

Half Moon

Bay

MadonnaCreekRanch

Miramontes Ridge

Burleigh MurrayState Park Johnston

Ranch

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H I G G I N S - P U R I S I M A

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M A I N S T R E E T

Weve created one large, protected property sur-rounding the historic Johnston House, a whiteNew England salt box built by one of the areasprominent pioneer families nearly 150 years ago,now a museum documenting the history of thearea. The house sits on a small parcel owned by the

City of Half Moon Bay in the middle of the ranch.

Weve protected 118 acres of productive agricul-tural land, supporting the continuation of a wayof life that has existed relatively unchanged forover a century and preserving the unique characterthat farming brings to the landscape. The land iscurrently farmed in brussels sprouts, green beans,fava beans, artichokes and swiss chard.

This acquisition increases the potential, throughstrategic links with other existing open spaces, tocreate trail connections and parkland that couldextend from Skyline to Half Moon Bay.

In-stream dams on the property that not onlyprovide water for agricultural use, but also havecreated a habitat for two threatened species,steelhead trout and the red-legged frog, as well as

Johnston Ranch

Additional Parcels

POST - Owned Lands

Other Protected Properties

Urban Areas

LEGEND

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0 miles 0.5 1.0 1.5

SPRING 2001

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The 20-acre site of the Johnston houselies in the center of the southern portionof the ranch.


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POST must understand and work withcomplex water rights and damrestoration issues to accommodate agricultural needsand preserve wildlife habitat on Johnston Ranch.

Two in-stream reservoirs on the lower portionof the ranch provide water to irrigate the propertys

187 acres of farmland during the dry season. Thein-stream reservoirs have also created habitat forthree federally protected species: steelhead trout,red-legged frog, and San Francisco garter snake.However, there are a variety of opinions amongsheries biologists and state and federal regulatoryagencies regarding the impact of the in-streamdams on migration and habitat, particularly for thesteelhead trout.

Each spring, the outlet gates on the dams areclosed to collect water for irrigation during the dry

summer months. Prior to the rst signicantautumn rainfall, the process of opening the gatesoccurs. This process takes from one to two weeks,depending on the level of water behind the dams,because the gate on the lower dam cannot be openedunless the level of the reservoir is at or below thetop of the gate located at the base of the dam.

Although the in-stream reservoirs are benecialin providing valuable rearing habitat for steelheadtrout as well as habitat for red-legged frogs and San

POSTand the Environment

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L A N D S C A P E S

Johnston Ranch (continued from page 3)

crop production since 1949. A small herd of 11Corriente longhorn cattle graze on the uplandportion of the property. They were transferred toPOST as part of the purchase.

The FuturePOSTs plans for Johnston Ranch are similar

to those we have implemented on Cowell Ranch,where agricultural and recreational uses co-exist.Although Johnston Ranch does not currentlyprovide recreational opportunities, our long-termobjective is to integrate these activities throughthe sale and transfer of the property to publicagencies and private landowners, subject toconservation easements that preclude commer-cial development and guarantee trail access. Inthis case, the best scenario might involve sellingthe agricultural land to a farmer and transferringthe upland portion to an agency for recreationaluse, permanent protection and management.

In the interim, POST will maintain productivefarming on the property by continuing to leasethe agricultural elds.

The uplands above the agricultural elds arecurrently used for grazing. We are evaluatingwhether continued grazing is consistent withour erosion control and vegetation managementobjectives for the property.

POSTs plans for Johnston Ranch are compli-cated by water issues related to the presence of in-stream dams on the property and their poten-tial impact on several native species. Workingwith the appropriate local, state, and federalagencies, we hope to nd a solution that willsatisfy both biological and agricultural concernsand also serve as a model for resolving similarissues that may arise on other protected lands.

Story by Gary Cavalli


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Francisco garter snakes, the lower dam has severaldeciencies. When the reservoir is full and waterspills over the top of the dam, there is no mechanismto minimize the impact on migrating sh that fallover the top and drop down to the pool below.During the one-to-two weeks it takes to draw the

reservoir down to oodgate level, sh may suffersignicant stress due to increasingly crowded condi-tions in the reservoir. And once the oodgates areopened, the water volume may not be sufcient to

carry the sh out to the point where Arroyo Leonows into Pilarcitos Creek.

POST is working closely with the agricultur-al tenants, the local watershed council, CaliforniaDepartment of Fish & Game, U. S. Fish & WildlifeService, and National Marine Fisheries Service totry to resolve these problems. Two options arebeing discussed.

The rst option would involve retrotting thedam to make it more sh-friendly. Among theimprovements being considered: deepening the poolat the base of the dam; providing a ume to reduce

SPRING 2001

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A RROYO L EON : A Creek, A Dam, An Environmental Catch-22

RED-LEGGED FROG

Rana auroraSTEELHEAD TROUT

Oncorhynchus mykissSAN FRANCISCO GARTER SNAKE

Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia

free-fall damage to the sh; increasing the size of the valve to more rapidly draw down the reservoir;and installing a new system of oodgates that couldbe opened under greater pressure, allowing for moreexible management of downstream ow rates.

A second option would involve removing the

dams and nding other water sources for agriculturaluse, most likely off-stream reservoirs. However, inthe opinion of sheries biologists who have beeninvolved in the project, eliminating the dams would

remove some of the best in-stream habitat for steel-head trout on Arroyo Leon.

Either option would be expensive, and wewill need to identify funding sources includinggrants from federal or state agencies, said AudreyRust, president of POST. Regardless of whichoption we choose, our objectives are the same,said Rust. We want to maximize the overall bio-logical value of the water system, and we want tomake sure that the farmers on Johnston Ranchhave enough water available to continue cultivatingthe land.

SPRING 2001

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Reservoirs on Johnston Ranch serve as habitat for threatened red-legged frog,steelhead trout and endangered San Francisco garter snake.

POSTs stewardship of the reunited Johnston Ranch propertyinvolves juggling important biological and agricultural concerns.


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L A N D S C A P E S

A Spring Road Trip

POSTon and off the road

Johnston Ranch

Purisima Valley

Cowell Beach

Using the Johnston Ranch addition as a starting point, you canenjoy the scenic diversity of the San Mateo Coast by taking a leisurelydrive along Higgins-Purisima Road. Almost everywhere you look, youwill see protected land.

Entering Johnston Ranch on Higgins-Purisima just south of the Half Moon Bay city limits, you are surrounded by elds of brussels sproutsand other row crops. The ats stretch from Highway 1 to the ArroyoLeon, before gradually steepening into grass covered ridges. Up theroad, continue past the historic Johnston House, past creekside steel-head spawning grounds and on through pastoral hills and grasslandwhere cattle graze.

After driving through a hillside anked by a small corridor of unpro-tected land, you reach the Burleigh-Murray State Park where you willnd parking available and access to a horse, biker and hiker trailhead.

With Miramontes Ridge (protected by POST in the last campaign)located to the north and Johnston Ranch just behind you, it's easy tovisualize the possible completion of a trail corridor that could extendfrom Skyline Ridge to Half Moon Bay. Just over the hill to the north-east lie the ruggedly beautiful Mills Creek Canyon, also acquired inthe last campaign, and 563-acre Madonna Creek Ranch, donated toPOST by Mrs. Mortimer Levitt, which join with Miramontes Ridge toform the northern boundary of the park.

Driving further southeast on Higgins-Purisima, you leave the PilarcitosCreek watershed and loop back alongside the Purisima Creek RedwoodsOpen Space Preserve, a public preserve owned by the MidpeninsulaRegional Open Space District. If youre in the mood for a hike or walk,this is the place to do it. Maps are available at the small parking lot.

Meander past private farms and ranches along the Purisima Creek;past the Elkus 4-H Ranch, owned by the University of California, untilthe lovely Purisima Valley stretches before you.

Up ahead are Purisima Farms, another POST property, and the PacicOcean. Purisima Farms strategically lls the gap between North andSouth Cowell Ranch (acquired by POST for permanent preservation in1987), creating a four-mile band of protected agricultural elds andcoastal bluffs. The rich farmland continues across Highway 1 to theocean, offering majestic views up and down the coast, as well as publicaccess for recreational activities.

Turning north onto Highway 1, end your tour with a visit to CowellState Beach. A half-mile trail takes you from the parking lot to theedge of the bluffs with interpretive signs guiding you along the way.(For the more adventuresome, 90 steps lead down the bluff to beachesbelow.) With the crashing waves and sandy beach below, breathtakingviews of cliffs stretching to the north and south, and rich farmlandand coastal hills behind, it's easy to take some pride in what POSThas accomplished with your support.

Tour

G i l D a v i s

J o h n W a d e

J o h n B r e n n a n


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Committing to the CoastDuring 2000 POST made a huge commitment towards protectinglands that contain the natural resources and rugged beauty character-izing the rural San Mateo Coast. Two of these properties are adjacentto the Pigeon Point Lighthouse near Pescadero.

In June we purchased historic Whalers Cove, a property small in sizebut great in signicance. With this purchase, the construction of a motelnext to the lighthouse was halted. Eventually, the buildings will beremoved and beach access closed to the public in 1994 will be restored.

In July 2000, we acquired an option to purchase Bolsa Point Ranches,1,719 acres adjacent to Whalers Cove. This property was alreadyapproved for subdivision into 51 mini-estates. This developmentwould have consumed hundreds of acres of prime agricultural landand the water rights to Little Butano Creek and Gazos Creek, oneof the most important steelhead trout and coho salmon streams inCalifornia. And, it would have blocked public access to more thanone mile of coastline.

The possibility to protect these lands does not come easily or cheaply.Together saving Whalers Cove and Bolsa Point Ranches will costalmost $43 million.

We are currently seeking contributions for these coastal projects fromindividual donors and from public funds through the State of California.

If you are interested in contributing to the protection of theseremarkable properties or learning more about our fundraising efforts,please contact Kathryn Morelli, Vice President, at (650) 854-7696.

POSTSMISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Peninsula Open SpaceTrust (POST) is to give permanent pro-tection to the beauty, character, anddiversity of the San Francisco Peninsulalandscape for people here now and forfuture generations. POST encourages theuse of these lands for natural resourceprotection, wildlife habitat, low intensitypublic recreation and agriculture.

POST

P h o t o : J o h n B r e n n a n

LandscapesLandscapes is published quarterlyby the Peninsula Open Space Trust

3000 Sand Hill Road, 4-135Menlo Park, CA 94025

Telephone: (650) 854-7696Fax: (650) 854-7703

Website: www.openspacetrust.org

POST is a nonprot California corporationand is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3)of the Internal Revenue Code.Contributions to POST are tax-deductible.

Designed by DiVittorio & AssociatesPrinted by TradeMark Graphics, Inc.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Allan F. Brown

Patricia A. ComptonSusan Ford

Vince S. GarrodSukey Grousbeck

Christina A. HollowayRobert C. KirkwoodNorman E. Matteoni

Dianne McKennaDavid W. MitchellPaul Newhagen

Bill RellerKarie ThomsonT. Chester Wang

Anne M. Westereld

STAFF Audrey C. Rust President Walter T. Moore Vice PresidentKathryn Morelli Vice PresidentKatherine Birnie Land AssistantStephanie Gainey Public Affairs

Program Manager

Cristina Harris Executive Assistant Jean Lauer Land ManagerSummer Morlock Land AssociateDaphne Muehle Director of

Annual GivingKeryn ODonnell Conservation Project

Manager Jeff Powers Cloverdale Project

ManagerPaul Ringgold Director of

Stewardship


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NON-PROFIT OR

U.S.POSTAGEPAID

SAN FRANCISCOPERMIT NO.925

LANDSCAPES

SPRING 2001

Peninsula Open Space Trust3000 Sand Hill Road, 4-135Menlo Park, CA 94025

A land conservancy for theSan Francisco Peninsula

Address Service Requested

Recycled Paper/Soy Ink

POST

Cover Photos: Brian ONeill

If you want inner peace nd it in solitude,not speed, and if you would nd yourself, look to the landfrom which you came and to which you go.

Stewart Udall

Landscapes Newsletter, Spring 2001 ~ Peninsula Open Space Trust

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