For years, delicate riparian habitat at Furtado Barn became overtaken by invasive white horehound, mustard, thistles, and poison hemlock, making it difficult for native plants to survive. Starting in 2017, Open Space Authority field staff and volunteers gradually started pulling weeds as time allowed to help the native species grow. But in 2020, staff officially launched the Furtado Barn Restoration Area with field staff and volunteers providing a dedicated effort to address invasive plants and restore the natural ecosystem.

It all began when a French geographer discovered a parallel between the importance of preserving agricultural and natural lands on the Plateau de Saclay in France, and in Silicon Valley. Keep reading to learn more about this exciting information and idea exchange as the Open Space Authority continues working to address climate change using nature-based solutions to serve local communities in Santa Clara Valley. 

The Santa Clara Valley is home to a variety of snakes. Like them or not, snakes are vital to their ecosystems! Keep reading to learn why it's important for us to respect and protect snakes.

When you shop for locally grown produce, you help support local farmers, your health, and you also reduce your carbon footprint -so everyone wins!

Meet Supervising Open Space Technicians, Megan Robinson and Andres Campusano! Learn how these two work to protect the natural and working landscapes of Santa Clara Valley, as well as their efforts to make everyone feel welcome at Open Space Authority preserves.

When you visit a park or open space, you step into the home of a variety of plants and animals. While you are likely to see small critters like birds, ground squirrels and insects on the trail, you may also see more elusive and commonly misunderstood creatures like coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions and rattlesnakes. But rest assured, these animals are not out to get you. Keep reading to learn how you can protect local wildlife (and yourself) out on the trail.

Ever visit an Open Space Authority preserve to get moo-ving and spot a few cows? Cattle grazing is one of the Open Space Authority’s tools for conservation. When done properly, it’s a minimally invasive and an effective conservation technique.

It's almost the end of cubbing season for mountain lions, meaning these mothers are raising their young and getting them ready to survive in the wild. While cubs learn a lot about how to survive from their mother and the first couple years of their lives, it won’t be an easy feat living outside of their dens. Though mountain lions are apex predators, being at the top of the food chain still has its challenges.