Help Us Clean Up Mt. Umunhum for Public Access

History

The District acquired Mt. Umunhum, the second-highest peak in the Santa Cruz Mountains, in 1986 when it purchased the 44-acre former Almaden Air Force Station and surrounding lands from the United States Government. Prior to transferring the property to the District, the Department of Defense acknowledged that the site, which had been intensely developed with nearly 90 structures, underground conduit tunnels, and interconnecting pipelines, was contaminated due to past defense activities.  While the extent of contamination was unknown, the Department of Defense assured the District that the federal government would decontaminate the site. 

Unfortunately, more than 20 years after the District’s purchase, not much has happened. The Army Corps of Engineers conducted limited cleanup but at a painfully slow pace. Much remains to be done at a cleanup cost of $11 million.

Future

With its scenic views, Mt. Umunhum offers tremendous potential for environmental education and public recreation. As with other open space lands, the District wishes to:

• restore the site to its natural condition
• protect the natural environment
• provide the public with education and recreational access to the mountain's peak, with spectacular vistas of the greater Bay Area

Current Legislation to Fund Cleanup

This year, for the first time, Congress has appropriated $3.2 million in funding for the cleanup of Mt. Umunhum. While this is a significant step towards cleaning up the peak and eventually opening the summit for public visitation, cleanup of the entire site is estimated to cost $11 million.

A separate bill does allow the Army Corps of Engineers to accept private funding to underwrite the necessary work. Through your donation, you can help accelerate cleanup efforts to make this site available for public enjoyment.