Current Projects and Programs

The 79-acre Hawthorns area of Windy Hill Open Space Preserve was protected from development when it was gifted to the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District in 2011.

Wildland fire prevention, preparation and response are part of Midpen's ongoing land stewardship. We reduce wildland fire severity and risk in our region by managing vegetation in the preserves with a focus on ecological health and wildland fire resilience, in alignment with our mission and policies.

In 2021, our new Wildland Fire Resiliency Program was approved, allowing us to proactively increase our ecologically sensitive vegetation management approximately six-fold over ten years. 

Midpen is conducting an environmental analysis of three potential sites for expanded parking and trailhead access to La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve. The sites were recommended by the La Honda Public Access Working Group and have been studied for feasibility.

Midpen is pursuing several projects expanding public access and enjoyment in Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve while fortifying the long-term health of the land.

Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District is working together with project stakeholders, partner agencies and the public to connect over 30,000 acres of protected public lands that has been divided by California state route 17 (Highway 17). Midpen is exploring the feasibility of building a wildlife undercrossing and a recreational trail overcrossing with new regional trail links that will tie Lexington Reservoir County Park, St. Joseph's Hill Preserve, Sierra Azul Preserve and Almaden Quicksilver County Park to El Sereno Preserve and Sanborn County Park.

Through a public process, staff is creating an agricultural policy to clarify and define Midpen’s role in encouraging viable agricultural use of land resources on the San Mateo County Coastside, in alignment with our coastal mission.

Midpen is partnering with Santa Clara County and several other agencies to investigate feasibility, prepare an Alternatives Analysis and preliminary designs, and perform associated environmental and engineering services to improve wildlife connectivity primarily for California newts across Alma Bridge Road near Lexington Reservoir.

Midpen is updating its Basic Policy to incorporate the Coastside Protection Area in a manner consistent with the Coastal Service Plan. Learn more the ad hoc committee and how to participate in the public process.

Midpen has partnered with the City of Half Moon Bay and the nonprofit Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) to continue protecting the Johnston Ranch property, on the southern edge of Half Moon Bay, as open space and farmland. The 868-acre property, once slated for a golf course and luxury homes, was originally preserved by POST. The City of Half Moon Bay owns the historic Johnston House located on the property. Midpen has finalized the purchase of 644 acres of Johnston Ranch from POST, and has incorporated it into its existing Miramontes Ridge Open Space Preserve.

In 2021, with support from a San Francisco Public Utilities Commission grant, Midpen began a 2-year study on the feasibility of connecting the San Francisco Public Utility’s proposed new Bay Area Ridge Trail segment to Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve’s trail system, including crossing Highway 35 and expanding the preserve’s North Ridge parking area.