By mid-April, Midpen preserves are often beginning to show spots of colors, though this year is off to a slow start due to recent winter storms and cooler than usual temperatures. “We aren't seeing the early blooms like we did last year,” Midpen Supervising Ranger (and wildflower enthusiast) Kristin Perry said. “Although spring has technically arrived, the recent protracted wet and cold conditions have not provided the best environment for wildflowers yet. Nature can be unpredictable and we have to be patient, but as trails dry out and the weather warms up, I expect blooms will start to pop more."
A series of atmospheric rivers and high winds have left behind a lot of storm damage that Midpen crews are working diligently to clean up. Despite continued storms since late December, staff have been able to assess nearly all of Midpen’s 250 miles of trails and have cleared more than 1,000 downed and hazardous trees from trails.
The record rainfall also created erosion issues, washouts and culvert failures. At this time, Bear Creek Redwoods and the lower entrance to Purisima Creek Redwoods are closed to public use until county access roads can be safely repaired, a process that county officials expect to continue through the summer.
While cleanup crews have cleared dozens of landslides and repaired more than 100 clogged culverts and drainages, many areas have active landslides and are not yet safe or accessible to repair until it is dry enough to perform the work.
"We understand there are popular trails or preserves out there and that people are excited to get out after all this rain,” Midpen Land & Facilities Manager Brandon Stewart said. “We are prioritizing work to areas where there are imminent public safety risks or where emergency access is blocked. There is so much damage that it will take some time, particularly in hard-hit areas, to reopen all trails. This cleanup work will be in addition, or in some cases, instead of the field work we are normally doing this time of year.”
Much of the work on preserve trails will be able to be completed by Midpen staff, however larger landslides, such as at Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve, will require more complex repairs by contractors with heavier equipment. Midpen is pursuing Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding to assist with the monumental repairs needed.
“I know spring wildflower season is something people look forward to, but we need to ask for your patience as we work to safely reopen trails as soon as possible,” Ranger Perry urged. “Before heading out to a preserve, please make sure ‘you know before you go’ and check our website for current trail conditions.”
Midpen maintains an updated list of trail closures at openspace.org/trail-conditions. Preserve closures are communicated with banners at the top of impacted preserve pages and emergency alerts, when enacted, show at the top of every web page.