Stories

Midpen scientists regularly survey preserves to detect anything out of the ordinary that may pose a threat to the area’s ecology before it becomes a landscape-level challenge. During routine monitoring in 2021, staff spotted something unusual.

Midpen recently awarded $313,983 in grant funding to support academic and nonprofit institutions in sustaining and growing the conservation field through research, education, stewardship and connection.

A Midpen Ranger was the first to notice and report the smoke. The fire burned approximately one-third of an acre before being put out by a multi-agency effort. 

A rare reptile made an unexpected appearance this spring in Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve. 

Follow the interpretive walk around Upper Lake in Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve.

New interpretive signs along the Stevens Creek Nature Trail in Monte Bello Preserve explore ecology, plants and wildlife.

Five years have passed since the inception of Midpen’s Wildland Fire Resiliency Program has enabled us to expand the ongoing, year-round work we do to prepare for and prevent wildland fire and increase the ecoystem’s resilience to it.

During a guided group hike for older adults, Midpen and community partner ALAS united community, culture and the outdoors. Staff and participants learned, in Spanish, about the surrounding nature, including many wildflowers, and concluded the event with a lively group lun

As summer heats up, both people and wildlife face the same challenges in open spaces: how to stay cool, hydrated and safe during hot, dry days.

A new project about to break ground in Midpen’s Miramontes Ridge Preserve near Half Moon Bay has been decades in the making. It will create a more reliable water supply for conservation grazing and row-crops while expanding and improving habitat for rare native frogs, fish and other wildlife.