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Coastside Land Trust

Half Moon Bay High School Students Take To The Field At Wavecrest Open Space

Over the last couple of weeks the AP Environmental Science and Marine Ecology classes from Half Moon Bay High School took to the field in their first trips to Wavecrest Open Space- as part of the Junior Land Stewards Program. CLT hosted a number of experts to speak to the students about the history, ecological issues, geology, plants and birds of the open space. They ended each field trip with a mindful nature journaling practice called soundscape mapping. The high school students learned a lot about this magical place and gained the confidence they will need to lead 4th grade students on their field trips -which start in a few weeks.

Great thanks to the naturalists and speakers who made this such a rich and educational experience for these future high school field guides. Thank you to Malia DeFelice, Ginny Marshall, Sara Polgar, Barbara Dye, and Barbara Lohman. 

Photos by Haley Peterson and Barbara Dye

Wavecrest Coastal Trail Phase 2 Project goes before the HMB Planning Commission 10/10

Many of you know that CLT has been working hard over the past few years on plans for filling the gap in the CA Coastal Trail on the Wavecrest blufftops. This project will build >2.5 miles of multi-use Coastal Trail and connector trails with ocean overlooks and signage, free parking with drinking water and restroom facilities (all ADA accessible) and beach access stairs to enable a broad range of user groups to enjoy the Wavecrest bluffs and Redondo Beach in Half Moon Bay in a safe and environmentally responsible way. In addition to filling the large gap in the Coastal Trail, this project will improve accessibility, and reduce informal access which is causing rapid bluff erosion and damaging sensitive coastal prairie habitat. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

The City of Half Moon Bay Planning Commission will be reviewing this project for a permit on October 10, 2023. The Planning Commission agenda and information are now available: https://www.half-moon-bay.ca.us/314/Planning-Commission-Agendas

Wavecrest Raptor Walk Report

What a day! With a rich diversity of raptors, incredibly knowledgable docents from the Sequoia Audubon Society, and over 100 eager birding enthusiasts, this Saturday was a really special day. Participants traveled in small groups across the Wavecrest’s 50 acres to find Northern Harriers, White Tailed Kites, Red-tailed and Red-shouldered hawks, Cooper’s hawks , Kestrels, and other raptors flying and hunting along the wide expanse of this protected land. The visibility was high, and the morning (that began with a chill) warmed into the sunshine. People of all ages came out to be part of the magic- adults and children alike.

Thank you to Sequoia Audubon Society for another day of raptor magic, as well as the many CLT board members , staff, and the Stewardship Advisory committee members who made this day happen. What an incredible habitat to explore, right here on our coast.

California Coastal Cleanup Day Thanks

Thank you to all of you who showed up at Poplar Beach last Saturday morning to join the Coastside Land Trust for the annual California Coastal Cleanup Day. Our volunteers showed up in good numbers to join this important coastal movement to clean our our state’s beaches and waterway. It was a beautiful day, with over 300 pounds of trash collected at our location (much of it in small plastic fragments and cigarette butts found in our local beach wrack). Thank you to Barbara Dye for taking some great photographs. Here are a few photos from the day…

Children are always encouraged to join our cleanup events with their parents and loved ones. Thank you to Sara Polgar (and family) for the great “Trash I-spy” activity that challenged kids to find the hidden trash along our beach…

If you were not able to make it in person, please consider a donation to support the sustained preservation and protection of our coast, and our shared open space land.

Stewardship Advisory Committee in Action

Here are a few recent photos of some of our unsung heroes, who are out frequently monitoring our open space properties throughout the year. Here are also a few photos of the flora found along the way. Last week the monitoring team also documented 26 species of birds, including many Swainson's Thrush, some carrying food.

Donate now to help us protect and monitor these open space lands we all share and love.

California Coastal Cleanup This Saturday

JOIN US THIS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, FROM 9:00 AM - NOON

The Coastside Land Trust is calling all Coastsiders to join us as we come together to clean up our state’s beaches and waterways- to protect our coast and our ocean. All ages encouraged. Invite your friends and neighbors, and PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD.

Where: Poplar Beach at the west end of Poplar Street, Half Moon Bay

When: Saturday, September 23, from 9am - Noon

What to bring: Layered clothing for coastal weather and sun protection

Parking: Parking available at the Poplar Beach parking lot. Parking permits provided.

Join Community Nature Journaling Classes

Do you want to connect with nature and learn how to observe the world around you in a more intentional way? In partnership with Granada Community Service District, the Coastside Land Trust is offering two nature journaling workshops taught by naturalist, Elexis Padron. Elexis will teach how to slow down, observe one’s natural environment and translate those observations into a beautiful nature journal. This will incorporate writing, drawing, numbers, measurements, painting and even poetry. This is a free intergenerational activity, and all are welcome. All supplies will be provided. Sign up now. Space is limited. To register contact leah@coastsidelandtrust.org

 Workshop #1 – Classroom work at GCSD Meeting Room, Monday, October 2, 2023, 10:00 am-Noon

Workshop #2 – Fieldwork, meet at Quarry Park parking lot, Sunday, October 8, 2023, 10:00am-Noon

Preparing the Junior Land Stewards Plots

With great excitement and anticipation, the Coastside Land Trust is gearing up for this school year’s Junior Land Stewards Program. Members of our Board of Directors and Stewardship Advisory Committee have joined Haley Peterson ( Junior Land Stewards Program manager) to weed the Wavecrest JLS plots in preparation for this year’s program and students.

The mission of the Junior Land Stewards program is to connect the students of Cabrillo Unified School District with their local open spaces, and guide them in developing the environmental literacy skills and desire to become life-long stewards of open space. This project features three integrated components:

  • Field work and stewardship in the local coastal prairie. This field work is facilitated by the Half Moon Bay High School Science students.

  • Weekly hands-on science lessons and journaling

  • A culminating celebration in which student stewardship and learning is celebrated and shared with the public.

Donate to support the Junior Land Stewards Program today.

Wildlife Photography and the Documentation of Biodiversity- Webinar recording

Please enjoy this recording as the Coastside Land Trust welcomes Dr. Pedro Peloso, Brazilian field biologist and conservation photographer, as he shares his photographic documentation of biodiversity worldwide. Dr. Peloso's focus has been upon the diversity and evolutionary history of amphibians and reptiles around the world, including the documentation of new, rare and threatened species. Peloso has participated in over 20 scientific expeditions to document this biodiversity, including in South America, Southeast Asia, and India. Through this work Peloso has discovered and named many new species of animals, and published a large number of scientific papers and popular articles covering a range of topics in biology.

Donate to support the Coastside Land Trust free webinar programs and the protection and stewardship of our shared open spaces.

Coastal Trail Association visits Wavecrest Open Space

The Coastside Land Trust team was delighted to host a group of Coast Walk members from the Coastal Trail Asssociation out at the Wavecrest Open Space earlier this week. Thank you to Barbara Dye of our Stewardship committee for sharing the flora and fauna of the region- including an orientation to the native plants and birds within this protected expanse. Thank you also to board member, Sara Polgar for sharing the details of the coastal trail extension, and its plans to improve Wavecrest accessibility, while curbing erosion and rehabilitating the bluff top.

Wavecrest Raptor Walk- with Sequoia Audubon Society

This walk will explore our local overwintering raptor population. Wavecrest is the single most important site on the San Mateo Coast for wintering raptors, which can be seen hunting in the property's broad fields. Raptors and other species rely on its expansive grasslands, seasonal wetlands, and roosting sites. Wavecrest is the place to see many raptors, including White-tailed Kites, Northern Harriers, Turkey Vultures, Sharp-shinned/ Cooper's/ Red- tailed/ Rough-legged Hawks, American Kestrels and Falcons.

We will tour the open space preserve in small groups, each led by a docent from the Sequoia Audubon Society.

Cost: $15

Credit for these incredible photos: Steve Maller and Alvaro Jaramillo

California Coastal Cleanup Day Is Coming Up Soon

MARK YOUR CALENDARS for Saturday, September 23, From 9:00 AM - Noon

The Coastside Land Trust is calling all Coastsiders to join us as we come together to clean up our state’s beaches and waterways- to protect our coast and our ocean. All ages encouraged. Invite your friends and neighbors, and PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD.

Where: Poplar Beach at the west end of Poplar Street, Half Moon Bay

When: Saturday, September 23, from 9am - Noon

What to bring: Layered clothing for coastal weather and sun protection

Parking: Parking available at the Poplar Beach parking lot. Parking permits provided.

While you wait for September, you can do your own Coastal Cleanup! Clean up your neighborhood, parks, and local area anytime. Gather cleanup supplies from home, download the CleanSwell app (to count your trash, and to have your trash counted!), and clean on your own time. Trash from inland areas flows downstream to the coast, so cleaning up neighborhood trash prevents marine debris.

Wildlife Photography/ Documentation of Biodiversity Free Webinar

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AND THE DOCUMENTATION OF BIODIVERSITY

WITH DR. PEDRO PELOSO

FREE COMMUNITY WEBINAR

SATURDAY, AUGUST 19, 2023

10:00AM

The Coastside Land Trust welcomes Dr. Pedro Peloso, Brazilian field biologist and conservation photographer, as he shares his photographic documentation of biodiversity worldwide. Dr. Peloso's focus has been upon the diversity and evolutionary history of amphibians and reptiles around the world, including the documentation of new, rare and threatened species. Peloso has participated in over 20 scientific expeditions to document this biodiversity, including in South America, Southeast Asia, and India. Through this work Peloso has discovered and named many new species of animals, and published a large number of scientific papers and popular articles covering a range of topics in biology.

Goats Munching Away...

Thanks to Doreen Maller for this great photograph of the goats munching away on the historic railroad right-of-way. This large herd of goats comes from Star Creek Land Stewards and works with the Coastside Land Trust as a part of a planned grazing project.

Donate to support the Coastside Land Trust and its dedication to preserve, protect, and enhance the open spaces of the San Mateo County coast.

Goats Return To The Historic Railroad Right-Of-Way

The restoration goat herd from Star Creek Land Stewards will be moving to their new grazing spot, along the historic Ocean Shore Railroad Right-Of-Way, arriving tomorrow morning (Saturday) between 9:30AM- 10:00. They will not be running across the road this year, but will be returning to work, and great for viewing over the following days- as they are eating fire fuel, aerating the soil, fertilizing the ground, and encouraging the growth of native plant species. This results in a reduction in wildfire danger, improved soil fertility, and an increase in the diversity of native perennial grasses. This process is also good for the environment, as it doesn't require petroleum products or chemicals of any kind.

This large herd of goats comes from Star Creek Land Stewards works with the Coastside Land Trust and the City of Half Moon Bay as a part of a planned grazing project. Stop by the intersection of Railroad Ave & Poplar St in Half Moon Bay and watch these fuzzy restoration workers return to work.

Gathering In Wavecrest Open Space Honors Ric Lohman

Photo credit: Emma Spaeth

Please CLICK HERE to read an article written in the Half Moon Bay review about the celebration honoring Ric Lohman, held out on the bluffs of Wavecrest Open Space last Wednesday.

CLICK HERE to read Ric's obituary in the Half Moon Bay Review.
Please also consider making a DONATION in memory of Ric Lohman, and his dedication to keeping the character of the Coastside, along with his passion to preserve open space. Memorial donations will fund the Wavecrest trail extension. As an avid runner, Ric wore through many pairs of shoes running along the Wavecrest coastline.

Gathering in honor of Ric Lohman

Join us for a
Gathering in honor of Ric Lohman
July 12
6:30 pm  

Let us join together to share stories and memories as we toast and celebrate Ric's life. There will be beverages and snacks provided. Please bring your own blanket or a camp chair if you would like to sit. We hope to catch a sunset and a green flash. The event starts at 6:30 pm. Toasting and the sharing of stories will start at 7:00 pm. 


LOCATION: Wavecrest Open Space. We will meet just south of the Seymour Bridge at the second overlook, which is easily visible from the bridge. DIRECTIONS
The closest parking lot is POPLAR BEACH parking lot (which closes 30 minutes after sunset). There is also a large amount of free street parking in the neighboring streets. Parking is also available at SMITH FIELD, with post sunset closure of gates.

CLICK HERE to read Ric's obituary in the Half Moon Bay Review.
Please also consider making a DONATION in memory of Ric Lohman, and his dedication to keeping the character of the Coastside, along with his passion to preserve open space. Memorial donations will fund the Wavecrest trail extension. As an avid runner, Ric wore through many pairs of shoes running along the Wavecrest coastline.

Contact jo@coastsidelandtrust.org with any questions.

"All that is gold does not glitter. Not all those who wander are lost"

― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring


Nature Journaling Workshops Continue

Great thanks to Elexis Padron for her wisdom and teaching, and to the Coastside Seniors for their collaboration in the second series of nature journaling workshops that took place over these last two weeks. Participants began at the Senior Coastsiders center, learning and practicing with the basic skills and tools. The following week participants traveled to a tree covered spot within the Wavecrest Open Space, next to the Junior Land Stewards gardens. Here participants used flowers from the garden (as well as other biotic and abiotic findings from their immediate surroundings) to evoke Intentional Curiosity and practice their nature journaling techniques.

Donate to support these free community programs, as well as the protection and stewardship of our shared open spaces.