At a special public meeting held on Skyline, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (MROSD) Board of Directors last night unanimously voted to purchase the 151-acre Rapley Ranch and 50-acre Portola Lookout Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) properties. The Rapley Ranch property is an addition to Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve and Portola Lookout is an addition to Long Ridge Open Space Preserve, and represents the third and fourth purchases within the Coastside Protection area.
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“The District is pleased to have the opportunity to work with dedicated partners such as Peninsula Open Space Trust to preserve these vital coastside area properties and to carry on the success established with the approval of the Coastside Protection Program,” said Craig Britton, the District’s General Manager. “This is another important step toward protecting the area’s natural environment and quality of life.”
The District has been managing and patrolling the Rapley Ranch property since June 2005 as part of a license and management agreement with POST, and was able to purchase the property with the aid of a $500,000 grant received from the Habitat Conservation Fund Program. “We are delighted to have partnered with the District to protect historic Rapley Ranch and Portola Lookout,” said Audrey Rust, POST President. "With the properties in public ownership, people will soon enjoy an array of recreational opportunities on Rapley Ranch and sweeping views of the coast from Bill and Jean Lane Meadow on Portola Lookout.”
The Rapley Ranch property sits high on the west-facing slopes of Russian Ridge Preserve and lies between Mindego and Langley Hills, two peaks that stand high on the landscape because of their volcanic origin. Scenic coastal hills and valleys surround the property. Diverse terrain and plant communities, including a densely forested canyon that makes up part of the headwaters of Mindego Creek, are also part of the property. There are nine special status species, including red-legged frog, San Francisco garter snake, and the federally threatened steelhead trout on the property. Rapley Ranch may also provide potential habitat for the endangered coho salmon. Ranch roads on the property provide excellent opportunities for a loop trail from the Bay Area Ridge Trail alignment across Russian Ridge.
Situated above Devils Canyon on the top of Long Ridge and along Long Ridge Road, the 50-acre Portola Lookout property offers a panoramic coastal view as well as views of Portola Redwoods State Park and Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve. The varied landscape, including grassland, patches of scrub oak, and dense evergreen forest provide valuable wildlife habitat for a variety of species. A perennial creek originating on the property flows into Peters Creek, which is an important spawning and nursery area for steelhead trout.
A special use-permit system will be developed for neighbors and docent-led activities to allow limited public recreational access to the properties while use and management plans are developed.
Created by voters more than 30 years ago, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District has successfully protected and managed over 50,000 acres of open space. The public enjoys the District’s diverse and beautiful preserves 365 days a year. The District is an independent, non-enterprise, California special district whose mission is to acquire and preserve a regional greenbelt of open space land in perpetuity, protect and restore the natural environment, and provide opportunities for ecologically sensitive public enjoyment and education. [url=http://www.openspace.org]http://www.openspace.org[/url]
