Winter 2009
Stewardship: Protecting the Natural World
Eucalyptus removal at Wicklow
- Saving land means more than just acquiring it.
It means caring for the land and maintaining the
characteristics that prompted us to save it in the first
place. Particularly now when public agency budgets
are limited and POST is likely to own land for longer
periods of time before transfers can occur, more
of our financial and staff resources must be devoted to
stewardship. It’s an essential activity that continues
to grow in urgency and importance.
- When POST acquired the 478-acre Wicklow
property in 2002, for instance, more than half the land
was covered in invasive, non-native eucalyptus trees.
The threat to residential subdivisions in neighboring El Granada was palpable. This year, POST worked
with local residents, partner agencies and a
contractor to clear a buffer strip between Wicklow and
homes on the east side of El Granada Boulevard. We
hope to begin a second phase of work, provided state
and federal funds become available.
- POST doesn’t typically build trails, but this year
we partnered with the Coastal Conservancy to complete
two segments of the California Coastal Trail.
These projects presented an extraordinary opportunity
to enhance public recreation on the Coastside and
for POST to secure additional land protection funds
from the Conservancy. At Pillar Point Bluff we completed
a short portion of the Coastal Trail known as the Jean Lauer Trail. Leading up to this work, we
removed hundreds of invasive exotic Pampas grass
plants, then improved drainage on the land to prevent
erosion. All trails at Pillar Point Bluff are now safer
and more scenic for visitors who come here to take in
the sweeping ocean views. At the Cowell-Purisima
Trail the Conservancy also funded our trail work.
The 3.3-mile trail is on POST’s former North Cowell
and Purisima Farms properties, now privately owned
and protected by conservation easements. This project
was put on hold by the state bond freeze. POST is
working with project partners to get the work back on
track now that the freeze has been lifted.
- At Cloverdale Coastal Ranches, we continue
our fight against Pampas grass, an effort begun in
2001, now resulting in the removal of more than two
million plants. This year only spot treatment was
necessary, but another invasive exotic, Canary Island
hypericum, required immediate attention. California’s
largest infestation occurs on private land near
Gazos Creek, and the highly aggressive, deceivingly
attractive plant was gaining ground at Cloverdale.
POST completed the first phase of eradication with a
$20,000 grant from the San Mateo County Weed Management
Area and continues to lead state efforts to
eradicate the plant.
With a Little Help to Our Friends . . .
