Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority

Nature understood the assignment 🌈 😎💯

In nature, rainbows are formed when light passes through water droplets in the air, such as right after a rain. These droplets break white sunlight into the seven colors of the visible spectrum. 💧🌈

The rainbow (more specifically, the rainbow flag) is ALSO a symbol of the LGBTQIA+ community. 🏳️‍🌈

The rainbow flag has been used since the 1970s to celebrate and represent Q***r identity. Although the design has changed over the years and evolved into many variations, the 6 colors were originally intended to represent life (red), healing (orange), sunlight (yellow), nature (green), harmony (blue), and spirit (violet). ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

Enjoy these glorious photos of rainbows at your open space preserves and remember that nature is for EVERYONE, and all are welcome.

📷: Rowan O'Brien, Nick Perry

Want to help wildlife move across their habitat more easily? 🐾

On Saturday, June 20, join us at Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve to help remove an old fence line as part of an ongoing habitat restoration project series.

This project will make it easier for animals to travel across the land and gives YOU the chance to hike through an area of the preserve that is not yet open to the public!

We provide all tools, materials, and training. No experience required!

06/20/2026 Fence Removal at Rancho Cañada del Oro | Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority Join us on Saturday June 20 from 8:30am-12:30pm at Rancho Cañada del Oro to help with an old fence line removal. This is a multi-day project series that supports ongoing restoration efforts and helps improve habitat connectivity across the landscape.

During a public meeting on May 28, the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority Board of Directors voted unanimously to oppose the proposed AES Jewelflower Battery Energy Storage System.

If approved, the project would place hundreds of containerized lithium‑ion battery units across roughly 40 acres of prime farmland in North Coyote Valley.

Read the full story here: https://www.openspaceauthority.org/whats-new/board-directors-unanimously-opposes-proposed-aes-jewelflower-battery-storage-project

Photo description: The view from North Coyote Valley Hill. What is now prime, actively farmed land is being considered as the site for the proposed AES Jewelflower Battery Storage Project.

Photo Credit: Nick Perry

Happy from this adorably curious gopher snake! 🥺🐍

The Pacific gopher snake is a non-venomous native species found across the Santa Clara Valley. Gopher snakes range in size from 12-18 inches long as babies to over 5 feet long when fully grown! 📏😮

They’re super important members of the ecosystem and help to control rodent populations (their primary food source). 😋🐿️

As the weather heats up, you may notice more snakes out on the trails! Please remember to give them respectful space and never attempt to handle, chase, or kill them. Enjoying open spaces means sharing a space with wildlife!

Thank you to Supervising Open Space Tech Andres for getting these great pics from Sierra Vista Open Space Preserve!

This spring, the Open Space Authority was the main sponsor of Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action’s first-ever “Nature-Based Solutions” Video Contest. 🌍🎬🍿

Judges selected nine winning videos by local students, who brought creativity and passion to the topics of Coyote Valley, nature and farming. 💚🍃🚜

We are proud to encourage youth voices in the community and support the future of conservation!

Watch the winning films on SVYCA’s website: https://svycanbs-contest.com/

Last call for the Coyote Valley Conservation Areas Master Plan Survey! 📣

We’re sharing early ideas for new multi‑use trails and facilities across 1,600 acres of protected lands in Coyote Valley. 🌄 These ideas will be planned alongside habitat restoration for wildlife.

Your feedback will help decide what moves forward!

Please take the survey by Sunday, May 31 to share your thoughts: https://www.openspaceauthority.org/coyote-valley-conservation-areas-master-plan

This , we’re shell-ebrating California’s only native freshwater turtle, the Northwestern pond turtle! 💚🐢

Last summer, we began an important restoration project to improve habitat for sensitive aquatic species, including Northwestern pond turtles, California red-legged frogs, and California newts.

These animals were living in former cattle ponds located at Rancho Canada del Oro Open Space Preserve that were negatively impacted by erosion, invasive species, and leaks. 💧

Construction on the ponds began in summer 2025 and plantings took place in the fall to enhance the vegetation around the ponds and improve wildlife habitat. 🌱

Thanks to winter rains, the ponds filled up and we saw native species return to their pond habitat, including 20 turtles spotted at the largest pond!

Stayed tuned for more updates on this turtle-y awesome restoration project, and learn more on our website! https://www.openspaceauthority.org/whats-new/pond-habitat-restoration