Thursday, May 24, 2018

Coyote Hills a treasure and teacher for 50 years


“I think our theme is basically a story of connection between wildlife and humans.” That’s from Dino Labiste, a naturalist at Coyote Hills Regional Park. Supervising Naturalist Sonja Gomez thinks about how the rich diversity of this land supported people for thousands of years, and even though it’s now a park, there is still a reciprocal relationship. “When we care for our parks,” says Gomes, “our parks care for us.”

The park is turning fifty this year and it’s a good time to reflect on the history, the mission, and the future of the 1300-acre wildlife oasis.

Visitors to the park today traverse an area inhabited by humans for more than 2000 years. For millennia the land was home to Tuibun Ohlone villages, supporting them with a diversity of wildlife and plants. With the arrival of the first non-natives in 1769, changes happened rapidly as farming, cattle ranching, and eventually salt harvesting changed the face of the land.

In 1883, the abundant waterfowl gave rise to a duck-hunting club on the marshes. The University of California at Berkeley took an Archaeological interest in 1935, and the first excavations began.  Impelled by cold war politics the Army established a Nike missile base in the hills in 1955 because of the area’s strategic location. Remnants of the outbuildings can still be seen. Following the base’s decommissioning, the Stanford Research Institute occupied the area and used the marshlands as facilities for sonar research. Cal State Hayward led archaeological investigations at the site in 1966.

In 1967 the East Bay Regional Park District and Alameda County Flood Control District purchased the property on Coyote Hills and adjacent marshlands from the descendants of George Washington Patterson (whose home can be seen at Ardenwood Regional Preserve). The park was dedicated on May 23, 1968.

In the 50 years since the park’s dedication, millions of people have walked the trails, watched wildlife, and enjoyed one of the most unspoiled habitats in the Bay Area. The plants and animal populations that people come to experience, however, have changed drastically as the population of the surrounding area has grown, a trend that has not abated since the Gold Rush.

One of the lessons naturalists at the park hope to teach is the impact of humans on the natural environment. One of the greatest pressures on the land is the problem of maintaining a balance between enjoyment and conservation. “There are so many people that come here, and that’s a wonderful thing,” Says Gomez. “but, obviously, the more people, the more impact. All the little things that people do add up.”

The little things can also add up on the positive side. For instance, creating natural gardens with native plants is a good way to support some of our wild neighbors. Every additional garden helps keep butterfly populations healthy and encourages wild populations to thrive. Most importantly, gardens attract pollinators such as bees, which are a vital link in the production of many food crops.

People can come and learn how to make a nature garden in their backyard (or balcony) at the upcoming Bird and Butterfly Festival taking place Sunday, June 3. There will also be special talks, nature crafts for the kids, and a celebration of the park’s 50th anniversary with special exhibits and cake.

Tule elk once roamed Coyote hills. Condors soared and the abundant bay was home to plentiful fish, and even sea otters. Those populations will likely never return, but the park is looking to the future and finding ways to provide a rich environment for the current wild residents, such as muskrats, grey foxes, and numerous water birds (272 species of birds have been recorded!). One example is the park’s installation of dozens of nest boxes designed to attract Tree Swallows: every spring the boxes are full of new chicks. The parks ability to expand on similar programs was recently augmented with a grant of 300 acres.

In 2014 the heirs of the Patterson family donated nearly 300 acres of land valued at $10M. The land was the largest remaining parcel of developable open space within Fremont. Earlier this year, East Bay Regional Parks District invited the public to give it’s input on the future of the site. “Some people want more trails,” says Labiste, “but others want to keep it a natural habitat and buffer between the developments on the west side of Paseo Padre.” The park district “wants to get community input so the land can be used effectively. “After all,” says Labiste, “a lot of that funding comes from tax dollars.”

A conceptual site plan for the expansion approved in February includes habitat restoration, urban agriculture, and public access improvements, such as relocating the park entrance closer to Paseo Padre Parkway to develop a more prominent entry point to the park.

Whatever the final result of the expansion, it is heartening to note that the emphasis is on enjoyment of the natural environment, a point of view that contrasts greatly with attitudes of 50 years ago. In her research of the park’s history, Gomez came across plans submitted by an outside developer back in the 1960s. “It had a golf course, a boat launch, a swimming lagoon, and all sorts of built amenities. Even in the dedication of the park, there was a mention—almost an apology—that the park is ‘virtually useless marshland’ whose value will rise as it gets developed.”

Fortunately, the public today appreciates the value of the natural habitat as a respite from our busy lives and an important piece of a healthy environment. It is still a place where natural wonders abound, full of life, right down to the smallest wonders. One of Labiste’s favorite moments as a park naturalist came during a tour of the Nectar Garden. “A butterfly emerged from a chrysalis right in front of a class of school kids. It was a miracle,” he says.

In addition to the Butterfly & Bird Festival on June 3, there will be a Memorial Day Celebration May 26 through May 28. “We’re giving a little history mini-series,” says Gomez. “We’re talking about salt harvesting on Saturday. Sunday is all about wildlife stewardship at the park over the years, with one of the district’s wildlife biologists, Dave “Doc Quack” Riensche, and on Monday Bev Ortiz, cultural services coordinator and founder of the Ohlone Gathering (itself celebrating 25 years) and a panel of Ohlone will talk about their involvement with park.”

Memorial Day Celebration
Saturday, May 26 through Monday May 28
1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Butterfly & Bird Festival
Sunday, Jun 3
10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Coyote Hills Regional Park
8000 Patterson Ranch Rd, Fremont
http://www.ebparks.org/parks/coyote_hills/
(510) 544-3220
Free. $5 parking

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