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General information on the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District,
Los Altos, CA.  Located on the mid-to-southern San Francisco Bay
peninsula.

This is the first posting of the Open Space District. Future postings
will include Board of Director meeting agendas, minutes, special
meeting announcements, and other information of a timely nature.

Please post any questions, feedback, comments, or suggestions to
Malcolm Smith, mrosd@netcom.com.

The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District is a public agency formed
by voters in 1972 to preserve a regional open space greenbelt, linking
District preserves with other  public parklands. District lands provide
permanently protected wildlife habitat, natural resources, watershed,
and a variety of ecosystems, and are available for low-intensity
recreational use by the public. Initially located in northwestern Santa
Clara County, the voters expanded the District's boundaries in 1976 to
include southern San Mateo County. In 1992, the District annexed a
small portion of Santa Cruz County, making it the only tri-county park
or open space district in the state.

During its first 22 years, the District has acquired over 36,000 acres
of foothill and bay-lands open space. The District covers an area of
330 square miles and serves a population of over 600,000.

Board of Directors: The District is divided into seven geographic
wards, each represented for a four year term by an elected Board
member. The Board holds public meetings on the second and fourth
Wednesdays of each month at 7:30 p.m., at the District offices.

Staffing: The staff currently consists of 50 employees in five
departments: Administration, Land Acquisition, Public Affairs, Planning
and Operations.

The majority of the Operations staff is in the field -18 rangers
appointed as peace officers responsible for patrol, maintenance and
capital improvements on the Districts preserves. The field staff also
includes 8 other employees who are mainly involved in maintenance and
improvement projects.

Funding: The primary revenue source is a share of the annual total
property tax collected within the District. This amounts to about 1.7
per $100 of assessed property value, which provided approximately $10
million in fiscal year 1993 -94. Other revenue sources can include
federal and state grants, interest  and rental income, donations and
note issues.

Land Management: The District currently has 23 preserves, ranging in
size from 54 to 9,547 acres. The preserves are open to the public free
of charge, 365 days a year from dawn to dusk. A small hike-in backpack
camp at the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve is available for a nominal
fee.

The District's open space is generally kept in a natural condition,
developed with only the amenities needed to provide public access and
low-intensity recreation. Diverse environments at the preserves include
redwood forests, oak woodlands, chaparral covered hillsides and shore
frontage along San Francisco Bay. Some preserves include parking lots
and restrooms, and all have signed trails for hiking, bicycling and
equestrian use.

Programs: The volunteer program provides an opportunity for individuals
to donate their time and energy on a variety of field and office
projects. Docents lead hikes, Preserve Partners work on field projects,
Volunteer Trail Patrol members make visitor contact for educational
purposes, and Special Project Volunteers can design their own project,
either in the field or in the office.

The District Speakers Bureau can provide a guest speaker for your
service organization, homeowners group, business club or other
association within the District's boundaries.  Also available is a
free-standing photo display for use at your group's special events.

Activities: The District offers over 200 miles of hiking trails,
ranging from easy walks to challenging excursions. Bicycles are
permitted on many trails, and there are also a number of trails where
horseback riders are welcome.

For More Information: To get on our mailing list, receive a preserve
map or obtain further information on any of the District's preserves or
programs, please call (415) 691-1200. Our address is 330 Distel Circle,
Los Altos, CA 94022-1404. Email to mrosd@netcom.com




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                                             mrosd@netcom.com