Donors Enjoy Treasures of History and Harvest
CSPA donors explored secrets of Burleigh H Murray Ranch in October 2012 and enjoyed some of the bounty of the ranch’s historic orchard. The outing began with hot drinks and applesauce cake, along with a brief review of the lives of some of the people associated with the history of the ranch.
Pescadero: The Saga of the Sandbar
In August 2012, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) proposed to breach the sandbar at the mouth of Pescadero Creek in an effort to avoid fish kills. Volunteers assisted state parks staff, working with NOAA and other agencies, to monitor the process and results.
Your Dollars Helped These Birds Survive
Your support for state parks made a big difference this spring when birders discovered three newly hatched Western Snowy Plover chicks on Pescadero State Beach. News of the chicks came as a surprise, since plovers had not nested on this beach for over 30 years, but state parks was ready to help monitor and protect the young birds, thanks in part to your contributions to CSPA.
Volunteers Restore a Rare Piece of History
For almost a year (2011 – 2012) volunteers from all over the Bay Area donated their time and skills to restore a part of coastside history—a nearly century-old orchard in the hills above Half Moon Bay. The restoration effort, at Burleigh H. Murray Ranch, was one of many projects at state parks launched by the California State Parks Foundation (CSPF) Park Champions program as a way to use “volunteer power” to help meet the challenges resulting from a decade’s worth of cuts to park budgets.