Valley Water Great Sign Hunt 2020: Fortnightly News

Notes
Written By Kate Plant

In case you didn’t know, Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition and Valley Water have partnered together to bring you the Valley Water Great Sign Hunt 2020. With this fun and active outdoor activity, you can help document Valley Water signs along roads and trails!

Many of these signs are along bike trails – so who better to see and photograph them than the biking community! First, please register, download the app and enjoy exploring new areas with friends and family , while hunting down those signs! During summer, what better time to participate and compete for the chance to win one of three $500 gift cards and other prizes! Remember to follow Santa Clara County’s public health orders, such as physical distancing and wearing a face covering.

Every 2 weeks, we’ll help you explore another watershed. During the fortnight beginning July 31st, 2020, we’re off to the Coyote  Watershed. One of our amazing volunteers, Astrid, is going to help you explore. Thanks Astrid!

Please check out our Fun Watershed Facts page or continue reading below. Here’s a fun bike trail & other things to do while in the Coyote Watershed:

Fun Bike Trail:

15 mile Family Friendly Coyote Creek Trail

Grab your bikes, picnic blanket, pick up some deli sandwiches, drinks and either end your ride at Hellyer Park on the north end or Anderson Lake on the south end. Please see SVBC’s resource page which will assist you to navigate questions regarding bike riding basics, family biking tips, general mechanics of your bike and more! Along the way you may spot some local and native species: 

  • California red-legged frog (Rana draytonii)

  • Western pond turtle (Actinemys marmorata)

  • White-tailed Kite (Elanus Leucurus)

  • Central California Coast steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

  • Bay checkerspot butterfly (Euphydryas editha bayensis)

  • Smooth lessingia (Lessingia micradenia var. glabrata)

  • Coyote ceanothus (Ceanothus ferrisiae)

  • Mt. Hamilton thistle (Cirsium fontinale var. campylon)

 

Other Things To Do:

Coyote Creek Nature Trail located @ Anderson Lake County park – an easy 1.5 mile walk. You can bring along your fishing pole (and license, if over 16) and do a little fishing at Anderson Lake. For more information, visit SCC Parks: Anderson Lake County Park.

Hellyer Velodrome

Hellyer Velodrome is the only velodrome in Northern California.  Would you like to learn how to ride the track or just observe? Training sessions are held  most Saturday mornings at 8:30 a.m. and are led by experienced Hellyer Velodrome Supervisors and Assistant Supervisors. Training sessions are set to tentatively start up August 2nd. For more information, visit: Hellyer County Park Velodrome.

Santa Clara County Model Aircraft Skypark

Aircraft enthusiasts typically practice on the weekends and are hoping to start again soon with social distancing protocols in place. For more information, visit: Santa Clara County Model Aircraft Skypark.

Biking is better with a friend – will you forward this email to 5 friends and invite them to join you? Help get the word out by sharing pictures of your adventure on social media using the hashtag #GreatSignHunt2020. Happy Sign Hunting! 

Sincerely,

SVBC & Valley Water

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We’re 4 weeks into our scavenger hunt, and this week (August 21st) we’re off to the Uvas/Llagas Watershed located in the southern area of Santa Clara County. Our amazing volunteer, Astrid, will let you know more about the Uvas/Llagas Watershed below. You can also view this information on our website.

 

Uvas – Chesbro Reservoir Loop Fun Bike Trail:

Listed as one of the top rides in the Bay Area is the beautiful Uvas-Chesbro reservoir loop. This ride has something for everyone! It is a short, flat-ish ride (about 20 miles) that starts and ends at the Morgan Hill Centennial Recreation Center. Head out on Edmundson. Left turn on Oak Glen. Right on Sycamore. Up over the hill. Right on Watsonville. Right on Uvas Road. Then return with a Right on Oak Glen. Left on Edmunson.

Morgan Hill Artwork: Keep on the lookout for a variety of art projects commissioned by the City of Morgan Hill a short distance from the Centennial Recreation Center, such as…

  • “Bicycle and Town View” (Joan Harkness, Art Decker, Steve Harkness 2015 – Mural) – corner of Monterey Rd. & 3rd St

  • “Waiting for the Train” (Marlene Amerian 2007 – Bronze Sculpture) – Morgan Hill Train Station

  • “Family of Deer” (Eveylyn Davis 2015 – Bronze Sculpture) – Downtown Morgan hill Median on Monterey Road between 3rd & 4th Streets

  • “Tarantula” (Gordon Huether 2015 – Metal Construction) – Downtown Morgan hill South side of Parking Structure on 4th Street

  • “Poppy Jasper” (Gordon Huether 2015 – Plastic Wall) – Downtown Morgan hill 3rd St. entrance to Parking Structure

  • “Railroad Park Mural” (Pam Mossing 2017 – Mural) – Downtown Morgan hill Railroad Park

  • “Small Steps Fox Sculpture” (Evelyn Davis 2017 – Bronze Sculpture) – Downtown Morgan hill

Reservoirs To Visit: Once out of Downtown Morgan Hill, the Uvas-Chesbro Reservoir Loop passes through orchards, ranch land, oaks, and of course, two reservoirs! Read more about the reservoirs on the event website.

Interested in native animals, insects and plants to this area? See if you can spot:

  • Animals

  • Tricolored blackbird (Agelaius tricolor); State Threatened; Freshwater marshes

  • American badger (Taxidea Taxus); Species of special concern; Open grasslands, fields, and pastures.

  • And depending on the time of year, tarantulas!

Biking is ALWAYS better with a friend – will you forward this email to 5 friends and invite them to join you? Help get the word out by sharing pictures of your adventure on social media using the hashtag #GreatSignHunt2020. Happy Sign Hunting! 

Sincerely,

SVBC & Valley Water

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We’re excited to announce our four monthly randomly drawn* winners (July 15 through August 15) of  $50 gift cards each. Congratulations!

  1. Michael G.

  2. Helen D.

  3. Cindy L.

  4. Chee L.

Will you be the next monthly winner? You still have a chance to be entered in the next drawing – as long as you submit 25 unique signs! Just remember, be safe out there, beautiful Santa Clara County community: while sign hunting, be sure to follow Santa Clara County and CDC’s public health orders on physical distancing, air quality, high temperatures and wearing a face covering. Go team!

This time we’re highlighting fun facts about the Guadalupe Watershed located in the western area of Santa Clara County. Our amazing volunteer, Astrid, will let you know more about the Guadalupe Watershed below. You can also view this information on our website. 

Guadalupe Watershed

 LOS GATOS CREEK – FUN BIKE TRAIL:

This adventure will take you on the Los Gatos Creek Trail.  Please see SVBC’s resource page which will assist you to navigate questions regarding bike riding basics, family biking tips, general mechanics of your bike and more!

Historically, the route of the Los Gatos creek served as a trail from the Santa Clara Valley into the Santa Cruz Mountains. Over time, the route was used by the Ohlone, early settlers, stagecoach travelers, and now, us!  Spanning 11 miles, it passes through Los Gatos, Campbell and San Jose. Beginning at the southern end at Lexington Reservoir’s Lenihan Dam, follow the unpaved dirt and gravel trail for the first 1.5 miles to the Forbes Mill Museum landmark. Be advised there is a short steep section where you may have to dismount.  You can alternatively start at Main street where the asphalt trail begins.  Following the creek bank, you’ll be passing through a number of lovely parks.  The southern segment of the trail ends at Meridian Ave in San Jose. 

 FLORA & FAUNA TO SPOT:

This adventure would not be complete without spotting some wildlife and plants. 

Animals

  • California red-legged frog (Rana draytonii); Federally Threatened, Species of Special Concern; Ponds, marshes, streams, and pools, especially areas with willow cover and cattails present.

  • California tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense); Federally Threatened, State Listed – Threatened; Ponds and pools located in grasslands and low foothills.

  • Western pond turtle (Actinemys marmorata) ; Species of Special Concern; Ponds, marshes, rivers, streams, and lakes. Basks on emergent logs, boulders, and vegetation.

  • White-tailed Kite (Elanus Leucurus); California Fully Protected Species; Usually seen in open grassland or scrub.

  • Burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia); Species of Special Concern; Developed grassland such as golf courses, irrigated agriculture fields.

  • Central California Coast steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss); Federally Threatened; Perennial streams, rivers, estuaries and marine systems with cool, well-oxygenated water.

Plants

  • Santa Clara Valley dudleya (Dudleya abramsii ssp. Setchellii); Federally Endangered; Rare, threatened, or endangered in California; Rock outcrops in serpentine grasslands

  • Loma Prieta hoita ((Hoita strobilina); Rare, threatened, or endangered in California; Chaparral and woodland areas, usually in serpentine soil.

  • Eucalypt Tree (non native, but part of California’s history)

 

LOS GATOS ARTWORK: Please note: You won’t find Valley Water signs at these locations, however these are a list of great attractions you might want to visit during your bike ride in this watershed. Enjoy!

  • “Eolian” (Eric Ziemelis 1991- Marble and steel sculpture) – Civic Center Lawn

  • “The Source” (Paul Wilson 1988 – Redwood sculpture) – Los Gatos Library West Entrance

  • “Portals and Passages” (Marilyn Kuksh 2001 – Large scale sculpture) – West end of the Civic Center lawn.

  • “Los Gatos Pescado” (Phil Lange 2012 – Kinetic sculpture) – Top of the kiosk at the corner of Fiesta Way and Main Street.

  • “The Main Street Bridge Mural” (Carol Huboi-Werry 2002 – Large scale mural) – Accessible from the Los Gatos Creek trail, Main Street undercrossing.

  • Emergency Art Museum, is a pop-up outdoor art museum, created in response to the Covid-19 emergency shutdown: https://emergencyartmuseum.com/for-kids-1

  • New Museum Los Gatos + Art Studio https://www.numulosgatos.org/

 

PARKS/ATTRACTIONS: 

*To be eligible for the gift card drawing, participants must collect at least 25 signs since July 15.

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JOIN THE SIGN SCAVENGER HUNT

DID YOU HEAR? WE’VE EXTENDED THE VALLEY WATER GREAT SIGN HUNT 2020: Valley Water and Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition (SVBC) have extended the end date of our scavenger hunt to October 29th, 2020.  Which means it’s not too late! Register to join the Scavenger Hunt to find Valley Water signs all over Santa Clara County. Submit 25 unique signs via our app by October 29th and be entered in the drawing for the monthly prize. Be in the chance to win- a  monthly or overall prize! Download the app and register at https://bikesiliconvalley.org/valley-water-great-sign-hunt…/. Already collecting signs? Check out our Leaderboard to see if you’ve made it on there!. 

Congratulations to the August Sign Scavenger Hunt winners: Michael G., Helen D., Cindy L. and Chee L. Way to go!

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Kate Plant
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