COSF News   (November 2007)                                    

17th Annual Conejo Open Space Trail Work Day
The COSCA Rangers provided an interesting and challenging project for the 127 volunteer workers this seventeenth year of the Conejo Open Space Trail Work Day event. The project was completed, and quality exceeded expectations. More than a half mile of new trail was constructed on the Hidden Meadow Trail in the Sandstone Hills open space area. Three very steep sections of the old trail were avoided by rerouting through terrain that not only provides a more user friendly grade, but more interesting views and more beautiful trail ambiance.

Hidden Meadow Trail begins at the end of Falling Star Avenue, and heads north-northwest. When the Hidden Meadow Trail reaches the power line road, a right turn will take the trail user to the Pathfinder Trail and Simi Open Space beyond. A left turn leads through the Hidden Meadow and along a ridge above the Oakbrook Regional Park to the Lang Ranch Parkway. From a botanical perspective, this area is unique because of the rare and endangered Braunton's Milk Vetch (Astragalus brauntonii) and Bear Grass (Nolina cismontana) found here.

In addition to construction of the Hidden Meadows Trail, work was done at the Conejo Valley Botanic Garden. A group of kids worked at the front entrance removing bundles of pine needles. The pine needles were taken and put in the dumpsters by the community center. Some of the kids and parents did some mulching on the main trail. An adult crew of 11 also worked on the Botanic Garden trails. That work consisted mainly of leveling the trail side-slope in several areas on the north and south side of the Nature Trail loop.

In recent years, the usual hundred plus Trail Work Day volunteers have completed new trails like the Lizard Rock Trail in Wildwood Park, the Triunfo Canyon Trail out of Triunfo Park and the Reino to Las Brisas Trail in the Dos Vientos area.


Conejo Open Space Foundation's 2007 membership drive
This year's annual membership drive is receiving a wonderful response from supporters of the Conejo Open Space. To join, renew, or upgrade your membership, or to make a contribution, please click on this membership link. In the past year, dues and donations to the Conejo Open Space Foundation have contributed to the following:

Trails Education Days - 1640 local 5th grade students enjoyed an interactive environmental field trip in April 2007. Since its inception in 1992, more than 25,000 students have participated in this annual event.

Conejo Open Space Volunteer Corps - In the past year, our volunteers donated nearly 6,000 hours to open space projects and programs.

Trail Work Day, Mini Work Days, and Adopt-A-Trail - Our volunteers help maintain and improve COSCA trails, now more than 120 miles in length.

Trail Watch and Trail Patrol - Volunteers submitted hundreds of reports to the COSCA Rangers on everything from trail conditions to illegal activities. They also provided information and assistance to trail users. These extra "eyes and ears" help keep our 15,000 acres of open space safe and accessible.

Open Space Maps - The Foundation distributed thousands of trail maps for the most heavily used COSCA areas. These free maps help trail users enjoy our open space and increase safety and awareness of the Conejo Open Space trail system.

Non-native Plant Removal - This new program reduces the number of invasive non-native plants that threaten native vegetation. Volunteers removed highly invasive non-native fennel from the Wildwood Mesa and other areas.

Conejo Open Space Foundation Website - Our website continues to provide additional educational and trail information for open space users. Trail maps, open space photos and videos, description of plant and animal life, group outings, favorite hike routes, volunteer opportunities, contact information, and much, much more offer a wonderful resource to educate and inform our community about the Conejo Open Space.


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