BLM to celebrate grand opening of Cotoni-Coast Dairies
Bureau of Land Management is inviting the public to the grand opening of the Cotoni-Coast Dairies onshore unit of the California Coastal National Monument on Friday, Aug. 15.
A reservation-only guided hike will take place at 3pm; RSVP at in**@***********ng.org as space is limited. The BLM Central Coast Field Office is hosting the event in partnership with National Conservation Lands, The Foundation for America’s Public Lands, Sempervirens Fund, The Trust for Public Land and Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship.
“Providing public access to the Cotoni-Coast Dairies unit of the California Coastal National Monument has been a goal of the BLM since it was added to the Monument in 2017,” stated Central Coast Field Manager Zachary Ormsby. “Together, through the visionary efforts of the BLM, our partners, and local citizens, this initiative ensures future generations can enjoy these magnificent landscapes.”
Starting Saturday, Aug. 16, Cotoni-Coast Dairies will be open daily from dawn until dusk, accessible via the North Trailhead at Cement Plant Road and Warranella Road. Parking is limited to 62 spaces; car-pooling or public transportation is encouraged.
Located near Davenport, Cotoni-Coast Dairies extends from the steep slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains to the marine coastal terraces overlooking the Pacific Ocean; it features a rich variety of habitats, including vibrant riparian areas and marine terraces, vital for local fish species and community water supply. The opening coincides with the 25th anniversary of the BLM’s National Conservation Lands, encompassing 906 units and covering more than 38 million acres designated by Congress and the President to conserve special features, from winding rivers to mountain vistas.
“Now and forever people can visit Cotoni-Coast Dairies, along California’s coast, and marvel at its extraordinary natural beauty and rich historic legacy,” said Sara Barth, Sempervirens Fund’s executive director. “This is a victory for conservation and a gift to future generations who will experience the wonder and awe these magnificent public lands inspire. The national monument designation is the pinnacle of public land protection, bestowed on those landscapes that are the best America has to offer. We celebrate the people who joined Sempervirens Fund to campaign for Cotoni-Coast Dairies to receive this special conservation honor.”
Volunteers sought to remove invasive plants at Olympia Watershed
San Lorenzo Valley Water District is calling on community members to lend a hand in preserving local natural habitats by participating in a volunteer invasive plant removal event on Saturday, Aug. 16. The event will take place from 8:30-11:30am at the Olympia Watershed property, owned by the District.
This hands-on effort focuses on removing invasive species, including French Broom, to protect the rare Sand Hills habitat and reduce the risk of wildfires. All skill levels are welcome, and volunteers aged 12 and older are encouraged to join, with adult supervision for youth participants.
Participants are advised to bring water, snacks, sturdy shoes suitable for rugged terrain, layered clothing, work gloves, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. The group will meet at the Zayante Fire Department, located at 7700 East Zayante Road in Felton.
The event offers an educational opportunity to learn about the importance of habitat conservation while supporting local environmental efforts. Training will be provided on-site, and volunteers will gain valuable experience in ecological stewardship.
For more information or to register, visit tinyurl.com/4bpbanfk or contact SLVWD Environmental Programs Manager Chris Klier at ck****@***wd.com.
Los Gatos ranch manager charged with animal cruelty
Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office has charged the manager of Chaparral Ranch’s Bear Creek Stables in Los Gatos, a popular South Bay horse riding ranch, with criminally failing to care for a horse that died from malnutrition and heat stroke last year.
Honey the horse was found unable to stand, badly emaciated and filled with intestinal worms—a condition experts concluded could have been prevented with proper care.
Jennifer Bryant, 25, was arraigned Aug. 11 in San Jose Superior Court on a charge of failing to give proper care and attention to an animal, a misdemeanor. If convicted, she could face up to one year in jail. The timing of the charging was due to extensive follow-up investigation by the DA’s Office and County Animal Control.
“Honey the horse didn’t have to die like this—emaciated and malnourished on a hot day in July,” District Attorney Jeff Rosen said. “Proper care in line with a veterinarian’s recommendations could have prevented this outcome, but Honey wasn’t given that chance. All animals deserve a life free of abuse and neglect.”
Chaparral Ranch is an organization that provides horseback rides and riding lessons with hundreds of horses at multiple locations around the Bay Area.
In March 2024, County Animal Control officers responded to complaints about abused horses and inspected the property at Chaparral Ranch’s Bear Creek Stables in Los Gatos. One of the horses officers saw was Honey, who had lice and was sickly, according to prosecutors.
A veterinarian came the next day and, among other things, suggested the ill horse have a special diet of alfalfa hay. He told the ranch that there should be a follow-up appointment to check on Honey.
There is no evidence the manager ordered a follow-up appointment, allege county investigators. They said evidence shows Honey was simply moved to a pasture at a different location and not given the alfalfa hay.
On July 12, 2024, County Animal Control was notified of a “downed” horse at a Chaparral Ranch property on Weller Road in Milpitas. The officer found Honey on the ground, unable to get up and very thin. Bryant said she had noticed Honey losing weight two weeks prior, and that the horse’s condition was due to allergies. Honey was euthanized that day.
