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Alameda County Altamont Landfill Open Space Fund Tyler Ranch Property Acquisition East Bay Regional Park District FUNDING CRITERIA I. Significant Native Biodiversity Value The Tyler Ranch property links the rugged Niles Canyon Alameda Creek wildlife corridor with oak woodland /savanna /chaparral /riparian habitat of Sunol Ridge and Pleasanton Ridge. Acquisition of the Tyler Ranch property will augment and link surrounding local and regional natural parklands to provide a refuge of many square miles of contiguous protected open space. Tyler Ranch contains a rich mosaic of habitat types including oak woodland, riparian, chaparral and grasslands. Riparian habitats in general are threatened throughout California. Often reported to be among the most valuable habitats to wildlife, they also enhance adjacent upland habitats such as grasslands. The riparian corridor and adjacent chaparral on the property provide valuable habitat for a number of threatened or endangered species, including Alameda whipsnake, California red legged frog and western pond turtle. These corridors also support other species such as mountain lion, deer, coyote, bobcat, grey fox and various other mammals, rodents, amphibians and reptiles. Upland portions of the property contain steep slopes with coastal scrub and chaparral, along with large swatches of grasslands and rock outcrops providing critical habitat for Alameda whipsnake. The grasslands also provide good foraging areas for golden eagle, red tailed hawks, prairie falcons, American kestrels, and other raptors. Beechey ground squirrels are found on the property which serve as prey for these and other mammalian and avian predators. The stock ponds (with proper management), riparian areas and adjacent uplands also provide habitat for California red legged frog and other amphibian species found in this area. Having diverse habitat which supports three separate threatened or endangered species makes this property especially important to preserve, and the substantial size of the property makes it especially valuable to the mountain lion, a specially protected species. Together with more than 10,000 acres of nearby parkland, this acquisition links a vast preserve of open space, thereby increasing the ecological value of adjacent lands and promoting biological diversity. The mosaic and habitat edges of the Tyler Ranch property provide rich forage and protective cover both for foraging and stalking prey. The acquisition of the I 156 acres of the remaining Tyler Ranch property will add to the large network of publicly -owned natural preserves. Under current zoning, considerable development would be allowed as outlined in the following Item #3. Without public ownership and the Park District's stewardship, the spectacular recreational and habitat preservation opportunities present at Tyler Ranch could be lost. Acquisition by the Park District will prevent habitat fragmentation as the human population increasingly encroaches on the Bay Area's wildlands. 2. Significant Visual and /or Non motorized Recreational Value Southern Alameda County contains spectacular scenery and long- distance views. From the top of the Tyler Ranch property on Sunol Ridge, vistas include Mt. Diablo to the northeast, Niles Canyon to the southwest and farther west, the San Francisco Bay.