ALVISO BUFFERLANDS
The Alviso wetland area is a unique South Bay ecosystem where the Guadalupe River meets the San Francisco Bay on the San Jose shoreline. Our Burrowing Owl Forage Pilot Project there supports one of the last remaining populations of burrowing owls in the Bay Area. We are planting California native plants to support the food web for the owls in hopes to stabilize the resident population.
OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS AT ALVISO
OUR RESTORATION WORK AT ALVISO
Burrowing owls make their underground homes from tunnels made by other animals, typically California ground squirrels. For decades, burrowing owls have suffered steep population declines across their range as their grassland habitat has been destroyed or degraded by development, industry, and agriculture. The Bay Area is now one of just four burrowing owl nesting areas remaining in California.
We are working with the Santa Clara Valley Habitat Agency, San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority, and Talon Ecological Research Group to enhance forage zones for the Alviso burrowing owl population. We are planting a diversity of native vegetation in the areas where the owls hunt for food, including marsh gumplant, marsh baccharis, mugwort, alkali heath, and other dense, low-growing vegetation that can tolerate slightly salty conditions. Our native plants attract the owl’s prey base of rodents and insects.
Since 2022, our Summer Naturalist Interns have been conducting annual insect species richness surveys at the upland planting area to assess invertebrate species presence and diversity in the habitat restoration areas.
VISIT ALVISO
There is no public access to our Alviso work area because of its designation as sensitive habitat for burrowing owls. Specific directions will be sent to volunteers upon event registration.
The roads to the site travels through residential and business park neighborhoods where there is street parking available. Public transportation is available via VTA route 59 at the 1st St Nortech Pkwy stop which is about 0.6 miles from the site. The site is also accessible by bike.
There are no restrooms and no drinking water available at the site. It is also very exposed to the sun, with little shade available. The restoration site is a short walk from the parking area along uneven ground with no trails.
Come prepared with water and a hat!
OUR TEAM AT ALVISO
Project Manager Hannah Cunningham manages our work at Alviso, along with Restoration Specialist Serena Myjer. Any questions about our work at Alviso can be directed to Hannah Cunningham.
