Fall 2011 - Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District

DID YOU KNOW?
Visitor Estimate Survey Project
Beginning in summer 2007, District staff implemented a Visitor Estimate Survey Project by sampling a
range of preserves during different seasons in order to estimate the amount of visitation to District
open space preserves. Data collection continued during spring 2008, winter 2009-2010, and fall 2010.
This Project represents the first time the District has initiated a comprehensive, long-term effort to gather
estimates of the number of individuals who visit District preserves. Previously, visitor estimate counts were
often based on ranger observations and short-term trail censuses and trail count/visitor surveys at a
few select preserves.
Using infrared trail counters, each of the 21 preserves open to the public was surveyed at multiple entry
locations for a minimum two-week period. The chart below shows the overall visitation estimates for the
preserves and ranks them from greatest to lowest visitation. Multiple seasons of data for some preserves
allowed the visitation numbers to be refined.
The Visitor Estimate Survey Project results provide the District’s Board and field and administrative
staff with valuable information that allows us to: enhance various District planning processes; provide
a better visitor experience; improve protection of natural resources by comparing visitor data with
resource data; and respond to requests from the media and other land management agencies regarding
visitor usage.
Ranking Average Average
(By Number Visitation/Day Visitation/Year
of Visitors) Preserve (Total) (Estimate)
Carolyn Genirberg
1 Rancho San Antonio 1,348 492,020
2 Fremont Older 522 190,530
3 St. Joseph’s Hill 422 154,030
4 Windy Hill 341 124,465
5 El Corte de Madera Creek 245 89,425
6 Purisima Creek Redwoods 224 81,760
7 Russian Ridge 194 70,810
8 Pulgas Ridge 173 63,145
9 Picchetti Ranch 155 56,575
10 Sierra Azul 103 37,595
11 Skyline Ridge 89 32,485
12 Monte Bello 79 28,835
13 Long Ridge 68 24,820
14 Saratoga Gap 35 12,775
15 Ravenswood 31 11,315
16 Los Trancos 26 9,490
17 Thornewood 23 8,395
18 Stevens Creek Shoreline 21 7,665
19 Coal Creek 18 6,570
20 El Sereno 16 5,840
21 Foothills 4 1,460
Total 4,137 1,510,005
Peters Creek, Long Ridge Open Space Preserve
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