Junipero Serra County Park Invasive Species Management

The County of San Mateo (“County”) covers most of the San Francisco Peninsula. The region covers 744 mi ² and is home to approximately 750,000 residents. The County is made up of 20 incorporated cities. The County provides for the health and welfare of all people within its borders and serves as the local government for the unincorporated areas. Innovation thrives here in industries including bioscience, computer software, green technology, hospitality, financial management, health care, education, and transportation. The County prides itself on how that prosperity fosters its commitment to protecting and enhancing the health, safety, welfare, and natural resources of the community.

The San Mateo County Parks Department (“Department”) serves nearly three million visitors every year. Visitors have many options when visiting the County’s unique park system. With 24 parks and recreation areas, over 16,000 acres of park land, and 190 miles of trail, the Department provides healthy outdoor activities, educational opportunities, and lasting memories.

Due to the diversity of the park system, visitors can enjoy an array of recreational opportunities, including walking; running; hiking; biking; picnicking; horseback riding; sailing; kite surfing; fishing; camping; gardening; tidepooling; volunteering; learning; sports courts; and playing on playgrounds.

The Department completed a 12-acre shaded fuel break along southwest, southeast, and eastern boundaries of Junipero Serra County Park in Fall 2025. The initial project was identified as “Phase 1” to remove the bulk of understory vegetation and trees

Treatment will include management of French Broom and re-sprouting eucalyptus using both mechanical and chemical tools. Project specifications will include operational practices, BMPs, and environmental requirements to protect and avoid any rare, threatened, endangered species and plants of ecological significance, plus appropriate erosion mitigation and minimal disturbance practices.