The Cupertino Courier

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Cows could be contentedly grazing in Montebello hills

By Hugh Biggar

Cows could be coming home to roost in Cupertino.

The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District is considering grazing cattle on 5,000 acres of land in Santa Clara County--including the Montebello hills above Cupertino--and San Mateo County.

"This represents a paradigm shift for us," said Kirk Lenington, a resource planner with the district. "Previously, we had seen cattle grazing as a poor way to manage land; now we see them as a tool."

According to Lenington, cattle are particularly useful for managing grasslands that are either too large or too steep to mow.

"Cows can enhance property by reducing cover and allowing other plants to grow," Lenington said, adding that the cattle would be used in areas with fast-growing grasses from Europe and the Mediterranean.

"They can also reduce the risk of annual fires, rather than having controlled burns," he said.

All of this is still in development. Under the district's plans, cattle would first be introduced in the Skyline Ridge area of San Mateo County in 2007. The cattle would then be introduced into different grassland preserves including Montebello.

"It's contingent upon master plans and environmental analysis," Lenington said.

The district, which acquires and preserves open spaces in Santa Clara, San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties, would contract with a rancher to graze livestock on the land.

Lenington also said other grazers could also be introduced.

"We're also looking at goats," he said. "They are good browsers and can be used to create fuel breaks."

The plans would represent a paradigm shift for Cupertino as well.

Previously a center of agriculture and ranching, the city has long since become a suburban community and a home to high-tech companies.