Since 2002, the national Wildlife Habitat Council has recognized Kirby Canyon for its ongoing wildlife management practices awarding its Wildlife at Work certification. Under the 1986 Kirby Canyon Conversation Agreement, WM acts as the guardian of one of the Bay Area’s few remaining serpentine soil grassland ecosystems. This unique ecosystem also includes the rare jewel flower, Santa Clara Valley Dudleya, and the threatened California Red-legged frog.
Guided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-approved Habitat Conservation Plan, WM employees collaborate with organizations such as the California Native Plant Society, Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society, Stanford University and others to monitor habitats and conduct studies to test whether enhancement programs benefit the target species.
Re-establishing the Endangered Bay Checkerspot Butterfly
Kirby Canyon is home to the largest population of the federally-listed Bay Checkerspot butterfly. To encourage the re-establishment of the butterfly, Kirby Canyon Landfill in cooperation with the Creekside Center for Earth Observation provided thousands of larvae for translocation to other sites. In early 2013, 10,000 larvae were introduced on two sites — Tulare Hill in Santa Clara County and Edgewood Natural Preserve in San Mateo County. In addition, fresh water ponds were created to foster an expanding colony of the threatened California Red-legged frog.
In 2013, Kirby Canyon received the Corporate Wildlife Habitat of the Year Award from the Wildlife Habitat Council.
Tour Kirby Canyon
For a tour of our Landfill and recycling operations click here.
Limited access to the habitat area is available through a partnership with the Santa Clara County Open Space Authority. Guided docent tours are popular in spring when the Bay Checkerspot butterflies take flight and the wildflowers are in bloom. While limited in numbers, the hikes allow visitors a rare opportunity to see a thriving serpentine-soil grassland ecosystem. To learn more about the tours, call the Open Space Authority at 408-224-7476.
