Turtleback Mountain Preserve
South Entrance Improvement Project

Project Purpose
Turtleback Mountain’s South Entrance parking lot has been largely unchanged since the preserve was established in 2008. Some years later, high use levels prompted the addition of seasonal overflow parking capacity in the adjacent, open field to the south. Despite this expansion, parking demand over the last several years continues to highlight the need for future improvements.

Project Overview
Land Bank staff first proposed to rebuild the South Entrance parking area in the 2022 Turtleback Mountain Preserve Stewardship and Management Plan (Click here to view document). This project was presented in tandem with conceptual plans for Garry oak habitat restoration and an accessible loop trail in the adjacent field. Recognizing the need for efficient use of the available space for parking to avoid further encroachment into the field, staff sought design assistance from a professional firm. The resulting plan calls for a re-designed gravel parking lot with a new entrance and modified grass-surface seasonal overflow lot with concrete parking stops surrounded by a round-rail wood fence. This will increase the number of parking spaces from 12 to 20, including one paved ADA van space.

After a year of planning and permitting, a public bid process resulted in a construction contract totaling just under $35,000. The project is scheduled to begin on or around September 23^rd and will require closure of the shoreline portion of the preserve for up to one week.

Project Details
The contractor will remove four invasive poplars and a horse chestnut. The poplars have been expanding throughout the area and were targeted for removal prior to planning this project. The contractor will then excavate approximately 160 cubic yards of topsoil, rock and gravel and stockpile it separately for use in fill and final grading. After procuring and installing roughly 10 tons of 18”-36” boulders to ensure slope stability, the contractor will install and compact the stockpiled rock and gravel to establish a flattened, reconfigured parking lot. The contractor will then construct a 10’ x 20’ concrete, van accessible ADA parking pad, spread and compact a 40-cubic yard crushed gravel top course, and install the concrete parking stops. Lastly, the contractor will place the salvaged logs in areas surrounding the parking lot. Land Bank staff will then reinstall the kiosk and bicycle racks and spread seed and mulch in preparation for planting with native trees and shrubs this winter.

The construction plans are available at this link. Turtleback South Entrance Improvement Design For additional information, please contact Preserve Steward Peter Guillozet at 360-298-0052 or peterg@sjclandbank.org.