LAND TRUST OF SANTA CLARA VALLEY

Basking Ridge is a 206-acre conservation easement that protects habitat for California red-legged frog, California tiger salamander, and western burrowing owl. Located east of Highway 101 in San Jose, this property was dedicated as mitigation for a nearby housing development.

Coyote Ridge is located between San Jose and Morgan Hill east of Highway 101. LTSCV owns and manages 95 acres on Coyote Ridge to protect habitat for Bay checkerspot butterfly, Santa Clara Valley dudleya, and other threatened or endangered species. Coyote Ridge was dedicated to LTSCV as mitigation for the nearby Metcalf Energy Center and Los Esteros Critical Energy Facility built by Silicon Valley Power and Calpine. Tule Elk are frequently seen on Coyote Ridge.

Valley Water is constructing flood protection improvements to approximately 13.9 miles of Llagas Creek and its tributaries, West Little Llagas Creek and East Little Llagas Creek. To mitigate aquatic resource impacts, Valley Water will restore 2,000 linear feet of Llagas Creek and create wetlands adjacent to the creek in an abandoned quarry known locally as Lake Silveira. Click here for more information on Valley Water's Upper Llagas Creek Flood Control Program.

Restoration activities commenced September 3, 2019 and are scheduled for completion in winter of 2020. Construction includes removal of invasive Himalayan blackberry; re-establishment of the historic Llagas Creek channel; creation of a wetland complex; structures to control water surface elevations; and native tree and shrub plantings. Valley Water will manage this site for 10 years following completion of construction, after which LTSCV will become the permanent land manager.

The Carnadero property includes 480 acres of prime agricultural land and riparian habitat in southern Santa Clara County adjacent to the Pajaro River and Carnadero Creek. This acquisition was a joint effort between LTSCV, the Santa Clara County Open Space Authority, The Nature Conservancy, the American Farmland Trust, Valley Water, the California Department of Conservation and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

LTSCV acquired a 170-acre conservation easement on the Mission Organics Farm in southern Santa Clara County. This easement was a joint project between LTSCV, the Santa Clara County Open Space Authority, the California Department of Conservation, and the Natural Resource Conservation Service. It is currently planted with organic vegetables and will be preserved forever as farmland.

This property (operated by Taylor Farms) includes 510 acres of prime farmland adjacent to the Carnadero and Mission Organics properties to create a total preserve of 1,155 acres in southern Santa Clara County. Located at the junction of the Pajaro River and Carnadero and Llagas creeks, this property also contributes to flood protection along the Pajaro River watershed. Click here for an article about this project from the Gilroy Dispatch.

The Cooper family donated a conservation easement to LTSCV in order to preserve the agricultural viability of their 40-acre farm. The property abuts Little Arthur Creek, which contains habitat for the federally-listed and threatened steelhead.

In partnership with the City of Gilroy, LTSCV acquired a 108-acre conservation easement on the Van Dyke Ranch. Van Dyke Ranch is located in a scenic agricultural area that supports orchards, pasture, and rowcrops. The majority of the property’s soils have been classified as prime, and features organic apricot, persimmon, and grape orchards.