Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority News (27)

Julian McPhee Family Bequeaths Beloved 116-Acre Family Property

Llagas Creek Rancho GGS v2.jpg The Open Space Authority Board of Directors voted to accept the generous gift of a 116-acre property from the Julian McPhee family. The property, located in the water-rich area of the eastern foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains in the Upper Uvas Creek Watershed adjacent to Uvas Canyon County Park, presents an opportunity to expand recreation in the eastern foothills and provide visitors with a unique redwood experience.

“This property has been in our family for many years and was used as a weekend getaway,” said Rick Lavalle, grandson of Julian McPhee. “We are so pleased that the land will be protected in perpetuity and provide wildlife habitat, scenic views and future hiking and recreation for the public.”

Wildfire Monitoring and Safety Funding Partnership

The Open Space Authority and the Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD) have partnered to fund the installation of a new early detection fire camera for Santa Clara County, which will be managed and monitored by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). Having just last week declared fire season open in the Bay Area—a month earlier than usual—CAL FIRE anticipates that this and future cameras could help firefighters locate and suppress fires before they become large destructive events in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The camera, purchased by the County, will provide 24/7 live feeds to CAL FIRE, and is designed to identify and help locate potential wildfire hot spots. The combined $11,000 given by the Authority and SCVWD will allow for the installation of the camera and for training of CAL FIRE field staff in its use. With the current drought and a potentially devastating fire season upon us, we’re privileged to be able to partner with SCVWD in support of CAL FIRE and its new wildfire cam.

Protecting Nature’s Benefits: The Importance of Wildlands and Natural Areas

Message from Andrea Mackenzie, General Manager

Valuing Open Space—Preserving Land is No Frivolous Luxury

by Andrea Mackenzie, General Manager
Published in the San Jose Mercury News on June 13, 2014

New Property on Coyote Ridge!

The Open Space Authority has acquired parcels totaling 28.45 acres of open space land on Malech Road in the Upper Coyote Valley Area in Santa Clara County. The property is characterized by rare serpentine grassland, rock outcrops and Blue Oak Savanna. The site also contains a perennial spring and a tributary to Coyote Creek, a steelhead stream. A three-acre portion of the site offers potential for public access, environmental education and staging opportunities for a future Open Space Preserve.

The Tiniest Patients

Amy Yee, President of the Board of Directors, Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center

How do you care for an avian patient no bigger than your little fingernail? The patient has no feathers, requires a special formula every 15 minutes from dawn to dusk and a consistently warm temperature?

Key Land Purchase Expands Open Space Authority Preserve in Southern Santa Clara County

On October 11th, the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority Board of Directors gave final approval to acquiring 120-acres on Canada Road in southern Santa Clara County. The property, owned by Santa Barbara Bank and Trust, is adjacent to the southerly border of the Authority’s 702-acre property purchased in 2007, which will be enlarged to create a 822-acre open space preserve.

Recent Acquisition Protects Llagas Creek Watershed

Santa Clara County gains significant water resource protection with the Authority’s purchase of the Hifai property, 160-acres of open space land located in the upper headwaters of the Llagas Creek Watershed. The property is in South San Jose off Loma Chiquita Road and adjacent to the Authority’s holdings on Mt. Chual, a prominent southern Santa Clara County peak.

Llagas Creek is a primary source of fresh water for the county’s agricultural sector and is designated as critical habitat for the threatened South-Central California Coast (S-CCC) steelhead trout. The land affords potential habitat for the smooth lesinga and Santa Cruz Mountain’s beardstongue, two state-listed threatened plant species.

"A Little Piece of Heaven"

The Open Space Authority purchased 160-acres of pristine property in a partnership with Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST). The Authority will add the land to its 4,334 acre Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve.

“This property contains the headwaters of Twin Falls Creek in Edson Canyon, a tributary of Llagas Creek. Preservation of this land allows us to expand our stewardship of this fragile watershed and contribute to the protection of our county’s water supply,” said Open Space Authority’s General Manager Andrea Mackenzie.

Watershed Property Protected

The Authority has acquired 160+ acres off Casa Loma Road just west of its Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve. The property is lush with mixed evergreen forest, Coast live oak forest, and riparian forest with two seasonal tributaries to Llagas Creek, an important steelhead stream. Preservation of this property contributes to the protection of the Llagas Creek Watershed and helps maintain important habitat. In the future, this property could provide a bridge for a future trail that extends between Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve and the Authoritys holdings in the Uvas Creek Watershed, thereby expanding public access and recreation in the area.

News!