--- title: Recent Acquisition Protects Llagas Creek Watershed description: Recent Acquisition Protects Llagas Creek Watershed image: https://news.openspaceauthority.org/hubfs/edited_Hifai%20-%20View%20of%20Llagas%20Creek%20on%20Hafai%20(4).jpg --- # Recent Acquisition Protects Llagas Creek Watershed Back to Home ![](https://news.openspaceauthority.org/hubfs/edited_Hifai%20-%20View%20of%20Llagas%20Creek%20on%20Hafai%20(4).jpg) 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. The [Bay Area Critical Linkages Project](http://www.scwildlands.org/projects/bayarea.aspx) identifies the parcel as high priority for providing habitat connections for far-ranging animals such as mountain lions. This acquisition also offers potential for expanding outdoor recreation options with trail connections between the Authority’s Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve, Uvas Creek and other nearby protected lands. [PressRelease-July-09-2012-Hifai.pdf](http://www.openspaceauthority.org/news/pdf/34%20Press%20Release%20--%20July%209%202012%20Hifai.pdf) July 08, 2012 ## Categories - [Coyote Valley](https://news.openspaceauthority.org/blog/topic/coyote-valley) - [Urban Open Spaces](https://news.openspaceauthority.org/blog/topic/urban-open-spaces) - [Wildlife](https://news.openspaceauthority.org/blog/topic/wildlife) - [Open Space Authority Initiatives](https://news.openspaceauthority.org/blog/topic/open-space-authority-initiatives) - [Events](https://news.openspaceauthority.org/blog/topic/events) - [Agriculture](https://news.openspaceauthority.org/blog/topic/agriculture) - [Green Infrastructure](https://news.openspaceauthority.org/blog/topic/green-infrastructure) - [Land Acquisitions](https://news.openspaceauthority.org/blog/topic/land-acquisitions) - [Urban Open Space Corner](https://news.openspaceauthority.org/blog/topic/urban-open-space-corner) - 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