POST Completes Protection of 865 Acres in Morgan Hill
Santa Clara County Open Space Authority Becomes New Owner of Land Destined for Public Park
March 19, 2008
Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) announced today the successful protection of a scenic 865-acre cattle ranch in Morgan Hill. The property, located in south Santa Clara County only minutes from Morgan Hill and San Jose, is destined to become public parkland as an addition to neighboring Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve.
POST played a key role in protecting the ranch, helping to bring together the necessary funding for the project. Partnering with the Santa Clara County Open Space Authority, POST negotiated the purchase of the land for $8.65 million from the Blair family, which owned the ranch since the 1950s. Prior to close of escrow on March 17, POST assigned its right to purchase the land to the Open Space Authority. By doing so, POST hastened the eventual opening of the property to the public and made it possible for the Blairs to continue owning an adjacent 126 acres where they currently live.
The ranch is located along Uvas Road in the rolling foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. It lies southwest of Coyote Valley, a controversial expanse of agricultural and open space land that has long been eyed by the city of San Jose for development. “With protection of this ranch, POST is taking a significant step in preserving the western hillsides of south Santa Clara County and helping to create a buffer to future development,” said POST President Audrey Rust. “Had we failed to act now, this property would have been a prime candidate for sale as an exclusive private ranchette, closed off to the public. Now we can look forward to the day when this gorgeous terrain will welcome everyone, from daytrippers and hikers to migratory birds and other wildlife.”
Funding for the project came from several sources, including the Open Space Authority, Santa Clara County Department of Parks and Recreation, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and the California Coastal Conservancy. The Moore Foundation gave a $2 million grant towards acquisition of the land, while the Coastal Conservancy provided $4.3 million, including a $2 million no-interest bridge loan to the Open Space Authority to be repaid within three years.
Boasting views of Morgan Hill and Gilroy in the valley below, the ranch is a mix of grass pastures, oak and buckeye trees, and chaparral. Various rare and threatened species have habitat here, including Bay checkerspot butterfly, California tiger salamander and California red-legged frog. Unique geologic features include serpentine soils, rocky outcroppings and rare Morgan Hill Poppy Jasper, a type of quartz. A seasonal creek leading to Little Uvas Creek flows through the western portion of the property as part of the Llagas/Uvas watershed, which drains into the Pajaro River.
“With this acquisition, nearly 7,500 acres of adjoining open space will be protected,” said Patrick Congdon, general manager of the Open Space Authority. The addition of the ranch to Rancho Cañada del Oro will help create a future trail and wildlife corridor through Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve and Calero, Uvas Reservoir, Uvas Canyon and Almaden Quicksilver county parks, he said.