Coyote Ridge Open Space Preserve

Coyote Ridge Open Space Preserve" is an 1,831-acre (7.41 km²) publicly owned park in southern Santa Clara County. It is currently undergoing restoration and infrastructure work and is scheduled to open to the public in 2018.[1]

March wildflowers in Coyote Ridge Open Space Preserve

Environment

Because of its rare serpentine soil, this grassland area is a critical habitat for the Bay checkerspot butterfly, the California tiger salamander, and the California red-legged frog, all of which are endangered. It also supports a wide variety of California native and endemic plants.[1][2]

Acquisition

Ins 2015 the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority acquired 1,831 acres (7.41 km²) in the area previously referred to by various names, including Coyote Ridge. The property is scheduled to open in 2018 as Coyote Ridge Open Space Preserve.[1][2]

A variety of public and private sources made the acquisition possible after United Technologies Corporation (UTC) agreed to donate the property to the Open Space Authority. UTC receives a tax credit through the California Natural Heritage State Tax Credit Program. Under this program, the Open Space Authority must reimburse the state.[1][2]

The Authority received funding for the acquisition from a broad public and private partnership that

included a $2.7 million grant from the Wildlife Conservation Board, $2 million from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Section 6 land acquisition program to further Habitat Conservation Plans under the Endangered Species Act, $1 million from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, $1 million from the State Coastal Conservancy, $1 million from the Bureau of Reclamation Central Valley Project, $400,000 from the State Parks Recreational Trails Program, and a contributor who prefers to remain anonymous. The Open Space Authority contributed $7,500 toward the $8.6 million total, which is approximately 55% of the property’s fair market value of $15.6 million[2]

References
  1. "The Future Coyote Ridge Open Space Preserve". Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority. 20 May 2016. Archived from the original on 4 June 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2016. ...  the future Coyote Ridge Open Space Preserve ..., with an opening tentatively scheduled for summer or fall of 2018.
  2. "Open Space Authority Acquires Coyote Ridge Property from United Technologies Corporation" (PDF). Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority. 21 October 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 May 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2016.


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