A field of bright orange, yellow, and purple wildflowers with blue mountains far on the horizon and a blue sky above, full of white fluffy clouds

Our Impact

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Looking across a lush green landscapes of hills, a large valley, fields, and small bodies of waters, towards mountains in the distance, under a cloud-filled sky
30,000
acres of open space protected
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Two children with an adult work together to water a garden
$14.7 million
invested through Grant Programs
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Tule elk walk up a green and golden hill
1.1 million
acres of connected wildlife habitat

To date, the Open Space Authority has preserved approximately 30,000 acres of open space–protecting the health and well-being of the Santa Clara Valley and its residents. Additionally, this protected land connects over 1 million acres of habitat between the Santa Cruz Mountains and Diablo Range. The Open Space Authority also provides equitable access to nature through Urban Grants, with nearly $15 million invested to connect urban residents to the outdoors in their own neighborhoods.

Two pairs of hands wearing gardening gloves planting a small green plant into a hole in the ground.

Impact Reports

A hiker wanders down a recreational trail surrounded by golden grassland and oak trees.

This interactive storymap includes conservation milestones, volunteer and community outreach efforts, highlights of our agricultural program's progress and a look ahead to 2026. Explore the report here.

sunrise over green hills and a small lake

In 2023, we released our interactive 30-Year Impact Report, highlighting the agency's accomplishments made possible by partners, volunteers and supporters. Explore the report here

This report was a finalist in the 2024 ArcGIS StoryMaps Competition.

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Lush green hills stretching into the distance, covered in green trees, under a light blue morning sky with dark clouds

Investing in Nature-based Solutions

Through our work, we are demonstrating how strategic investments in conservation, smart land use policies and urban design can provide cost-effective, efficient nature-based resilience to climate change, while also providing many other ecological, economic and quality of life benefits – now and in the future.