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Pressroom

Media Inquiries

Welcome to the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority pressroom. 

If you are seeking information and imagery for educational purposes or media use, please reach out to the Public Information Manager.

Press Contact

Charlotte Graham

Public Information Manager

408-439-6541

News@openspaceauthority.org

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The Open Space Authority monthly e-newsletter shares important, timely events, information and fun facts about your open space preserves. Click here to read the latest newsletter!

In The News

External links to recent articles about the Open Space Authority
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March 25, 2026 - The Morgan Hill Times

Electricity project aims to improve reliability, protect wildlife in South County

A state commission has voted to allow a major transmission project to share space at a substation near Morgan Hill rather than build on undeveloped land in Coyote Valley—a change officials say protects a critical wildlife corridor while adding enough power capacity to supply more than 600,000 homes across the South Bay.

Read the full article here.

An aerial view of a patchwork of farmlands between two mountain ranges, with a tree-lined road splitting down the middle of the photo.

March 25, 2026 - San José Spotlight

New South Bay power substation to be built at existing site

Environmental advocates are claiming victory in a two-year fight to keep an energy substation away from wildlife corridors in the stretches of open space south of San Jose known as Coyote Valley.

Read the full article here.

Looking across Coyote Valley, covered in golden fields and farmlands, towards rolling golden hills in the distance all under a blue sky

March 24, 2026 - Hoodline

San Jose Power Play Saves Coyote Valley As Grid Fix Moves Ahead

State regulators have blessed a major overhaul of San José’s electric backbone without tearing into one of South San José’s last big stretches of open land.

Read the full article here.

Speakers stand together during the Power Santa Clara press conference on March 20, 2026

March 23, 2026 - ABC7 News

San Jose open space to remain intact as power reliability plan gets approved

The Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority, LS Power Grid California and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) announced the approval of a power plan that will unlock one gigawatt of electric capacity for the South Bay while protecting wildlife corridors in the state-sanctioned Coyote Valley Conservation Program Area.

Watch the segment here.

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Press Releases & Media Advisories

Laguna Seca with Water

San José City Council unanimously approved the purchase and permanent protection of 937 acres in the North Coyote Valley through an innovative public and private partnership among Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST), Santa Clara Valley Open Space Autho

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SAN JOSÉ, Calif. (August 3, 2020) – Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority (the Authority) and Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) announced the completed purchase of a 235-acre parcel in the North Coyote Valley Conservation Area. The $16 million purchase is supported by $15 million in new funding from two state agencies: $5 million from the California State Coastal Conservancy and $10 million from the Wildlife Conservation Board. POST contributed the remaining $1 million.
OSA Staff and supporters hold a protect Coyote Valley sign outside City Hall

Public-Private Conservation Partnership Preserves 937 Acres in Coyote Valley

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The San José City Council unanimously approved the purchase and permanent protection of 937 acres in the North Coyote Valley through an innovative public and private partnership among Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST), Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority (the Authority) and the City of San José. This conservation transaction secures a critical “last chance” wildlife linkage between the Santa Cruz and Diablo mountain ranges. This irreplaceable landscape features natural floodplains and wildlife habitat, mitigates wildfire impact and builds climate change resiliency for the citizens of the tenth-largest city in the nation.
Green Oak Tree leaves on a branch

242-Acre Purchase Completes Tapestry of Connected Open Space in Santa Cruz Mountains

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Undeveloped and largely untouched, a 242-acre purchase made by the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority (Authority) in partnership with the Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) completes another pivotal piece of the Santa Cruz Mountains preservation puzzle, opening new possibilities for growing an interconnected trail network.
A photo of a hill at Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve. The grass is green.

Coyote Valley Conservation Program Bill Introduced by Assemblymember Ash Kalra Lays the Groundwork for a More Climate Resilient Future

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As agencies across the state are beginning to emphasize the importance of protecting our natural lands and their resources, Assemblymember Ash Kalra (DSan Jose) today announced the introduction of AB 948, which would create the Coyote Valley Conservation Program to be administered by the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority. If the bill is passed, Coyote Valley will receive statewide recognition as a landscape of significant importance for its natural infrastructure benefits including flood risk reduction, wildlife protection, and climate resilience.
A blue butterfly. There is a stripe of pink on its bottom wings lined with small black dots.

Public-Private Partnership Protects Another Key Open Space in the Santa Cruz Mountains

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Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) and the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority (Authority) today announced the purchase of a 159-acre property that widens a vital linkage between the Authority’s Rancho Cañada del Oro and Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District’s (Midpen’s) Sierra Azul open space preserves. This adjacency provides opportunities for connecting recreation options across the two preserves, while securing wildlife habitat and expanding a protected corridor between Highway 17 and Coyote Valley – a high priority area for both organizations in their shared goal of creating habitat linkages for native wildlife.
A report cover that reads, "Healthy Lands & Healthy Economies: Nature's Value in Santa Clara County." A green leaf is pictured up close on the cover with a water droplet.

Our Open Spaces Provide Us with Benefits Valued up to $12.6 Billion

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The value of sweeping open space, working lands, and a thriving natural world can be difficult to place a numerical value on, but a collaboration between the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority, the Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County, and Sonoma County Ag + Open Space has done just that by estimating the monetary value of our soil, water, air, plants, and animals – in other words, our ‘natural capital.’
Redwood stands

Open Space Authority Preserves First Redwood Property

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Open Space Authority Preserves First Redwood Property, Gifted by the McPhee Family San Jose, CA – February 26, 2018: The Julian McPhee family donated a 112-acre property adjacent to Uvas Canyon County Park in the eastern foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains to the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority.