Coyote Ridge Open Space Preserve
Máyyan 'Ooyákma – 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 2023.[1][2]
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.[2][3]
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.[1][2][3] On 27 October 2022 its name was modified to "Máyyan 'Ooyákma – Coyote Ridge Open Space Preserve" to include the Chochenyo translation of "coyote ridge" as well as the English.[4]
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.[2][3]
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[3]
References
- "Sneak Peek: Planning a New Preserve". Open Space Authority. 27 May 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
- "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.
- "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.
- "Open Space Renames Coyote Ridge". Open Space Authority. 27 October 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2023.