D7: Partnerships for the Conservation of Habitat Lands*

Status

Active

Location

Countywide

Schedule

Start FY 2022 / Finish FY 2036

Funding

Safe, Clean Water Fund ($8.0 million)

Funding from this project helps the community acquire and protect important habitat land to preserve local ecosystems. The project supports implementation of multi-agency agreements, such as the Valley Habitat Plan, that pool mitigation or conservation dollars to protect or restore large areas of habitat land.

Acquiring, restoring, connecting and protecting habitat areas helps native species to adapt to a changing climate. Large, contiguous land patches allow species room to move and adapt, to find cover from the damaging effects of climate change and to reestablish resting and rearing areas.

*This project was voter approved as part of the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program.

KPI #1: Provide up to $8 million per 15-year period for the acquisition or enhancement of property for the conservation of habitat lands

In January 2026, the Valley Water Board of Directors authorized the transfer of $3,950,00 of SCW Project D7 funds to the Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) towards the acquisition of an approximately 2,184.14-acre portion of Sargent Ranch.
Sargent Ranch substantially meets Valley Water’s SCW Project D7 funding criteria, which ensure the prioritization of high-value habitat lands for acquisition and enhancement. Criteria include the protection or enhancement of native habitats, special-status species, and habitat linkages/movement corridors; regional coordination to create larger, more contiguous swaths of conservation lands; and mitigation of and adaptation to climate change effects such as habitat fragmentation and biodiversity loss by conserving and restoring habitat land.
Sargent Ranch is a 5254-acre property found in the southernmost portion of Santa Clara County, just south of the City of Gilroy (Attachment 1) and is part of the Juristac Tribal Cultural Landscape, which is in the heart of the traditional territory of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band. Habitats on the property include California annual grassland, coast live oak woodland, mixed riparian woodland, and spring-fed ponds, seeps, and seasonal wetlands. Numerous state and federally listed species, as well as other special-status species have been documented on or in the vicinity of Sargent Ranch, and two regionally significant wildlife linkages occur on the property. Sargent Ranch will be permanently protected, with POST intending to eventually transfer the property to the Amah Mutsun Land Trust.
Once funds are transferred to POST for the Sargent Ranch acquisition, the KPI and commitments for this SCW funding cycle (FY2022-2026) for SCW Project D7 will be complete. In FY24, Valley Water previously transferred $4,000,000 of SCW Project D7 funds to the Santa Clara Valley Habitat Agency towards the acquisition of Richmond Ranch in the eastern portion of unincorporated Santa Clara County.

Since the implementation of the renewed SCW Program in FY22, Valley Water continually explored partnerships and identified opportunities for acquisition and enhancement of habitat lands. Several properties supporting multiple species and a mosaic of habitat types, comprising over 10,000 acres, throughout Santa Clara County were evaluated. Two high priority properties (Richmond Ranch in FY24 and Sargent Ranch in FY26) were chosen for funding.

April 2026

For more information:

Navroop Jassal, (408) 630-2676

KPI #1: Provide up to $8 million per 15-year period for the acquisition or enhancement of property for the conservation of habitat lands

In January 2026, the Valley Water Board of Directors authorized the transfer of $3,950,00 of SCW Project D7 funds to the Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) towards the acquisition of an approximately 2,184.14-acre portion of Sargent Ranch.
Sargent Ranch substantially meets Valley Water’s SCW Project D7 funding criteria, which ensure the prioritization of high-value habitat lands for acquisition and enhancement. Criteria include the protection or enhancement of native habitats, special-status species, and habitat linkages/movement corridors; regional coordination to create larger, more contiguous swaths of conservation lands; and mitigation of and adaptation to climate change effects such as habitat fragmentation and biodiversity loss by conserving and restoring habitat land.
Sargent Ranch is a 5254-acre property found in the southernmost portion of Santa Clara County, just south of the City of Gilroy (Attachment 1) and is part of the Juristac Tribal Cultural Landscape, which is in the heart of the traditional territory of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band. Habitats on the property include California annual grassland, coast live oak woodland, mixed riparian woodland, and spring-fed ponds, seeps, and seasonal wetlands. Numerous state and federally listed species, as well as other special-status species have been documented on or in the vicinity of Sargent Ranch, and two regionally significant wildlife linkages occur on the property. Sargent Ranch will be permanently protected, with POST intending to eventually transfer the property to the Amah Mutsun Land Trust.
Once funds are transferred to POST for the Sargent Ranch acquisition, the KPI and commitments for this SCW funding cycle (FY2022-2026) for SCW Project D7 will be complete. In FY24, Valley Water previously transferred $4,000,000 of SCW Project D7 funds to the Santa Clara Valley Habitat Agency towards the acquisition of Richmond Ranch in the eastern portion of unincorporated Santa Clara County.

April 2026

For more information:

Navroop Jassal, (408) 630-2676

No current documents.

Safe, Clean Water Program Documents

Key Performance Indicator (FY22-36)

Provide up to $8 million per 15-year period for the acquisition or enhancement of property for the conservation of habitat lands.

Benefits

Protects, enhances and restores natural resources in Santa Clara County
Contributes to the recovery of special status species
Coordinates regional mitigation or conservation projects to create larger, less fragmented conservation lands that are more beneficial for wildlife and the environment
May fulfill a portion of Valley Water’s responsibilities to the Valley Habitat Plan
Addresses climate change impacts such as habitat fragmentation and biodiversity loss by conserving and restoring habitat land

Geographic Area of Benefit

Countywide

About the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program

In November 2020, voters in Santa Clara County overwhelmingly approved Measure S, a renewal of Valley Water’s Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program.

The program was first passed by voters in 2000 as the Clean, Safe Creeks and Natural Flood Protection Plan, then again in 2012 as the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program. The renewal of the Safe, Clean Water Program will continue to provide approximately $47 million annually for local projects that deliver safe, clean water, natural flood protection, and environmental stewardship to all the communities we serve in Santa Clara County.

While evaluating ways to improve the 2012 program, Valley Water gathered feedback from more than 21,000 community members. That helped Valley Water create the six priorities for the renewed Safe, Clean Water Program, which are:

Priority A: Ensure a Safe, Reliable Water Supply
Priority B: Reduce Toxins, Hazards and Contaminants in our Waterways
Priority C: Protect our Water Supply and Dams from Earthquakes and Other Natural Disasters
Priority D: Restore Wildlife Habitat and Provide Open Space
Priority E: Provide Flood Protection to Homes, Businesses, Schools, Streets and Highways
Priority F: Support Public Health and Public Safety for Our Community

Each year, Valley Water prepares a report providing a progress update for each of these program priorities, along with fiscal year accomplishments.

To ensure transparency and accountability to the voters, the ballot measure also created an Independent Monitoring Committee, appointed by the Santa Clara Valley Water District Board of Directors. The Independent Monitoring Committee annually reviews the program’s progress to ensure the outcomes are achieved in a cost-efficient manner and reports its findings to the Board. Additionally, the IMC also reviews each proposed 5-year implementation plan prior to its submittal for Board approval.

In addition, the program requires three independent audits.

View the Safe, Clean Water Program’s annual reports, annual IMC audit reports, and independent audits, including a staff response, on the Valley Water website.