Coyote Valley lies just south of San Jose and north of Morgan Hill. As one of the last remaining undeveloped valley floors in the entire Bay Area, it provides an essential wildlife linkage and connection between the Santa Cruz Mountains to the west and the Diablo Range in the east. It is home to rare freshwater wetlands that protect groundwater and help minimize downstream flooding. It has many farms growing local produce, and public open space for all of us to enjoy.
After being threatened by large-scale development for decades, we’ve made great progress in recent years protecting over 1,500 acres in and around Coyote Valley. However, serious development threats still exist and continue to impede our work to protect and connect the many rare and unique habitats in Coyote Valley. By protecting, and then connecting these lands, we are building and maintaining a vital, fragile wildlife linkage, restoring the historic floodplains, and supporting the agricultural practices that increase our region’s exceptional biodiversity and climate resilience.
A wildlife corridor of regional importance.
Bobcats, coyotes, deer and many other species of wildlife depend on the valley floor to move across the region in search of habitat, food, and mates. Birds like burrowing owls and the endangered tri-colored blackbirds thrive in the grasslands, wetlands, and fields.
A vital source of fresh clean water and natural flood protection.
Protecting and restoring Coyote Valley reduces the impacts of natural disasters by helping minimize downstream floodwaters like those that devastated San Jose in 2017. It is also a major source of clean, fresh groundwater for surrounding communities and agriculture.
A heritage of agriculture.
Farmlands in Coyote Valley are a source of locally grown food even as they absorb carbon from the atmosphere. This multi-benefit landscape is truly one of a kind for our region.
Protect Coyote Valley is led by Green Foothills and supported by Greenbelt Alliance, Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful, Santa Clara Valley Bird Alliance, Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter, the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, the Land Trust of Santa Clara Valley, Mothers Out Front, Green Party of Santa Clara County, San Jose Parks Foundation, Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action, and the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe.
Collectively these organizations represent their 100,000 members and supporters in Santa Clara County.
