October 29, 2020 Envision San Jose 2040 Task Force

October 29, 2020

Envision San Jose 2040 Task Force Members 200 E. Santa Clara Street San Jose, CA 95113

RE: Envision San Jose General Plan 2040 4-Year Review Letter of Support to Change Coyote Valley Land Use Designations to Align with Conservation Values

Dear Envision San Jose 2040 Task Force Members:

We, at the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority (“Authority”), write to you today to provide our overwhelming support for specific land use designation recommendations related to Coyote Valley, as outlined in the City of San Jose Staff Memorandum (“Memo”) dated October 22, 2020. We highly applaud City staff’s work to outline these visionary zoning and land use changes as part of the 4-year Review of Envision San Jose General Plan 2040.

Since San Jose’s voters passed Measure T in 2018, and the City of San Jose contributed to the protection of 937 acres of critical wildlife connectivity and floodplain protection in North Coyote Valley, there has been significant additional recognition of this landscape of statewide importance and awareness of the benefits this place can provide for all residents of and visitors to San Jose. A complete summary that outlines the Case for Coyote Valley Conservation (“CCVC”) is attached for your review as strong rationale for our support, and to urge you to vote to forward the Memo recommendations to the City Council for their approval.

Through our strong partnerships, most notably with the Peninsula Open Space Trust (“POST”) and others at the local, regional, and state levels, the Authority has been a leader in fostering the science, policies, and funding opportunities that continue to demonstrate the significance of and unprecedented momentum to protect Coyote Valley. More than ever, regional leaders recognize how, through a nature-based and conservation-focused lens, Coyote Valley’s natural and working landscapes can support local and regional environmental and economic sustainability.

In addition to the attached CCVC, I have attached our 2018 Coyote Valley Primer (“CVP”) which summarizes the integral conservation values that this landscape affords

33 Las Colinas Lane San Jose, CA 95119 408.224.7476 T 408.224.7548 F openspaceauthority.org and why it is critical that the City’s 4 Year Review align with this conservation landscape potential. The CVP illustrates how these natural and working lands provide an integrated, holistic and nature-based approach to create a new conservation paradigm for this unique landscape.

Lastly, the Coyote Valley Master Plan Brochure (“CVMPB”) outlines the key next steps, many of which we have already started, to engage our culturally diverse communities in an inclusive plan for conservation and long-term ecological and hydrological restoration. Through a unique, long-term partnership with POST and the City of San Jose, the Authority will lead a collaborative and science-based planning process for Coyote Valley. The Task Force’s decisions will shape the planning process and related outcomes to realize a bigger, bolder vision for San Jose’s last remaining farmland, open space, floodplain, wetlands and other natural and working lands.

We also support the staff’s recommendation to develop a mitigation credits program that could provide a stronger connection between protected natural infrastructure and nature-based wellness and the urban communities that so greatly benefit from it. This will be a critical tool for these natural and working lands to serve as a signature climate resilience solution that supports San Jose’s long-term sustainability and economic viability.

Thank you very much, Task Force Members, for your hard work and bold vision on Envision San Jose General Plan 2040, including consideration of the advancement of these recommendations to the City Council for approval. We very much look forward to our continued partnership with all of you, City staff, and the citizens of San Jose, to create a national model for conservation-based land use policy and to work together to see this VISION realized for future generations.

Sincere regards,

Andrea Mackenzie, General Manager Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority

Attachments Attachment 1. The Case for Coyote Valley Conservation (CCVC) Attachment 2. Coyote Valley Primer (CVP) Attachment 3. Coyote Valley Master Plan Brochure (CVMPB) cc Authority Board of Directors

Envision San Jose General Plan 2040 4-Year Review Support Letter from Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority Attachment 1 Envision San Jose General Plan 2040 The Case for Coyote Valley Conservation October 29, 2020 Prepared by Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority

Updated Policy and Planning Context to Support an Integrated Conservation Vision for Coyote Valley, San Jose, California

Unique Partnership with City of San Jose-Peninsula Open Space Trust- Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority One Valley One Vision Purpose ➢ Inform City’s General Plan 4 Year Review/Conserve Coyote Valley Landmark Land and Water Conservation Partnership Model • City of San Jose $50M investment for natural infrastructure (Implementation of Measure T) • POST $50M Investment and long-term vision for Coyote Valley Conservation • Authority Funding Match and Management in Perpetuity Local, City and State-wide Policy and Conservation Investment • Significant public funds well over $100M have been invested in Coyote Valley, and development of this region under current zoning will undermine this effort and breach the public trust. • Industrial and residential zoning are incompatible with the City of San Jose’s investment in Coyote Valley through Measure T. • Additional funding pouring into the region (see below) to support conservation and master planning for the North Coyote Valley Conservation Area (“NCVCA”) are living proof that conservation and agriculture are the highest and best uses for Coyote Valley. • Agricultural uses are directly and negatively impacted by conversion of Coyote Valley vacant lands to housing, industrial development, and other resource-intensive uses. • The cost of these resource-intensive uses will be paid in myriad negative ways such as incompatibility with restoration, wildlife habitat and corridors and agriculture as well as direct costs such as increased greenhouse gas emissions that the City will pay for decades to come. • The City and Authority investment in Climate Smart San Jose (“CSSJ”) Phase 2 related to protection of natural and working lands demonstrates additional investment in the protection of Coyote Valley; development as per current zoning will not allow the City to reach its Climate Smart goals, costing millions over decades.

Additional Investment in Coyote Valley Land Conservation • Since the City’s November 2019 investment though Measure T, there has been significant public investment to preserve open space in and adjacent to Coyote Valley to support the Coyote Valley Landscape Linkage vision and the City’s 2018 Measure T o City and OSA acquired the 16-acre Weyhe property as an addition to the City’s Tulare Meadows holding in North Coyote Valley—this includes vital flood protection infrastructure along Fisher Creek o OSA acquired the 235-acre Sobrato South property with $15M secured from the State Coastal Conservancy and Wildlife Conservation Board to support habitat and floodplain preservation o POST acquired the 60-acre Kuzia property in mid Coyote Valley for habitat and floodplain preservation, and will transfer the property to OSA for long-term public ownership o OSA and POST are working to protect additional multi-benefit properties in Coyote Valley to support the vision of natural and working lands for habitat connectivity, floodplain preservation, and climate resilience – negotiations are underway with willing landowners covering hundreds of acres of key properties o OSA, POST and the Santa Clara Valley Habitat Agency are coordinating to expedite enrollment of Laguna Seca and other protected North Coyote Valley properties into the Habitat Agency Reserve System; enrolling lands provides funding for stewardship from the Habitat Agency and helps the Agency meet its stay-ahead provisions associated with regional permitting; this process can leverage an additional $6-11M in funding from US Fish and Wildlife Service and the state Wildlife Conservation Board to support enrollment o Tilton Ranch CONSERVED!!!!! Major acquisition of 1860 acres adjacent to Authority’s Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve (CVAL) secures a major link to mid and south Valley lands in the region, securing a major link in protected land between CVAL and the City of Morgan Hill. This purchase further bridges the gap of private lands adjacent to the City of San Jose’s investment in the NCVCA assemblage. This includes $15M in public and foundation funding to leverage the regional investments made in Coyote Valley.

Landscape Scale Climate Resilience • Coyote Valley is the City’s “resilience focal landscape” in the face of climate change and weather- based emergencies. The City must act NOW and with urgency to ensure that its people, infrastructure, and urbanized areas are protected from devastating climate-based catastrophes (see recent City Climate Emergency Declaration). • Coyote Valley serves as the City’s regional landscape scale defensible space against wildfires and is the City’s wildland urban interface. Recent wildfires in the region resulted in more than 400,000 acres in the nearby Diablo Range and almost 80,000 in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It is critical to prevent further development in the Valley and maintain an important large-scale buffer of protected agriculture, habitat and hydrologic restoration that can provide a landscape scale firebreak and ecologically resilient buffer. • Land use planning scenarios being modeled under the Climate Smart San Jose Natural and Working Lands element will highlight the climate benefits associated with infill development and protection of Coyote Valley and other natural areas within the City. Use of Urban Footprint for this work will provide the City with a powerful new tool to identify and prioritize locations to direct infill development. • Placing housing in other areas that are also vulnerable to climate change and sea 2

level rise such as Alviso, could also have significant negative cumulative effects under CEQA (see below under CEQA compliance) Statewide Support and Recognition Coyote Valley – Landscape of Statewide Importance • AB 948 designates 17,400 acres of Coyote Valley as a landscape of statewide importance • On October 7, 2020 Governor Newsom advanced EXECUTIVE ORDER N-82-20 enlisting conservation of 30 percent of California’s waters and its vast network of natural and working lands in the fight against climate change. The order sets a first-in-the-nation goal to conserve 30 percent of the state’s land by 2030 to fight species loss and ecosystem destruction. San Jose’s commitment to conserve Coyote Valley’s natural and working lands put San Jose on a path to work in concert with the State’s climate goals within its planning area. • Governor Newson recently signed SB 940 (the Housing Crisis Act of 2019) – co-sponsored by the City of San Jose and the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority. This allows for development of urban housing, increasing much needed stock within the City’s existing urban footprint. Placing housing within already disturbed areas that need housing, closer to urban resources and reducing vehicle miles traveled will further support the prioritization of open space lands to be preserved as critical natural infrastructure. Conservation in Coyote Valley was the inspiration for this innovative piece of legislation. • Workforce Development o Green jobs stimulus State Bond Assembly Bill 3256, authored by Asm E. Garcia, a $7B bond measure bill focused on economic recovery, with significant climate resilience funding included. The Authority has provided extensive input about $24M worth of shovel-ready green jobs, mostly in Coyote Valley, that we hope a bond measure like this would fund, if passed in November by voters.

Regional Coordination and Partnerships • Santa Clara County on Agricultural Plan adopted in 2018 o 5/28/20 Authority Board approval to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with County to implement the Agricultural Plan and support the County’s $5M investment to purchase Coyote Valley agricultural lands • Valley Water partnership to study, model and plan for water resources in Coyote Valley • State High Speed Rail Authority on conservation-focused alternatives for Coyote Valley alignment • Bay Area Ridge Trail Council on critical cross-valley regional trail link bringing regional recreation visitors to the area and serving the local community with connections to nature • Collaboration with Amah Mutsun and other tribes to recognize deep tribal connection to Coyote Valley • Partnership with the Santa Clara Valley Habitat Agency to recognize critical habitat values. • Partnership with Santa Clara County Parks to collaborate on park and open space master plan.

Landscape Scale Wildlife Connectivity and Regional Refugia • Wildlife road kill data through all the science-based studies that have been conducted in the Valley (see list below) proves that development under current zoning that will generate more traffic will cause more wildlife road-based fatalities, leading to increased mortality of critical focal species that protect wildlife genetic diversity in the region. • Ecological connectivity (including wildlife movement) is essential to promote

recovery, re-colonization, and adaptation in impacted natural areas. • Development under current zoning will lead to increased regional habitat fragmentation that will have negative environmental impacts under CEQA (see CEQA compliance below). • April 2020 ruling by the California Fish & Game Commission to consider Bay Area pumas a candidate for listing under the CA Endangered Species Act, based on research that found a lack of genetic exchange between several puma subpopulations in the state, including our area, attributed to landscape-scale habitat fragmentation (Gustafson et al. 2018). • In the South Bay and Peninsula, road mortality (roadkill) is a major known issue impacting pumas. • To prevent system collapse, the importance of apex (top tier) predators such as pumas in healthy and resilient ecosystems, underscores how essential Coyote Valley is to protect and enhance connectivity/permeability-movement for mountain lions – important to prevent extinction and avoid long term degradation of the overall ecosystem (e.g. trophic cascades) if the species were to become extirpated (locally extinct). • Development Impacts to Wildlife Connectivity in the Coyote Valley Conservation Program Area o With existing habitat (in areas protected for conservation and privately-owned lands) and restoration potential within the linkage corridor, the land use throughout the valley floor and adjacent foothills will have a strong influence on local habitat and regional ecological resilience, especially when we consider anthropogenic pressures such as noise, light, other pollutants, and traffic. o Roads (and to some extent, rails) in Coyote Valley are an existing pressure, with numerous roadways traversing the landscape and contributing to direct wildlife mortality (i.e. roadkill) and likely broader impacts across various populations (e.g. contributing to avoidance behaviors that result in "barrier effect"). Increased traffic would be expected to further exacerbate these impacts. Many studies have been published documenting the ecological value of Coyote Valley as habitat for rare, threatened and endangered plant and animal species as well as a significant link in regional habitat connectivity connecting the Santa Cruz Mountains with the Diablo Range. An overview of these includes: Coyote Valley Landscape Linkage (2017) • Overlap between water resource/floodplain values and wildlife habitat/connectivity values o Linkage provides both "live-in" and "move-through" habitat o Diversity and quality of habitat matters, particularly to support long-term resilience and adaptation (e.g. climate, gene flow) in natural communities o Scale is similarly important – 2km minimum width (Beier 2018) to meet long-term needs of a variety of taxa, buffer from negative edge effects Bobcat Habitat Selection and Connectivity Study (2017-18) • 26 individuals tracked o Corresponds with highest quality habitat o Cross valley movement happening in the north valley o Strong preference for vegetative cover, even if understory/shrub cover is not present o Prey base varied depending on habitat type in home range Monterey Road Report (2019) • Monterey Road – At least 5 times the amount of roadkill compared to Highway 101, Bailey Ave, Santa Teresa Blvd, Metcalf Road, McKean Road. o 63% of roadkill data were from Monterey Road o 78% of roadkill on Monterey Road were between Metcalf Road and Bailey Ave

o Aligns with bobcat movement (GPS collar data) Coyote Valley Reptile and Amphibian Study (2019) • Focus on three rare, threatened or endangered species: California tiger salamander, Western pond turtle and California red-legged frog o Drew from occurrence records (broad spatial distribution in North Coyote Valley) o Opportunities for recovery and resilience through habitat restoration and connectivity o Synergy with floodplain restoration opportunities (I.e. integrated floodplain and habitat restoration) North Coyote Valley Road Ecology Study (2020-2022) • Long-term Wildlife Vehicle Collision Monitoring Strategy o Designed to study use of existing culverts for safe passage and crossings at-grade o Recommendations to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions (including for driver safety) Wildlife Connectivity Recommendations Suitable locations for wildlife crossing structures along Monterey Road o Combination of "undercrossing" and an "overcrossing" (also called a land bridge, eco-duct, etc.) o Enhancements of the Fisher Creek culvert o Priority locations are labeled as Tulare Swale, Fisher Creek, and Bailey Ave o Report contains design criteria and preliminary cost estimates o Information coordinated with proposed CA High-Speed Rail project as a major variable (all HSR Alternatives would traverse the Monterey Road corridor).

Additional Conservation Initiatives in Coyote Valley Groundwater and Flood Protection • Coyote valley accounts for nearly 50% of undeveloped recharge areas for Silicon valley's aquifer • Valley Water Groundwater Vulnerability study – Coyote Valley is an area of high vulnerability and transmissivity such that developing these areas can pollute the groundwater. • Partnership with the City staff to examine how City of San Jose municipals wells may negatively impact Laguna Seca wetlands and Fisher Creek riparian values through groundwater depletion. • Restoring the Laguna Seca freshwater wetland and tributaries (riparian corridors such as Fisher Creek) will serve to absorb flood waters that can overtop the Coyote Creek corridor as happened in 2017; this can prevent more catastrophic downstream, urban flooding. • Mitigation of shallow depth to groundwater impacts on a site by site basis is not sufficient and needs to be reviewed regionally, to prevent long term significant cumulative impacts under CEQA.

Agriculture • Much of Coyote Valley can be classified as having prime soil characteristics or Class 1 soils- defined as most capable soil classification by Natural Resource Conservation Service, highly compatible for agriculture. • Existing successful agricultural operations are within Class 1 soils areas, correlating that these are the best quality for agricultural production. • 2017 Coyote Valley Agricultural Feasibility Study and Plan recommends prevention of the establishment of incompatible uses that impair agricultural production. • Early economic analysis defends a strong market for Agri-tourism, farm to table-related markets, small artisanal farms and sale of their products.

Climate Resilience and Greenhouse Gas Reduction • 2019 partnership with Authority/City of San Jose for Climate Smart San Jose Natural and Working Lands Element to model present-day carbon stocks and GHG emissions, evaluate how those change under buildout of the General Plan, and how conservation and enhancement of

natural and working lands in the city can help avoid emissions and increase its sequestration capacity. • 4-yr review found the GHG emissions would increase from transportation sector • 2018 vehicle miles traveled (“VMT”) policy provided a new metric and fee program to • help reduce VMT’s and internalize trips within the city. • City using Urban Footprint program to model VMT scenarios that will allow the City to aim to reach State-wide and international goals for greenhouse gas reductions • Authority worked with The Nature Conservancy and team at Urban Footprint to pilot a proof of concept analysis of how redistribution of jobs from the Northern Coyote Valley Conservation area changes City VMT’s. o Found that over 10 million miles were avoided each year, while also conserving nearly 1000 acres of a multi-benefit landscape

Coyote Valley Conservation Area Master Plan Geographic Context to include “Tiers of Influence” Tier One 937-acre North Coyote Valley Conservation Area Tier Two Mid-Coyote Valley Tier Three AB 948 17,400-acre Landscape of Statewide Importance Tier One will be the primary focus of the Master Plan such that demonstration projects can be implemented in the shorter-term to lead the way for longer term implementation. Tiers 2 and 3 will have a different level of focus but will provide important context for the Tier 1 efforts. Master Plan will: • Implement the Coyote Valley Landscape Linkage VISION • Be a unique planning process to includes close collaboration with POST and City partners • Be a robust and authentic engagement outreach to partners, stakeholders, and the broader community throughout OSA’s jurisdiction with emphasis on engaging socio-economically disadvantaged communities (deep engagement communities) through a justice, equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility (“JEDIA”) lens. • Result in restoration of a larger system of floodplains, habitats, and working lands. The NCVCA plan will be far more successful if both the City and County GPs have strong land use policies and zoning ordinances that are protective of these natural values and limit the impact of piecemeal development on neighboring properties. • Model transit-oriented connections to nature and sustainable transportation • Serve as an economic driver fueling nature and agricultural-based economies (See attached Coyote Valley Primer and Master Plan brochure for more information)

CEQA Compliance Reviewing development plans site by site, as per current zoning, does not consider all the potential impacts under CEQA, due to potentially significant cumulative effects on the investment and sensitive environmental resources and conservation designations. This puts the City at risk of fragmentation under CEQA for each, and every development application that may be submitted under current zoning. Hence, the actions being recommended by the CSJ Planning staff will allow for a comprehensive vision and holistic approach to take place that will celebrate this amazing conservation-focused landscape for generations to come. General Plan 4-Year Review Opportunity • Climate-smart paradigm and new VISION for Coyote Valley • Focus on climate resilience and conservation compatible land use (infill, compact development) • Science-based data to support general plan review and updates • Creative land use/zoning tools and mechanisms 6

Coyote Valley: A Case for Conservation

Recreation and public health

Wildlife Clean water connectivity supply

NATURE AS INFRASTRUCTURE

Flood Agriculture protection

Climate resilience Coyote Valley

Coyote Valley represents a rare opportunity 85 “ to preserve an intact floodplain upstream of San Jose a major urban area. Coyote Creek It is the prime example of nature as Metcalf Ponds infrastructure, and its protection is essential Tulare Santa Teresa Blvd Hill for flood risk reduction, wildlife linkages,

Diablo Range

Laguna Seca Metcalf and resilience to climate change. Energy Center John“ Laird California Secretary for Natural Resources

IBM Bailey Ave.

Spina Farms

Union Pacific Railroad Coyote Ridge Santa Cruz Mountains Monterey Highway Open Space Preserve

Fisher Creek

Coyote Creek Parkway 101

Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve

Monterey Mushrooms Ogier Ponds Marchese Cherry Orchard www.openspaceauthority.org/coyotevalley

Coyote Creek

N 0 1 2 Anderson Miles Morgan Hill Dam View from Coyote Ridge Open Space Preserve Coyote Valley

Diablo Range

Laguna Seca Metcalf and resilience to climate change. Energy Center John“ Laird California Secretary for Natural Resources

IBM Bailey Ave.

Spina Farms

Union Pacific Railroad Coyote Ridge Santa Cruz Mountains Monterey Highway Open Space Preserve

Fisher Creek

Coyote Creek Parkway 101

Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve

Monterey Mushrooms Ogier Ponds Marchese Cherry Orchard www.openspaceauthority.org/coyotevalley

Coyote Creek

N 0 1 2 Anderson Miles Morgan Hill Dam View from Coyote Ridge Open Space Preserve The myriad benefits of conservation in Coyote Valley Strategic investments in conservation, smart land use policies, and green urban design can provide for a sustainable future in Santa Clara County – even in the face of population growth and climate change. Nature as infrastructure means recognizing and protecting the natural ecological processes that provide a multitude of important services that increase our community’s resilience to climate change and promote the health and safety of its residents. Coyote Valley offers unparalleled opportunities to create a 21st century greenbelt in close proximity to urban San Jose, and delivers a host of benefits:

Flood protection provided by A clean water supply for area natural floodplains residents

Increased climate resilience to Agriculture as part of a thriving adapt to extreme natural events local economy

Wildlife connectivity and linkages Open space for recreation and between mountain ranges public health

By investing in our open spaces and conserving Coyote Valley, we can protect these ecological, economic, and quality of life benefits – now and for future generations. Coyote Valley

San Francisco

880 680

101

280 San Jose

85 87

Coyote Valley Morgan 17 Hill

101

Legend Gilroy

Protected Urban Lands Lands

Photo credit: Stephen Joseph

Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority | Coyote Valley: A Case for Conservation | December 2018 Water Resources

Coyote Valley is a critical landscape that protects San Jose’s water resources and downstream residents through its natural infrastructure. The City and its conservation partners have an opportunity to conserve and enhance land in ways that will safeguard our groundwater aquifer, preserve local floodplains, and protect wildlife and rare habitats.

HIGHLIGHTS ■■ Avoiding development in areas of Coyote Valley protects Silicon Valley’s largest remaining groundwater recharge area, freshwater wetland, and undeveloped floodplains below Anderson Dam.

■■ Conservation and restoration along Fisher Creek and Laguna Seca would allow these lands to hold more water during storms and floods, slowly releasing these waters through riparian areas, wetlands, and into the aquifer, improving water quality flowing into Coyote Creek. ■■ Investment in floodplain preservation and estorationr to capture and store excess stormwater upstream of San Jose has the potential to reduce the likelihood, severity, and extent of downstream flooding, helping to buffer communities from increasingly intense storm events.

Homes and businesses around Restored floodplains in Coyote Coyote Valley contains Coyote Creek suffered Valley could prevent ~450 acre-ft half of Silicon Valley’s $100M in damages in of water from flowing through remaining undeveloped the 2017 floods Coyote Creek during a single storm aquifer recharge area event – enough to fill SAP Arena

Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority | Coyote Valley: A Case for Conservation | January 2019 WHAT’S AT STAKE? Most of San Jose’s land near creeks and over its aquifer has been developed, polluting its waterways and aquifer, increasing stormwater runoff, and exposing billions of dollars of property to damage when creeks flood. These heavily developed landscapes lack the resilience and ecosystem services that were provided by the lands in their former natural state. As climate change causes more frequent and intense floods and droughts, the future is likely to be very different from the past, creating new challenges for cities on top of growing regulatory requirements. Cities like San Jose are spending enormous sums in developed areas to remediate the effects of urbanization in exchange for incremental, localized improvements in water quality and habitat enhancement. Addressing the effects of urbanization is expensive. Development of Coyote Valley will reduce or impair natural floodplain functions, requiring costly mitigation measures. If developed, the full restoration potential of Fisher Creek and Laguna Seca would not be realized for habitat and other conservation values. Conserving and enhancing Coyote Valley could be a model for utilizing natural infrastructure that buffers the City of San Jose in the face of more frequent and intense storm events, working to alleviate downstream flooding, protecting groundwater recharge, and improving water quality.

“Our city experienced some of the worst flooding in 20 years in 2017.

While the Coyote Creek flood taught us valuable lessons in resilience and disaster recovery, it also highlighted the role of nature based solutions – so-called ‘green infrastructure’ such as floodable plains and open spaces – to facilitate rainwater and stormwater re-entering the water cycle.”

– Climate Smart San Jose FLOODPLAINS IN THE CITY OF SAN JOSE AND ITS SPHERE OF INFLUENCE

San Francisco Bay

100-yr Floodplain Urbanized Undeveloped

C oy ot e Creek

Co y o te Fisher Valley Creek ¯ 0 31.5Miles

This map shows 100-year floodplains within San Jose’s Sphere of Influence. Red areas show the extent of the City’s floodplain that has been developed. The undeveloped floodplains in Coyote Valley, upstream of downtown San Jose, are the largest remaining intact assemblage along Coyote Creek. Protection of the natural floodplains in this strategic location provides an unparalleled opportunity to absorb floodwaters upstream of urbanized areas. These floodplains can be preserved and enhanced to maintain floodplain function, and can be managed to reduce flood impacts and preserve and enhance groundwater recharge. INVESTING IN COYOTE VALLEY’S NATURAL INFRASTRUCTURE Modernizing San Jose’s flood system includes recognizing that managed flooding in Coyote Valley can help protect downstream areas while also supporting water quality protection and sensitive ecosystems. Avoiding development in sensitive areas in Coyote Valley would maintain room for more water to be stored upstream of downtown San Jose, providing opportunities to further buffer San Jose from flooding, improve water quality flowing into Coyote Creek, andprotect a groundwater aquifer and recharge area that is susceptible to contamination. This work would also support large-scale ecosystem restoration opportunities on the valley floor. The western foothills and valley floor of Coyote Valley could be used to capture stormwater in a network of expanded floodplains, swales, and ponds, slowly releasing it to a restored Fisher Creek and the Laguna Seca wetland complex before slowly draining into Coyote Creek. This would help reduce the risk of flooding downstream, buffer groundwater from declines during drought years, and protect water quality in Coyote Creek. Conservation investments would increase climate resilience for natural and built communities while providing other benefits including habitat connectivity, water for sensitive habitats, carbon sequestration, increased agricultural viability, and recreation opportunities.

OPPORTUNITIES ■ Work with willing landowners to protect lands within the Fisher Creek floodplain to preserve its natural attributes and prevent contamination of shallow groundwater areas and water that flows into Coyote Creek. ■ Restore and enhance wetland and riparian areas along Fisher Creek and Laguna Seca where managed flooding can benefit sensitive ecosystems, support natural flood control, and improve water quality flowing into Coyote Creek. ■ Leverage public-private partnerships and funding sources to integrate water resource investments with co-benefits like improved habitat and wildlife crossings, agricultural land preservation, park and recreation opportunities, and greenhouse gas mitigation. ■ Plan natural flood control improvements in coordination with Santa Clara Valley Water District’s Coyote Creek flood protection effort from Montague to Tully Road, to optimize Coyote Valley’s contribution to public health and safety. ■ Investigate opportunities to provide watershed-scale benefits that align with the California Department of Water Resources’ California Water Plan. Model projects after other multi- benefit floodplain protection projects, including the Yolo Bypass near Sacramento, Napa River, Los Angeles River, and areas around Houston, Texas.

Photo credits: Tanya Diamond, Patty Eaton, Tom Grey, cc Gary Nafis, Derek Neumann

MORE INFORMATION ■ Reducing Climate Risks with Natural Infrastructure (CA Landscape Conservation Partnership) ■ A Flood of Benefits: Using Green Infrastructure to Reduce Flood Risks(The Nature Conservancy) ■ Coyote Valley Water Resource Investment Strategy: Phase 2 Report (SCVOSA/SCVWD - in preparation) ■ Coyote Valley Landscape Linkages: A Vision for a Resilient, Multi-benefit Landscape(SCVOSA) ■ www.openspaceauthority.org/coyotevalley

Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority | Coyote Valley: A Case for Conservation | January 2019 Climate Resilience

Coyote Valley offers an unparalleled opportunity for San Jose to leverage partnerships and funding to increase the region’s climate resilience – the ability of our natural and urban communities to respond and adapt to extremes in temperature and precipitation, leading to drought, fire, and flooding.

HIGHLIGHTS ■ San Jose has a unique opportunity to protect and restore existing natural infrastructure in Coyote Valley to buffer the effects of a changing climate.

■ Nature as infrastructure can be more efficient, more resilient, and a better long-term investment than built infrastructure, and includes many other benefits such as connected landscapes for wildlife, healthy recreation opportunities, and a thriving agricultural economy.

■ By protecting the multi-benefit natural infrastructure of Coyote Valley, San Jose can leverage local, regional, and state funding, and model innovative leadership.

Coyote Valley contains Agricultural lands produce Investments of $600M+ in thousands of acres that can less than 2% of the open space statewide have

recharge aquifers and absorb greenhouse gas emissions reduced CO2 by an estimated flood waters produced by urbanized areas 4.27M metric tons

Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority | Coyote Valley: A Case for Conservation | December 2018 WHAT’S AT STAKE? Climate change is increasing the frequency, severity, and unpredictability of storms, flooding, drought, and wildfire. As we have seen, the recurring economic and social costs of responding to these disasters are immense. With significant growth projected in Santa Clara County over the next 30 years, now is the time to plan our communities and landscapes to increase our climate resilience and prepare for this new normal.

OPPORTUNITIES CASE STUDY: NAPA COUNTY ■ Invest in Coyote Valley’s natural infrastructure to help meet goals of Climate Smart San Jose, such as In 1986, the Napa River avoiding greenhouse gas production. flooded, causing three deaths and an estimated $100M in ■ Work with the Open Space Authority property damage. Instead of and the Santa Clara Valley Water building higher levees, the District to protect and restore County worked with the water remaining floodplains and district and the Army Corps aquifers along Fisher Creek and Coyote Creek to provide natural to remove bridges, restore flood control and clean water for floodplains, and restore 900 San Jose. acres of wetlands, returning the river to its natural course. ■ Identify projects that further the climate goals of Plan Bay Area, MTC, When waters rise, they are ABAG, and others, and leverage partnerships diverted into a bypass, and external funding sources such as state bond significantly mitigating measures and regional grant programs. flooding and saving $26M in damages annually – and also ■ identified in the Protect key agricultural lands providing bird habitat and to prevent their Santa Clara Valley Agricultural Plan recreational trails. conversion to urban uses and the corresponding production of greenhouse gas emissions. These lands can also sequester carbon and curb sprawl and associated vehicle miles traveled.

Photo credits: Tom Grey, Kevin Lowe, Tyler MacNiven, Derek Neumann

MORE INFORMATION ■ Healthy Lands & Healthy Economies: Nature’s Value in Santa Clara County (SCVOSA) ■ Nature as Infrastructure for Climate Resilience - Protecting Coyote Valley (SCVOSA) ■ Climate Smart San Jose Phase 2: Natural and Working Lands ■ www.openspaceauthority.org/coyotevalley

Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority | Coyote Valley: A Case for Conservation | December 2018 Agriculture

With thousands of acres of scenic and productive farms, orchards, and ranches, Coyote Valley offers an opportunity to reinvest in our agricultural economy – increasing our local food supply and protecting our cultural heritage, while also benefiting the environment and quality of life throughout the region.

HIGHLIGHTS ■■ Farms in Santa Clara County directly provide more than 8,100 jobs, and in 2014 created a total of $1.6B in economic output. ■■ Investments that increase agricultural production in Coyote Valley can triple the profitability of farming and generate an estimated$50M in annual production and agritourism revenues.

■■ Agricultural lands can sequester carbon and prevent sprawl, and are key to meeting California’s 2030 greenhouse gas reduction targets.

■■ Well-managed agricultural lands in Coyote Valley can help mitigate flooding downstream, recharge aquifers, and provide valuable wildlife habitat.

Most of Coyote Valley is Coyote Valley represents Keeping 100 acres in farmland agricultural, including 30% of the value of crop (vs. urban use) annually equates to 5,600 acres of prime farmland production in Santa Clara County removing 1,340 cars from roads

Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority | Coyote Valley: A Case for Conservation | December 2018 WHAT’S AT STAKE? California is losing an average of 50,000 acres of farmland to development each year. Coyote Valley represents some of our region’s last remaining farms, orchards, and ranches – our cultural heritage and a local food supply. Agricultural lands naturally buffer urban areas from the impacts of storms and climate change. In Coyote Valley, farms also prevent our groundwater aquifers from being paved over – protecting a clean water supply. These farmlands provide forage and cover for wildlife species living in and moving through Coyote Valley.

OPPORTUNITIES CASE STUDY: YOLO BYPASS ■ Protect key agricultural lands identified in the Santa Clara Valley Agricultural Plan through fee purchase, The Yolo Bypass is a conservation easements, and other voluntary incentives. functioning floodplain west of Sacramento that incorporates ■ Create and invest in a countywide productive farmland and agricultural conservation easement wildlife habitat. This multi- program. benefit landscape can serve ■ Work with local farmers and water as a model for Coyote Valley. resource agencies to leverage stormwater management funds When rains are heavy, a to preserve floodplains and system of low dams allows encourage flood-tolerant crops. water to spill over into ■ the bypass, protecting Promote sustainable agricultural Sacramento from flooding. such as no-till farming to practices The land is also used for increase carbon sequestration. flood-compatible crops, and ■ Strengthen Santa Clara County’s zoning and provides valuable wetland Right-to-Farm ordinances, and maintain LAFCO‘s strong habitat for fish and birds. agricultural preservation policies. ■ Coordinate with other cities and the County to expand . agricultural zoning districts Photo credits: Cait Hutnik, Derek Neumann

MORE INFORMATION ■ Santa Clara Valley Agricultural Plan (Santa Clara County and SCVOSA) ■ Santa Clara Valley Greenprint (SCVOSA) ■ Sustaining Agriculture and Conservation in Coyote Valley (SAGE) ■ Santa Clara County Crop Reports (Santa Clara County Division of Agriculture) ■ American Farmland Trust ■ www.openspaceauthority.org/coyotevalley

Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority | Coyote Valley: A Case for Conservation | December 2018 Wildlife Connectivity

The Coyote Valley offers an irreplaceable and unique opportunity to link landscapes and connect habitats for plants and wildlife, protecting biodiversity, and allowing for adaptation to climate change. Protection of significant portions of the valley floor is required to ensure the resilience and integrity of the 1.13+ million acres of core habitat in the surrounding Santa Cruz Mountains and Diablo Range.

HIGHLIGHTS ■■ The ecologically rich landscape of Coyote Valley offers an unparalleled opportunity to protect irreplaceable remnants of rare habitat, restore habitat, and protect resident and migratory wildlife.

■■ The valley is the best opportunity to link the Santa Cruz Mountains and Diablo Range, required for species and habitats to disperse, migrate, and shift ranges in response to climate change.

■■ Restoration of wetland and riparian habitat, especially in Laguna Seca and along Coyote Creek and Fisher Creek, is our best chance to protect wildlife pathways while buffering the San Jose region from stormwater.

Coyote Valley hosts 12 species Restoration of hundreds of Coyote Valley links 1.13 of rare, threatened, and acres of wetlands would offer million acres of core habitat in endangered plants and animals climate and ecological resilience surrounding mountain ranges

Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority | Coyote Valley: A Case for Conservation | December 2018 WHAT’S AT STAKE? Many state and regional agencies recognize the importance of connecting habitats via linkages. Wide-ranging species such as mountain lion, American badger, coyote, and bobcat need large areas of connected habitat or could become locally extinct. The Santa Clara Valley Habitat Conservation Plan and Natural Community Conservation Plan (HCP/NCCP) and other state and regional assessments have identified Coyote Valley as the essential opportunity to link landscapes and connect habitats to protect biodiversity in the Santa Cruz Mountains and Diablo Range – now and in the face of climate change. Coyote Valley presents a unique opportunity for investment that benefits the natural and urban environment. By protecting and restoring the landscape for wildlife connectivity, we also preserve San Jose’s floodplain and water supplies, create a unique opportunity to connect people to the land, and help ensure that the City grows in a way that is more efficient and climate-smart.

The Coyote Valley Landscape Linkage vision was developed by a multi-disciplinary team of scientists who determined the necessary essential elements for protecting and restoring a broad and resilient landscape. PROTECTING RARE SAFE PASSAGE FOR WETLAND SPECIES MAMMALS RESTORATION Coyote Valley is one of the Scientists from UC Santa Cruz The historic Laguna Seca last opportunities to enhance are studying radio-collared wetland complex, within valley floor habitat and bobcats in Coyote Valley to Fisher Creek’s floodplain, protect breeding burrowing better understand where land was once a 1,000+ acre owls in Santa Clara County, protection and restoration will freshwater wetland complex where numbers have declined be most helpful to maintain and an important stopover for drastically. functional habitat connectivity. migratory waterfowl on the Pacific Flyway. Early data suggest that the Coyote Creek Parkway and Despite being dredged and Fisher Creek are critical partially drained in 1916 to movement pathways. clear the land for agriculture, Restoration of Fisher Creek the area still retains some could improve this corridor and wetland characteristics due provide many other benefits. to its low elevation and heavy clay soils, and waterbirds continue to use this habitat. Restoration of this increasingly By restoring valley oak rare wetland habitat could savannas, willow groves, support rare species like the and native grasslands, the California tiger salamander, County could meet habitat and expand habitat for many and wetland mitigation goals fish, bird, amphibian, reptile, developed in the Santa Clara and mammal species. Valley Habitat Plan that will be difficult to meet elsewhere, and The study also shows could restore breeding habitat frequent road crossings for the owl and the threatened and fatalities along Bailey tricolored blackbird, and also Avenue, Santa Teresa benefit many other species. Boulevard, and Old Monterey This restoration would also Highway – where B02, a radio- help the City of San Jose collared female also known as reach carbon sequestration Elderberry (above), was killed goals through the retention of by a vehicle. more carbon in wetland soils The scientists are working Numerous other species will and restored vegetation. to identify road-crossing be attracted to the wetland hotspots where safe passage complex, especially during infrastructure can significantly times of severe drought. reduce or mitigate wildlife- Restored wetlands would vehicle conflict and mortality. also capture stormwater and improve water quality, making them an important component of regional climate resilience. OPPORTUNITIES ■ Protect Coyote Valley from imminent development threats that could significantly diminish the functionality and vitality of the region for wildlife. ■ Leverage funding from Prop 1, Prop 68, Santa Clara Valley Water District, Valley Habitat Agency, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California Wildlife Conservation Board, and US Fish and Wildlife Service to meet shared goals. ■ Restore Laguna Seca, the County’s largest freshwater wetland, which will increase ecological resilience along the Pacific Flyway, one of the most threatened wildlife migration corridors in the Bay Area, and also store stormwater and reduce downstream flood impacts. ■ Identify projects that further goals of the Santa Clara Valley Habitat Conservation Plan and Natural Community Conservation Plan, Critical Linkages Bay Area and Beyond, and others, and leverage partnerships and external funding sources. ■ Partner with the High Speed Rail Authority, which has included in its preliminary design nine proposed state-of-the-art underpasses for wildlife in Coyote Valley. ■ Reduce the high rates of wildlife-vehicle collisions by making it easier for wildlife to cross Monterey Highway, the Union Pacific rail line, Santa Teresa Boulevard, Highway 101, Bailey Avenue, and other roads by adding wildlife underpasses, overpasses, and directional fencing, removing debris, restoring vegetation, and providing gaps in the medians. ■ Use Coyote Valley as a location for endangered species habitat mitigation for development projects in other areas of the city. ■ Encourage sustainable farming and ranching practices that support biodiversity in the region. Agricultural lands can provide permanent habitat for wildlife in field margins, hedgerows, buffer strips, riparian corridors, and woodlots, important foraging habitat for raptors, and temporary habitat as species move between larger areas of suitable habitat.

Photo credits: Tom Grey, cc Gary Nafis, Derek Neumann, OSA wildlife cam, Ryan Phillips, Laurel Serieys, Eric Smith

MORE INFORMATION ■ Coyote Valley Landscape Linkage: A Vision for a Resilient, Multi-benefit Landscape(SCVOSA) ■ Critical Linkages: Bay Area and Beyond (Bay Area Open Space Council) ■ Coyote Creek Watershed Historical Ecology Study (San Francisco Estuary Institute) ■ Santa Clara Valley Habitat Conservation Plan and Natural Community Conservation Plan ■ www.openspaceauthority.org/coyotevalley

Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority | Coyote Valley: A Case for Conservation | December 2018 Recreation and Public Health

Just 10 miles from downtown San Jose, Coyote Valley offers the opportunity to create an unparalleled natural urban preserve that will provide access to open space and trails – improving quality of life, benefitting public health, and contributing to the local economy.

HIGHLIGHTS ■ Coyote Valley is a key connection for regional recreational opportunities and trail networks, which will improve physical and mental health, wellbeing, and quality of life for more than a million residents.

■ The significant economic value of parks and trails includes tourism, improved public health, improved private property value, and regional investment due to quality of life, as well as the natural infrastructure services they provide.

■ Parks and open space are educational and cultural resources that connect us to nature and provide a sense of place.

Coyote Valley connects Local parks and trails By facilitating outdoor exercise, 500,000 acres of parks and annually attract more than local trails and open space save protected open space $125M in tourism spending $25M+ in medical costs per year

Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority | Coyote Valley: A Case for Conservation | December 2018 WHAT’S AT STAKE? Cities around the world are struggling to re-green paved-over landscapes; San Jose has an opportunity to save a significant assemblage of wildland within the city limits, creating its own “Central Park.” As San Jose’s urban nature preserve, Coyote Valley can become a world- class destination, offering diverse landscapes, impressive views, a healthy agritourism industry, unparalleled wildlife viewing, and a regionally interconnected trail network. This is an opportunity for San Jose to provide meaningful and educational experiences in nature, clean our air, and benefit the local economy and real estate values.

OPPORTUNITIES CASE STUDY: BOSTON PARKS ■ Partner with Santa Clara County Parks, Land Trust of Santa Clara Valley, Peninsula Open Space Trust, A model of landscape-level and Amah Mutsun Land Trust to link parks, construct open space in close proximity trails, and encourage public access. to a large urban center, Boston’s is ■ Work with Santa Clara Valley Water District and Emerald Necklace a network of seven parks. Santa Clara Valley Habitat Agency to use mitigation lands as recreation opportunities. Created through public- ■ Leverage local, state, and regional private partnerships, the funding from One Bay Area, 1,200-acre network offers Santa Clara Valley Water District, recreational opportunities Santa Clara County, California in the heart of the city. The Department of Parks and Emerald Necklace connects Recreation, and Prop 68. residents to nature and attracts more than a million ■ Partner with the Bay Area Ridge visitors each year. Trail Council to make the trail connection between the Diablo Range and the Santa Cruz Mountains. ■ Complete the Fisher Creek Trail Alignment, connecting the Coyote Creek Trail to the east and the Bay Area Ridge Trail to the west. Photo credits: Annie Burke, Ron Horii, Cait Hutnik, Derek Neumann

MORE INFORMATION ■ The Economic Benefits of the Park & Recreation System in San José, CA(Trust for Public Land) ■ Greenprint (now Activate San Jose) (City of San Jose) ■ Santa Clara County Parks Countywide Trails Master Plan ■ Measuring the Economic Value of a City Park System (Trust for Public Land) ■ The Central Park Effect (Central Park Conservancy) ■ www.openspaceauthority.org/coyotevalley

Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority | Coyote Valley: A Case for Conservation | December 2018 TO DOWNTOWN SAN JOSE

TULARE HILL Critical linkage for Potential to restore historic wildlife between the Laguna Seca freshwater wetland Santa Cruz and Diablo to capture floodwaters and Range Mountains promote habitat for rare species

COYOTE RIDGE BAILEY AVENUE OPEN SPACE PRESERVE Coyote Valley links Farm and range lands over 500,000 acres of generate 77 times protected parks and fewer greenhouse gas open spaces and can emissions per acre than urban land uses connect to the Bay Area Proposed wildlife Ridge Trail crossings for safe HWY 101 passage and increased vehicle safety COYOTE CREEK

Regional multi-use trails Opportunities to promote MONTEREY ROAD provide recreational, groundwater recharge cultural, and other 5,600 acres of prime FISHER CREEK educational opportunities farmland support the agricultural economy

COYOTE VALLEY OPEN SPACE PRESERVE COYOTE CREEK TRAIL

2,500 acres of undeveloped floodplains provide opportunities for riparian and wetland restoration to reduce downstream flooding and sequester carbon

Proposed wildlife

N crossings for safe passage and increased vehicle safety

MAP OF COYOTE VALLEY CONSERVATION VALUES

This image is conceptual and for discussion purposes only, highlighting the important values and potential of Coyote Valley’s natural infrastructure. Not to scale. Source Data: Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority, Santa Clara County, Santa Clara Valley Water District References

Water Resources Giwargis, Ramona. 2017. San Jose now faces 390 claims from victims totalling $18 million, San Jose Mercury News, September 17, 2017. Retrieved from https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/09/17/san-jose-flood- city-now-faces-390-claims-from-victims-totaling-18-million/ (January 3, 2019). ■ Homes and businesses around Coyote Creek suffered $100 million in damages in the 2017 floods. Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority in partnership with Santa Clara Valley Water District (in preparation). Coyote Valley Water Resource Investment Strategy: Phase 2 Report. ■ Restored floodplains in Coyote Valley could prevent ~450 acre-ft of water from flowing through Coyote Creek during a single storm event – enough to fill SAP Arena. Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority. 2014. GIS data from The Santa Clara Valley Greenprint: A guide for protecting open space and livable communities. San Jose, CA. ■ Coyote Valley contains half of Silicon Valley’s remaining undeveloped aquifer recharge area.

Climate Resilience California Air Resources Board, California Environmental Protection Agency, California Department of Food and Agriculture, and California Natural Resources Agency. 2018. California 2030 Natural and Working Lands Climate Change Implementation Plan: Concept Paper. 17p. https://arb.ca.gov/cc/natandworkinglands/nwl-implementation-plan-concept-paper.pdf ■ Investments of $600M+ in open space statewide have reduced CO2 by an estimated 4.27 million metric tons. Napa County. 2018. Flood & Water Resources: Programs. Retrieved from https://www.countyofnapa. org/1074/Flood-Water-Resources (Nov. 15, 2018). ■ Napa County Case Study. Shaffer, S. as cited in Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority & Santa Clara County. 2018. Santa Clara County Agricultural Plan. 81p. https://www.openspaceauthority.org/conservation/current-projects/santa-clara-valley-agricultural-plan. html ■ Agricultural lands produce less than 2% of the greenhouse gas emissions produced by urbanized areas.

Agriculture Howitt, R., MacEwan, D., Garnache, C., Medellin Azuara, J., Marchand, P., Brown, D., Six, J., & Lee, J. 2013. Agricultural and Economic Impacts of Yolo Bypass Fish Habitat Proposals. 59p. https://watershed.ucdavis.edu/files/biblio/Yolo_0.pdf ■ Yolo Bypass Case Study.

Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority | Coyote Valley: A Case for Conservation | January 2019 Shaffer, S. as cited in Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority & Santa Clara County. 2018. Santa Clara County Agricultural Plan. 81p. https://www.openspaceauthority.org/conservation/current-projects/ santa-clara-valley-agricultural-plan.html ■ Keeping 100 acres in farmland (vs. urban use) annually equates to removing 1,340 cars from roads. Sustainable Agriculture Education. SAGE. 2016. Coyote Valley Agriculture. Retrieved from https://www.sagecenter. org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/CoyoteValleyAgricultureFlier_crops-soils-habitat.jpg (Nov. 15, 2018). ■ Coyote Valley represents 30% of the value of crop production in Santa Clara County.

Wildlife Connectivity California Department of Fish and Wildlife. 2018. California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB). Retrieved from https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Data/CNDDB (November 15, 2018). ■ Coyote Valley hosts 12 species of rare, threatened, and endangered plants and animals. Penrod, K., Garding, P. E., Paulman, C., Beier, P., Weiss, S., Schaefer, N., Branciforte, R., & Gaffney, K. 2013. Critical Linkages: Bay Area & Beyond. Produced by Science & Collaboration for Connected Wildlands, Fair Oaks, California in collaboration with the Bay Area Open Space Council’s Conservation Lands Network. http://www.scwildlands.org/reports/CriticalLinkages_BayAreaAndBeyond.pdf ■ Coyote Valley links 1.13 million acres of core habitat in surrounding mountain ranges. Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority. 2018. Coyote Valley Landscape Linkage. Retrieved from Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority and Conservation Biology Institute. 2017. Coyote Valley Landscape Linkage: A Vision for a Resilient, Multi-benefit Landscape. Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority, San José, CA. 74p. https://www.openspaceauthority.org/conservation/conservation-priorities/coyote-valley/ coyote-valley-landscape-linkage.html ■ Restoration of hundreds of acres of wetlands would offer climate and ecological resilience.

Recreation and Public Health Emerald Necklace Conservancy. 2018. Park Overview. Retrieved from https://www.emeraldnecklace.org/park-overview/ (November 15, 2018). ■ Emerald Necklace Case Study. The Trust for Public Land. 2016. The Economic Benefits of the Park & Recreation System in San José, California. 32 p. https://www.tpl.org/sites/default/files/files_upload/updated-san-jose-econ-rept.pdf ■ Local parks and trails annually attract more than $125M in tourism spending. ■ By facilitating outdoor exercise, local trails and open space save $25M+ in medical costs per year.

Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority | Coyote Valley: A Case for Conservation | January 2019 Coyote Valley: A Case for Conservation www.openspaceauthority.org/coyotevalley

The Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority conserves the natural environment, supports Recreation and agriculture, and connects people to nature, by protecting open spaces, natural areas, and public health working farms and ranches for future generations. The Authority has protected over 25,000 acres of open space, natural areas, watersheds, and wildlife habitat.

33 Las Colinas Lane, San Jose, CA 95119 | 408.224.7476 | www.openspaceauthority.org Wildlife Clean water connectivity supply

NATURE AS INFRASTRUCTURE

Flood Agriculture protection

Climate resilience

View from Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve Photo credits: Liv Ames, Ron Erskine, Beth Hamel, Stephen Joseph, cc William Warby, Authority staff Together, Planning for North Coyote Valley Conservation Area

or over 40 years, Coyote Valley has faced the threat of development but now, in an intentional move away from sprawl, we have a once-in-a generation opportunity to protect and restore one Fof the Bay Area’s most significant natural landscapes to benefit nature and people. Alongside key partners, Peninsula Open Space Trust and the City of San José, the Open Space Authority will lead a science and community-based planning process to establish a unique open space preserve and regional destination of statewide and national significance that preserves the environment, connects people to nature, and provides lasting climate resilience.

The Plan will guide the future use and management of nearly 1,000 acres of open space within the North Coyote Valley Conservation Area, and will serve as a blueprint to implement the Authority’s Coyote Valley Landscape Linkage Report and achieve the floodplain preservation goals of San Jose’s 2018 Measure T. This community-based planning process is a significant opportunity to create a public asset focused on interconnection, inclusion, and resilience, while designing with nature. By engaging partners, stakeholders, and residents in the Santa Clara Valley throughout the planning process, together we can play a meaningful role in restoring this vital landscape for nature and people. Elements of the Plan ecognizing the property’s many conservation values and unique location as an Ressential landscape linkage connecting over one million acres of open space in the Santa Cruz and Diablo Range Mountains, the North Coyote Valley Conservation Area planning process will take a holistic approach to integrate the key elements outlined below, within context of the greater Coyote Valley area, into a comprehensive Plan.

Floodplain Restoration • Restoring the floodplain of Fisher Creek – a major tributary to Coyote Creek. • Improving the land’s ability to capture stormwater, improve water quality, and provide habitat for groundwater dependent ecosystems.

Habitat Restoration and Wildlife Connectivity • Restoring and enhancing natural communities and habitat for rare plants and animals. • Connecting large open spaces and directing wildlife to safe road crossings. • Creating climate resilient and carbon smart land-use practices.

Natural, Cultural, and Historic Resources • Protecting, maintaining, and enhancing important resources. • Interpreting the natural environment, climate science, and related topics on site. • Recognizing and interpreting indigenous heritage, including the Amah Mutsun and Muwekma Tribal Bands. • Interpreting the Valley of Heart’s Delight agricultural heritage.

Agriculture • Demonstrating best management practices for climate smart and wildlife-friendly working lands.

Health, Wellness, and Nature-based Recreation • Providing high-quality amenities for visitors of all ages and abilities. • Connecting regional trails to move people across and through the land. • Developing “green” transportation options to and from Coyote Valley.

Economic Development Opportunities • Evaluating benefits and opportunities associated with nature-based placemaking in San José and the Santa Clara Valley. • Evaluating opportunities for the creation of green jobs across all of Coyote Valley.

Ongoing Robust Engagement of Diverse Communities and Youth • Providing programming to demonstrate local and regional advantages of a climate resilient, multi-benefit landscape. • Designing inspiring, innovative, and educational programs that engage and empower diverse communities to connect with nature. • Engaging youth in opportunities to develop environmental leadership skills. Planning Process

The Authority will robustly engage diverse audiences throughout its jurisdiction in the planning processes outlined below. The outcome of these efforts will culminate in on-the-ground implementation of the highest priority features. The plan will also be adaptable as additional lands in the vicinity of the North Coyote Valley Conservation Area are protected.

Site Design, Project Visioning, Site Environmental Inventory Review, North Coyote & Analysis Project Alternatives Permitting Valley Conservation • Lay groundwork for robust • Incorporate planning • Refine site designs Area Plan community engagement, elements into alternative of the preferred Implementation while paying special attention design scenarios and project project alternative, • Seek grant funding to those communities that phasing options. integrating science typically experience barriers for priority capital • Engage diverse communities and community improvement and to participation in public feedback. meetings. in decision-making by restoration projects. information sharing • Conduct • Frame vision and identify • Coordinate with throughout the planning environmental partners to initiate planning goals, including process with an emphasis review analysis per unique opportunities to on-the-ground on deliberation at key CEQA. construction and implement the Coyote Valley milestones. Landscape Linkage Vision. • Complete permitting restoration activities. • Identify preferred project for near-term, • Develop and • Develop clear understanding alternative that balances highest-priority of existing conditions to implement a priorities of planning features. thorough monitoring identify opportunities and elements. constraints; synthesize and adaptive findings. management strategy to evaluate and build upon successes in future phases of implementation.

Goals and Outcomes of the Planning Process • Engage the public and maximize community participation in the planning process. • Solicit input from a broad array of thought leaders. • Apply the best science to forward-thinking, climate resilient solutions. • Lay the foundation for new partnerships and innovative implementation of programs. • Build equity, diversity, and inclusion into every element of planning and outcomes. openspaceauthority.org/coyotevalley

33 Las Colinas Lane, San Jose, CA 95119 408-224-7476 | [email protected]

Design: Alexander Atkins Design, Inc. Photo credits: Stephen Joseph, Page 2: David Mauk, Derek Neumann, Jordon Plotsky, Page 3: Ron Horii, David Mauk, Jordan Plotsky, Page 4: Stephen Joseph