This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the Coyote Valley Conservation Program.
Chapter 6Coyote Valley Conservation Program
Section § 35180
This law section establishes the official name of the Coyote Valley Conservation Program, a program likely focused on conservation efforts within the Coyote Valley area.
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Section § 35181
This law section allows for the creation of the Coyote Valley Conservation Program. The program focuses on meeting the specific resource and recreational needs in the Coyote Valley. The law outlines that this should be done as detailed in the relevant chapter.
The authority may establish and administer the Coyote Valley Conservation Program to address the resource and recreational goals of the Coyote Valley, as provided in this chapter.
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Section § 35182
The law recognizes Coyote Valley as a unique and important area in Santa Clara County, providing agricultural and natural benefits. Despite development pressure, it's crucial to restore, conserve, and enhance the region. Coyote Valley is valued for its agriculture, like mushrooms and bell peppers, generating significant economic benefits. The area serves as a vital wildlife migration corridor and a recreational space for nearby urban residents, offering climate benefits such as flood control and water recharge. Protecting Coyote Valley aligns with state and local agricultural preservation efforts and supports the creation of the Coyote Valley Conservation Program to coordinate restoration and recreational projects.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a)CA Public Resources Code § 35182(a) Coyote Valley is a unique landscape providing agricultural, wildlife, recreational, climate, and other natural infrastructure benefits, covering an area of about 17,200 acres in southern Santa Clara County.
(b)CA Public Resources Code § 35182(b) Coyote Valley is a resource of statewide significance. The Coyote Valley has been subject to intense development pressure and is in need of restoration, conservation, and enhancement.
(c)CA Public Resources Code § 35182(c) Coyote Valley is bounded by and includes two of the fastest growing cities in California, the City of San Jose to
the north and the City of Morgan Hill to the south.
(d)CA Public Resources Code § 35182(d) Mushrooms, bell peppers, nursery crops, and other agricultural crops grown in Coyote Valley provide more than thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) of economic benefit each year.
(e)CA Public Resources Code § 35182(e) Coyote Valley provides a critical corridor for wildlife migrating between the Santa Cruz Mountains and Diablo Range.
(f)CA Public Resources Code § 35182(f) Residents of the City of San Jose and other nearby cities access the outdoors in Coyote Valley to view wildlife, and recreate and connect with nature and the community.
(g)CA Public Resources Code § 35182(g) Coyote Valley’s natural resources provide opportunities for many climate and natural infrastructure benefits, including flood attenuation
from improved wetlands, increased water supply from groundwater recharge, and carbon sequestration from natural and working lands.
(h)CA Public Resources Code § 35182(h) Protection of Coyote Valley is a component of state and local efforts to preserve agriculture in the County of Santa Clara, including the Santa Clara Valley Agricultural Plan, the Santa Clara Valley Greenprint, state investments from the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program, and a feasibility study funded by the State Coastal Conservancy.
(i)CA Public Resources Code § 35182(i) The establishment of the Coyote Valley Conservation Program pursuant to this chapter will provide a necessary structure to implement restoration and preservation projects and recreational opportunities, and enhance the overall condition of Coyote Valley.
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Section § 35183
This section of the law defines key terms related to the Coyote Valley Conservation Program. Coyote Valley refers to a specific geographic area, excluding lands within Morgan Hill's Urban Service Area as of February 2012. Natural lands and working lands have definitions linked to another section, 9001.5. The program is identified as the Coyote Valley Conservation Program, and program lands include any property interests involved in the program's projects.
For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:
(a)CA Public Resources Code § 35183(a) “Coyote Valley” means all areas southeast of a line drawn northeast to southwest through a point at the intersection of Coyote Creek and Metcalf Road, northeast to the first ridgeline of the Diablo Range, southwest to the first ridgeline of the Santa Cruz Mountains, and northwest of a line drawn northeast to southwest through a point at the intersection of Cochrane Road and Monterey Road, excluding all lands within the City of Morgan Hill’s Urban Service Area as of February 29, 2012.
(b)CA Public Resources Code § 35183(b) “Natural lands” has the same meaning as the term is
defined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 9001.5.
(c)CA Public Resources Code § 35183(c) “Program” means the Coyote Valley Conservation Program.
(d)CA Public Resources Code § 35183(d) “Program lands” means interests in real property acquired, managed, or subject to a project under this chapter.
(e)CA Public Resources Code § 35183(e) “Working lands” has the same meaning as the term is defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 9001.5.
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Section § 35184
This law allows the authority to work with various partners to meet specific goals related to environmental preservation and public enjoyment. These goals include creating recreational spaces, preserving open spaces, developing trails, restoring wildlife habitats, protecting wetlands and farmlands, and studying land for water conservation. It also focuses on protecting against climate change and providing public access to enjoy these natural resources responsibly.
The authority may collaborate with state, regional, and local partners to help achieve all of the following goals of the program:
(a)CA Public Resources Code § 35184(a) To provide recreational opportunities, preserve open space, develop and maintain trails, restore, enhance, and preserve wildlife habitat and species, restore and preserve wetlands and agricultural lands, study, maintain, and preserve lands for groundwater recharge, watershed restoration, and natural floodwater conveyance, sequester greenhouse gases, and enhance resilience to climate change.
(b)CA Public Resources Code § 35184(b) To provide public access to, and enjoyment and enhancement of, recreational and educational
experiences on, program lands in a manner consistent with the protection of land and natural resources in the area.
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Section § 35185
This law empowers a certain authority to take various actions to support outdoor recreation, nature appreciation, historical preservation, and habitat enhancement. They can buy and sell real estate, fund construction or upgrades for outdoor and historical sites, and provide support to landowners for improving land conservation and climate adaptation. Additionally, they work on enhancing wildlife movement around Coyote Valley by building wildlife-friendly structures like culverts and overpasses and managing program lands effectively.
In carrying out the purposes of this chapter, and without limiting the express or implied powers of the authority as provided in this division, the authority shall have, and may exercise, all necessary rights and powers, expressed or implied, to achieve the goals of this chapter. The authority may do all of the following:
(a)CA Public Resources Code § 35185(a) Acquire and dispose of interests and options in real property.
(b)CA Public Resources Code § 35185(b) Undertake, maintain, or fund projects to implement site improvements, upgrade deteriorating facilities, or construct new facilities for outdoor recreation, public access, nature appreciation, and interpretation; historic and cultural preservation;
protection, restoration, or enhancement of natural resources and habitat; or continuation or expansion of agricultural activities.
(c)CA Public Resources Code § 35185(c) Provide technical assistance to landowners on practices to enhance the carbon sequestration or climate resilience benefits of natural and working lands.
(d)CA Public Resources Code § 35185(d) Enhance wildlife connectivity across Highway 101, Monterey Road and other impediments to the movement of wildlife in the Coyote Valley through implementation of wildlife friendly culverts and overpasses, removal of fencing, and placement of wildlife crossing signage, or other means.
(e)CA Public Resources Code § 35185(e) Provide for the management of program lands.
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Section § 35186
If you want to develop land in Coyote Valley for non-agricultural purposes, you must notify the relevant authority about your project. The authority can then evaluate the environmental impact of your proposal.
Additionally, any local planning documents created or updated after January 1, 2020, must recognize Coyote Valley as an important area for the whole state.
(a)CA Public Resources Code § 35186(a) A proponent or party to a proposed development project converting natural lands or working lands within Coyote Valley for a nonagricultural purpose shall provide notice to the authority of the proposed project. The authority may provide analysis of the environmental values and potential impacts of the proposed project.
(b)CA Public Resources Code § 35186(b) Coyote Valley shall be acknowledged as an area of statewide significance in local planning documents developed or updated on or after January 1, 2020, affecting land use within Coyote Valley.
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