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Local Trust Saves Morgan Hill Land from Development
The Palo Alto trust pulled together the funding to preserve hundreds of acres.
The Palo Alto-based The Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) has purchased 358 acres next to Uvas Reservoir in Morgan Hill. POST bought the property from private landowners for $1,075,000 on Feb. 28.
POST considers the land to be critical watershed and potential public recreation land. The Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department will manage the property while evaluating the potential for acquiring the land from POST.
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to expand the boundaries of Uvas County Park,” said Santa Clara County Supervisor Mike Wasserman. “County residents can look forward to additional hiking trails and recreational activities, while we continue to provide natural habitat for deer, mountain lions and other wildlife.”
Uvas Creek, a prominent spawning stream for steelhead trout, runs through the land, which also provides excellent habitat for red-tailed hawks, California whiptail, and variable checkerspot butterflies.
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Ray and Virginia Scoffone sold the land to POST. “When you go up there you can appreciate the fresh air and great views,” said Scoffone. “I saw some of the development happening nearby and thought I’d hate to see that happen here. When POST approached me, I was happy with the idea that the land would become part of an open space or park.”
Funding for the purchase: $250,000 from the California Coastal Conservancy , $268,750 from the Santa Clara County Open Space Authority , and $268,750 from Resources Legacy Fund as part of the Living Landscape Initiative (LLI), a collaboration of five leading conservation groups including POST, Save the Redwoods League , Sempervirens Fund , The Nature Conservancy , and the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County .
