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In a news release in late February the San Benito Agricultural Land Trust (SBALT) said it was raising funds to purchase the 586-acre San Antonio Ranch, a critical property between Nyland Property and Rocks Ranch and a significant wildlife corridor between the Gabilan Range and Santa Cruz Mountains.
“The property is a strategic acquisition that would fill a gap between three protected ranches—Rocks Ranch, Rancho Larios Open Space, and the Nyland Property—to create a 4,245-acre protected landscape which is essential to the effectiveness of Caltran’s pending San Benito Wildlife Crossing over US Highway 101,” the release stated.
It added that “if not permanently protected, the property is highly vulnerable to subdivision into ranchettes, which would irreversibly fragment habitat and compromise wildlife movement in this already constrained landscape.”
SBALT’s Executive Director Lynn Overtree told BenitoLink that The Conservation Fund has purchased the land from the Breen Family while waiting for SBALT to buy it. SBALT has submitted grant applications to the state and to the California Wildlife Conservation Board, which funds projects protecting wildlife. The Conservation Fund will not hold on to the land indefinitely. It is a temporary solution until SBALT obtains funds to acquire the land.
The release said The Conservation Fund secured $1,500,000 collectively from the Peninsula Open Space Trust and the Wildlife Conservation Network and assumed risk through bridge financing which enabled them to negotiate a substantially reduced price from the sellers. The Conservation Fund is passing on their savings to SBALT.
However, SBALT must still raise $2.8 million to buy San Antonio Ranch and is seeking the community’s help with letters of support to the Wildlife Conservation Board to establish its commitment to the care of this land in perpetuity.
Overtree said the land is vital not only for wildlife corridors but it is also a home for and suitable habitat for many special status species including the American badger, California Tiger Salamander, red-legged frog and burrowing owl.
To write a letter of support, download a template here.
To read about this spring’s San Antonio Ranch Discovery Hikes and how to register, click here.
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