Santa Clara Valley Habitat Agency

08/27/2026

Exciting progress for wildlife connectivity and public safety in California!

SB 1250 has passed the Legislature and is now headed to Governor Newsom’s desk. The bill will strengthen coordination among transportation agencies, wildlife experts, and local partners to identify wildlife-vehicle collision hotspots and advance solutions that make our roads safer while maintaining critical wildlife movement corridors.

The Santa Clara Valley Habitat Agency is proud to have supported this legislation alongside a strong coalition of conservation and transportation partners. Here in Santa Clara County, maintaining and improving landscape connectivity is an important part of implementing the Santa Clara Valley Habitat Plan and ensuring that wildlife can continue to move safely across an increasingly fragmented landscape.

Thank you to Senator Dave Cortese for championing this important legislation, and all of the partners who helped move SB 1250 forward.

Governor Gavin Newsom will now have an opportunity to help save lives by helping to prevent wildlife-vehicle collisions as my Senate Bill 1250 (SB 1250) reaches his desk, where it awaits his signature.

Every year, thousands of Californians are involved in crashes with wildlife, putting drivers, passengers, and our state's wildlife at risk. SB 1250 strengthens coordination between transportation agencies, wildlife experts, and local stakeholders to identify high-risk areas and support solutions that protect motorists while preserving critical wildlife corridors.

Thank you to The Nature Conservancy for sponsoring my bill and to our supportive partners at Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, Green Foothills, Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority, Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST), Santa Clara Valley Habitat Agency, Pew Charitable Trusts, and Wildlife Conservation Network .

To express your support and urge the Governor to sign SB 1250, go to the Governor’s Official Contact Page. Select “An Active Bill” under the request or comment options, and then select SB 1250 to log your support. Here’s the link: https://www.gov.ca.gov/contact/

08/07/2026

05/22/2026

"Look closely at nature. Every species is a masterpiece, exquisitely adapted to the particular environment in which it has survived. Who are we to destroy or even diminish biodiversity?" ~E. O. Wilson

Today we honor the International Day for Biological Diversity--May 22--which serves as a reminder of two realities:

(1) We are in the midst of a global biodiversity crisis, having lost, for example, one-third of all bird abundance and nearly half of all insect biomass in North America in just the last 50 years; and

(2) The path forward depends on conservation and restoration happening locally, through meaningful planning, hard work, and strong partnerships.

At the Habitat Agency, we’re proud to contribute locally to the collective effort to conserve, protect, and restore the species and habitats that make our region unique and biodiverse.

No single organization can solve this challenge alone. But together, through numerous, thoughtful, and local efforts all over the globe, we can work in unison to sustain and restore the biodiversity that sustains us all.

04/22/2026

🌎 Earth Day 2026 🌿

This Earth Day, the Habitat Agency celebrates the landscapes, plants, wildlife, and partnerships that make conservation in our region possible.

From grasslands and oak woodlands to creeks and ponds, our work is rooted in protecting and connecting the places that sustain biodiversity. Through the Habitat Plan, we are conserving thousands of acres of open space, restoring critical habitats, and recovering special-status plant and wildlife populations. Our work is made possible through collaboration with local landowners, public agencies, non-profit organizations, scientists, and community members.

Earth Day is a reminder that the health of our natural lands is tied to the choices we make every day. Whether it’s supporting conservation efforts, spending time outdoors, or learning about the ecosystems around you, everyone has a role to play.

04/20/2026

The Habitat Agency has successfully collared a male mountain lion, M453, in the Pacheco Pass region. This effort is part of our ongoing work to better understand how wildlife moves across the landscape. Data from M453 will help inform major wildlife connectivity projects in the Diablo Range

Every data point brings us closer to smarter, science-driven conservation.

Stay tuned for updates as M453’s journey helps shape the future of wildlife connectivity in our region.

Big thanks to our partners at Wildlife Detections , Wildlife Health Center, UC Davis , and who make this work possible!