Peninsula Open Space Trust Secures 2,284 Additional Acres of Sargent Ranch

Acquisition ensures conservation of full 6,500-acre property, a vital wildlife corridor and sacred Indigenous landscape

Jan. 29, 2026 at 6:15am

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Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) has purchased an additional 2,284 acres of the historic Sargent Ranch property in southern Santa Clara County for $23.04 million. This latest acquisition, combined with previous purchases, secures the full 6,500-acre Sargent Ranch, which provides essential wildlife connectivity and is part of the Juristac Tribal Cultural Landscape that is sacred to the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band.

Why it matters

Protecting Sargent Ranch preserves biodiversity, wildlife corridors, and a culturally significant landscape. The property's location at the intersection of several major mountain ranges makes it a vital ecological linkage, while its history as a sacred gathering place for Indigenous peoples underscores its irreplaceable cultural value.

The details

POST's purchase of the additional 2,284 acres follows previous acquisitions of 1,340 acres in 2024 and 2,490 acres in 2025, bringing the total protected area to 6,114 acres out of the 6,500-acre ranch. The remaining 480 acres are under contract to be sold to POST in late 2026. The property is home to numerous threatened and endangered species and provides critical connectivity between the Santa Cruz, Gabilan, and Diablo mountain ranges.

  • In October 2024, POST acquired the adjacent 1,340-acre Pescadero Ranch, previously part of Sargent Ranch, for $15.65 million.
  • In May 2025, POST purchased an additional 2,490 acres of Sargent Ranch for $25 million.
  • On January 28, 2026, POST purchased the latest 2,284 acres for $23.04 million.
  • The remaining 480 acres of Sargent Ranch are under contract to be sold to POST in late 2026.

The players

Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST)

A private nonprofit land trust that has protected over 95,000 acres in the Peninsula and South Bay region since 1977.

Amah Mutsun Tribal Band

An Indigenous tribe that considers the Sargent Ranch area, known as Juristac, to be a sacred landscape where their ancestors conducted spiritual ceremonies for millennia.

Gordon Clark

President of Peninsula Open Space Trust.

Ed Ketchum

Chairman of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band.

Marian Vernon

Wildlife linkages program manager for Peninsula Open Space Trust.

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What they’re saying

“Sargent Ranch is a rare ecological and cultural treasure. Its location right at the southern tip of the Santa Cruz Mountains makes it a vitally important landscape that connects the San Francisco Peninsula to the rest of California.”

— Gordon Clark, President of Peninsula Open Space Trust

“It is deeply fortunate that the landscape of Juristac has been protected. We are grateful to all who have worked alongside our Tribe to make this dream a reality.”

— Ed Ketchum, Chairman of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band

“Protecting apex predators like mountain lions that have an outsized effect on our local food webs helps sustain the health and biodiversity of our entire region.”

— Marian Vernon, Wildlife linkages program manager for Peninsula Open Space Trust

What’s next

POST will retain ownership of the property until its environmental resources can be thoroughly studied and plans for long-term stewardship are developed. The organization is working closely with a variety of partners, including the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, Amah Mutsun Land Trust, Santa Clara County Parks, and other regional organizations, to determine the best approach for managing and preserving the protected land.

The takeaway

The acquisition of Sargent Ranch represents a landmark conservation achievement that safeguards a vital wildlife corridor, preserves a culturally significant Indigenous landscape, and demonstrates the power of collaboration between land trusts, tribal nations, and community partners to protect irreplaceable natural and cultural resources.