Conservationists Purchase 2,284 Acres of Sargent Ranch Property

The Peninsula Open Space Trust acquires more land to preserve sacred native site and wildlife habitat.

Feb. 4, 2026 at 3:55pm

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The Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) has purchased 2,284 acres of ranchland in southern Santa Clara County for $23 million, bringing their total holdings at the former Sargent Ranch property to 6,114 acres. The acquisition preserves sacred land considered for a sand and gravel mining operation that the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band has campaigned against since 2016.

Why it matters

The Sargent Ranch property is considered sacred land by the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, who refer to it as Juristac and have conducted ceremonies there for thousands of years before being displaced in the late 1800s. The land also provides important wildlife connectivity and habitat for threatened species, making its preservation a significant conservation effort.

The details

POST has acquired the Sargent Ranch property incrementally since October 2024, investing a total of $63.7 million. The latest 2,284-acre purchase was announced on January 29, 2026. The property is located southwest of Gilroy between U.S. 101 and the Santa Cruz County line. POST plans to work with the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, Santa Clara County Parks, and local habitat agencies to develop stewardship plans for the land.

  • POST has acquired the Sargent Ranch property incrementally since October 2024.
  • The latest 2,284-acre purchase was announced on January 29, 2026.
  • Another 480 acres are under contract for purchase in late 2026.

The players

Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST)

A nonprofit land trust that has been acquiring the Sargent Ranch property since 2024, making this their largest land conservation purchase in nearly 50 years.

Amah Mutsun Tribal Band

A Native American tribe that considers the Sargent Ranch property, known as Juristac, to be sacred land and has campaigned against a proposed sand and gravel mining operation on the site since 2016.

Gordon Clark

The president of the Peninsula Open Space Trust.

Ed Ketchum

The chairman of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band.

Marian Vernon

The wildlife linkages program manager at the Peninsula Open Space Trust.

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What they’re saying

“The protection of Juristac honors our ancestors and brings hope for a brighter tomorrow when we can return to our sacred grounds and restore our traditions.”

— Ed Ketchum, Chairman, Amah Mutsun Tribal Band

“A purchase of this size, in a location as important as this, is extremely rare. I am thrilled that POST was able to make this happen since this land provides much to humans, too, including helping to mitigate the effects of climate change.”

— Marian Vernon, Wildlife Linkages Program Manager, Peninsula Open Space Trust

What’s next

POST will work with the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, Santa Clara County Parks, and local habitat agencies to develop stewardship plans for the preserved land.

The takeaway

This historic land acquisition by the Peninsula Open Space Trust not only preserves sacred Native American land and important wildlife habitat, but also represents a significant victory for conservation efforts in the region and a step towards reconciliation with the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band.