Ensuring locally-grown foods and securing the regional greenbelt.
Understanding aGRICULTURAL Easements
An agricultural conservation easement is a voluntary, legally recorded restriction placed on farming properties to keep them in active production. This easement prevents harmful activities that could damage agricultural use and remains effective even if the property changes ownership. Designed to support viable farming and prevent development, it also helps maintain scenic and habitat values by keeping the land undeveloped. The Land Trust of Santa Clara Valley (LTSCV) facilitates these easements, ensuring that the terms are upheld and the land’s agricultural integrity is protected. By safeguarding these valuable lands, we contribute to the preservation of our agricultural landscape for future generations.
LTSCV Agricultural Easements
Van Dyke Ranch
In partnership with the City of Gilroy, LTSCV acquired a 108-acre conservation easement on the Van Dyke Ranch. Van Dyke Ranch is located in a scenic agricultural area that supports orchards, pasture, and rowcrops. The majority of the property’s soils have been classified as prime, and features organic apricot, persimmon, and grape orchards.
With LTSCV's support, we saved our generational family farm, ensuring its protection for future generations."
- Peter Van Dyke
Carnadero Preserve
The Carnadero property includes 480 acres of prime agricultural land and riparian habitat in southern Santa Clara County adjacent to the Pajaro River and Carnadero Creek. This acquisition was a joint effort between LTSCV, the Santa Clara County Open Space Authority, The Nature Conservancy, the American Farmland Trust, Valley Water, the California Department of Conservation and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Mission Organics FarmLTSCV acquired a 170-acre conservation easement on the Mission Organics Farm in southern Santa Clara County. This easement was a joint project between LTSCV, the Santa Clara County Open Space Authority, the California Department of Conservation, and the Natural Resource Conservation Service. It is currently planted with organic vegetables and will be preserved forever as farmland.
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Taylor FarmThis property (operated by Taylor Farms) includes 510 acres of prime farmland adjacent to the Carnadero and Mission Organics properties to create a total preserve of 1,155 acres in southern Santa Clara County. Located at the junction of the Pajaro River and Carnadero and Llagas creeks, this property also contributes to flood protection along the Pajaro River watershed. Click here for an article about this project from the Gilroy Dispatch.
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Cooper Farm
The Cooper family donated a conservation easement to LTSCV in order to preserve the agricultural viability of their 40-acre farm. The property abuts Little Arthur Creek, which contains habitat for the federally-listed and threatened steelhead.
