Good things have been happening in San Benito County since voters here passed Measure A last fall. Developers have withdrawn many of their most harmful proposals, and the county is developing new policies that have the potential to help wildlife and protect farmland. However, the county is still considering some proposals for quarries and other development that would threaten open space, so we are continuing our advocacy work to ensure a healthy environment for people and wildlife.

Weighing In on Local Decisions

Green Foothills continues to monitor all decisions coming before the County Supervisors, Planning Commission, City Councils, and other local boards. From negotiations around fire contracts to changes to the zoning ordinance, we are staying aware and engaged on anything that could impact open space in San Benito. We continue to watch the progress of local development proposals, such as the Travelers Station gas station just off Highway 101, the Nash Road Quarry on the outskirts of Hollister, the Ranch 35 quarry proposal near San Juan Bautista, the expansion of State Route 25, and more.

Travelers Station

The Travelers Station is a proposed gas station on 2.6 acres near the intersection of Highways 101 and 129. The project would include a 4,000 square foot convenience store, auto and truck fueling services, electric charging stations and an informational kiosk. Although the footprint is relatively small, the gas station would lie directly in the path of the Chittenden Pass, a region that is incredibly important for wildlife movement through the region. Because the project now requires a General Plan update and zoning change, the county is working on updating the environmental reports. Green Foothills is awaiting these documents, and will be ready to provide input. This project is subject to Measure A, meaning it would require voter approval before moving forward.

Nash Road Quarry

The Nash Road Quarry proposes to mine sand and gravel in the channel and floodplains of the San Benito River just outside of Hollister. Materials would be processed on site, and then transported to a facility in Hollister. The proposed site is 131 acres, 32.5 of which would be mined. The impacts to the river, riparian habitat, and downstream ecosystems could be devastating. A number of special status plant and animal species could be impacted by this project, and geologic and hydrologic studies indicate that impacts to riverbed erosion, channel stability, groundwater depletion, and groundwater or surface water contamination could be significant. There is active litigation around this project that will likely need to be resolved before the project moves forward.

Ranch 35 Quarry

Ranch 35 is another proposed quarry just 2 miles northwest of San Juan Bautista. The proposed site is 271 acres, 204 of which would be mined. The land includes sensitive habitat, wetlands, and vernal ponds which could provide habitat for special-status species like the California red-legged frog and California tiger salamander, western pond turtle, Burrowing Owls, and others, as well as rare plant species. This project is also located in a wildlife movement chokepoint, and could have large implications for connectivity and habitat fragmentation. We are currently awaiting the environmental reports on the project, and are expecting a draft to be released to the public by the end of 2025 or in early 2026.

State Route 25 Expansion

San Benito County is working with Caltrans to expand SR 25. The initially adopted route would have impacted thousands of acres of agricultural land, with the first phase alone destroying over 500 acres of prime farmland and negatively impacting an additional 500 acres. In addition to the devastating loss of farmland, this would have compromised the ability of local farmers to continue to make a living. Green Foothills supported the Farm Bureau in their efforts to convince the county to re-open discussions about the planned route, and we succeeded. A new alternative route is now being considered, and Green Foothills will be participating in making sure it is not as detrimental to the county’s farmland. We will also be monitoring and participating in the process to make sure wildlife movement is considered and wildlife permeability is incorporated into the design. Meetings to determine the new route will begin this summer.

Updating the County’s General Plan

One area of focus for us is protecting farmland through the county’s General Plan. Despite the fact that agriculture is San Benito’s main economic sector, the county’s General Plan has never had a section, or “element,” dedicated specifically to agriculture. Recently, the county received a grant to develop an Agricultural Element. As a member of the Ag Element Stakeholder Planning Group, Green Foothills has been engaging in the process by attending meetings and providing input on the plan’s development. The county’s stated goal is “protecting and enhancing agricultural lands while supporting the long-term viability of the agricultural economy in San Benito County.”

We are working to influence the components of the Ag Element, the language and definitions used in the Element, and changes to zoning ordinance and land use designations that impact agricultural lands, in order to ensure that the county adheres to its stated goal, protects farmland, and adopts policies that encourage sustainable agriculture.

Creating a County Conservation Plan

San Benito County is also developing a joint Habitat Conservation Plan and Natural Community Conservation Plan, also known as the San Benito County Conservation Plan. Our hope is that the Conservation Plan will establish a county-wide plan for conservation, and a set process for mitigation when threatened or endangered species are impacted, which will result in a net benefit for the species while allowing for economic growth and development in the county.

Green Foothills is a member of the Public Advisory Committee for the Conservation Plan, and we are closely monitoring the plan’s development. Our goal is to ensure a quality plan that provides effective, county-wide protection for species included in the Plan. This will be more effective than trying to implement piecemeal, separate protection measures for each individual species. For example, the Plan seeks to establish a reserve system, or a network of regional lands to be preserved or restored. If this reserve system is a large swath of connected land, the benefits to the impacted species could be greater than small, disconnected patches of protected lands. We are watching carefully to make sure that all species in the county that should be included in the Plan are indeed included, and that their habitats are included on all maps. We are weighing in on which activities are covered by the Plan, and making sure no activity is exempted that shouldn’t be. We are making sure there is an environmentally and financially sustainable plan for the implementation and enforcement of the Conservation Plan, and for the management and monitoring of the reserve system.

San Benito Is a Critical Landscape

Protecting San Benito County’s open space and farmland is critical. The area provides an essential pathway for wildlife to move between the Gabilan and Diablo mountain ranges to the south and east, and the Santa Cruz Mountains to the north. The ability to move between these regions increases the resilience of wildlife populations, allowing them to relocate in response to extreme weather events and encouraging genetic diversity. The county’s rich soils and fertile farmland increase food security, help to mitigate the impacts of climate change, provide pathways for wildlife, and support the county’s largest economic sector. Unfortunately the county continues to face development pressures. Paving over this land would have devastating impacts.

Through conversations with elected officials, attendance at local meetings, community collaboration, and consistent engagement across a variety of issues, we are taking advantage of all the current opportunities in San Benito and working to impact the processes to achieve our goals.

If you know someone in San Benito who would be interested in learning more about these issues, please encourage them to subscribe to our newsletter at greenfoothills.org/subscribe.