Protection of 2,600+ acres at Rocks Ranch for a wildlife crossing over HWY101 is the next critical step in establishing linkage between the Santa Cruz and Gabilan mountain ranges.

The first crossing on HW17 at Laurel Curve in the Santa Cruz Mountains was completed in December. Together, these crossings will provide safe passage for mountain lions and other wildlife whose habitats have been increasingly constrained by residential development and highway barriers. Thanks to our pioneering work at Laurel Curve, the policy and process tools are already in place to develop a second crossing at Rocks Ranch.

Rocks Ranch contains a 4.4-mile-long stretch of intact habitat that is highly permeable to animal movement. On its northern end, it abuts a 2.5-mile stretch of HW101 that is currently a “hot spot” for wildlife/vehicle collisions—evidence of the area’s high frequency of use by wildlife.

Protecting Rocks Ranch from intensified land use will help safeguard this critical landscape linkage and conserve important habitat for rare and endangered species.

This unique property includes nine ponds, over two miles of streams, and many seeps and springs. It contains 10.2 acres of wetlands and approximately seven acres of riparian woodland, as well as extensive grassland, oak savanna, and oak woodland.