Sacred Indigenous Land Saved! Juristac Protected After Years-Long Battle

Juristac, an extraordinary landscape of grassy hillsides, ancient oak groves, and rare natural tar springs just south of Gilroy, California, is safe. The Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) has purchased the property where the Sargent Ranch Quarry was proposed, ending the mining threat and permanently protecting this sacred land. For years, Juristac faced destruction from a proposed open-pit sand and gravel mine that would have carved three massive quarry pits hundreds of feet deep, destroyed over 400 acres of habitat, and blocked the region's most important wildlife undercrossing beneath Highway 101. The Protect Juristac coalition—led by Green Foothills and the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band—organized rallies, gathered over 20,000 petition signatures, and secured support from dozens of city councils and elected officials. When Santa Clara County published a Draft Environmental Impact Report in 2022, public opposition was overwhelming: 99.99% of over 10,000 comments opposed the mine. Juristac is the most sacred site of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, where ceremonies have been held for thousands of years. It's also the only viable pathway for wildlife like mountain lions, tule elk, and gray foxes to move into and out of the Santa Cruz Mountains. 'This outcome would not have been possible without the thousands of people who emailed elected officials, signed the petition, attended rallies, and spoke out,' said Green Foothills. 'Thank you for helping make this historic win a reality!'