Highways and Habitats: Building Wildlife Crossings in Coyote Valley

Have you ever traveled between San José and Morgan Hill on U.S. 101 or Monterey Road? If so,  you’ve passed through a remarkable South Bay region: Coyote Valley. From a car, bus, train, or bicycle seat, a lively landscape unfolds before you. You see rolling green-and-gold hills, flourishing farmland, winding highways, and a vast valley floor where wildlife, farmers, and outdoor enthusiasts share space. But a hidden set of challenges underlie this scenic beauty. Recent studies led by POST and our partners reveal that wildlife are facing harsh obstacles when trying to move between the Santa Cruz Mountains and Diablo Range. To restore safe passage, wildlife crossings are essential—and we have a plan to make it happen.

AN EVER-CHANGING LANDSCAPE

Just a few centuries ago, Coyote Valley looked entirely different. Bobcats roamed road-free territories, Bay checkerspot butterflies flitted between native plants, and a sprawling wetland greeted many migratory birds. Back then, Coyote Valley and the entire Santa Clara Valley was an unbroken connection between the Santa Cruz Mountains and Diablo Range. Today, human infrastructure has fractured the landscape, creating dangerous obstacles for traveling creatures. 

Conservationists like me know that Coyote Valley is at a make-or-break moment. Continued development would have devastating consequences—not just for wildlife but for the overall health of our ecosystems. Fortunately, conservation wins are ongoing in the area. Currently, the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority is partnering with POST and the City of San José on the Coyote Valley Conservation Areas Master Plan (CVCAMP). This plan focuses on Laguna Seca and other nearby properties. Excitingly, protected lands on the valley floor now total over 1,500 acres. We anticipate that this number will grow as we collaborate to protect and transfer more properties.

But we haven’t lost hope. POST and our partners have a plan in motion to restore and protect this critical region, while ensuring wildlife crossings provide safe pathways between the surrounding mountain ranges.

WHY WE NEED WILDLIFE CROSSINGS

Years of scientific research have confirmed a growing crisis in Coyote Valley. Wildlife are struggling to move safely across the landscape. Over the past decade, numerous in-depth studies have concluded that Monterey Road and Highway 101 are deadly barriers, with wildlife-vehicle collisions endangering both animals and people.

The numbers tell a sobering story. Nearly 300 wildlife-vehicle collisions have been documented in Coyote Valley since 2006, though the true toll is likely much higher.

THE BARRIERS THAT STAND IN THEIR WAY

Here’s what makes these roads particularly dangerous:

• Monterey Road is a four-lane road with a five-foot-high median barrier running down the center. It’s next to the Union Pacific Railroad, which also serves Caltrain, Amtrak, and freight and is the planned route for California High-Speed Rail.
• U.S. 101 has four northbound and four southbound lanes across Coyote Valley, split by a median barrier. More than 120,000 vehicles traverse this stretch daily. 
• Cars pollute the landscape with light and noise, deterring wildlife from crossing. 

Without improved wildlife crossings, these barriers will continue to threaten biodiversity, and the resilience of our region’s ecosystems.

IMPROVING PASSAGE FOR PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE

POST is currently working on two feasibility studies, one for Monterey Road and one for U.S. 101. Eventually, the combined results will inform a wildlife permeability plan encompassing both areas. 

Wildlife Crossings Along Monterey Road

We are evaluating three locations for wildlife crossings along Monterey Road:

1. Tulare Swale – A depression at the base of Tulare Hill that opens up to Coyote Creek. 
2. Fisher Creek – Our top priority to advance and a key wildlife route that, with improvements, can become a safer crossing point.
3. Tulare Meadows – The largest flat expanse in North Coyote Valley, spanning about a mile of Monterey Road.

POST and our partners are considering a variety of crossing structures that would allow wildlife safe passage either above traffic or beneath roads and rail lines.

Wildlife Crossings Along U.S. 101

For U.S. 101, over 20 culverts and four large underpasses currently exist, but their conditions are not ideal. Sediment blocks some passageways, and others lack the vegetated cover that animals prefer for safe passage. 

Our early priorities include:

• improving sediment maintenance,
• restoring habitat around crossing structures, and
• adding directional fencing to keep animals off roadways and funnel them towards wildlife crossing structures. 

An analysis that’s currently underway will tell us whether we need to add and/or replace structures, and if so, where.

Collectively, these improvements will help ensure regional connectivity and reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions, making roads safer for all.

FROM VISION TO REALITY

Coyote Valley is joining a growing movement for wildlife-friendly transportation and landscape connectivity. Similar projects, like the Laurel Curve underpass on Highway 17, have already proven successful. These efforts are paving the way for upcoming crossings in San Benito County, Pacheco Pass, and Lexington Reservoir.

With $5 million in funding from the California Wildlife Conservation Board —along with support from the City of San José and private donors and foundations—POST is moving forward. These funds will support:

• Environmental review
• Engineering and planning work
• Advanced design and construction drawings

The goal? To have these projects construction-ready as soon as possible.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Together, we can ensure Coyote Valley remains a vibrant, connected landscape for generations.

• Stay informed – Follow POST and the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority for updates on this project.
• Explore Coyote Valley – Visit the region’s trails and learn about its natural history.
• Support conservation efforts – Whether through donations, advocacy, or volunteering, every effort makes a difference.