Kat Hill interviewed by ABC 7

Pressroom

Pressroom

Media Inquiries

Welcome to the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority pressroom. 

If you are seeking information and imagery for educational purposes or media use, please reach out to the Public Information Manager.

Press Contact

Charlotte Graham

Public Information Manager

408-439-6541

News@openspaceauthority.org

A woman in a light blue shirt and sunglasses stands at a podium with the OSA logo speaking into a microphone at an outdoor event

Sign up for Media Updates

Be the first to receive breaking news and updates from the Open Space Authority. Sign up for our media list to receive press releases and media advisories by clicking here. 

brown and white specked burrowing owl surrounded by long green grass against a light brown background

Read Our Latest Newsletter

The Open Space Authority monthly e-newsletter shares important, timely events, information and fun facts about your open space preserves. Click here to read the latest newsletter!

In The News

External links to recent articles about the Open Space Authority
A green valley showcases a wetland, mountain ranges and grassy hillsides.

June 9, 2026 - The Mercury News

Voters approve new parcel tax for open space in Santa Clara County

Continuing the long trend of Silicon Valley voters supporting environmental issues, Measure D — a parcel tax to raise $17 million a year to buy new open space preserves, build trails and reduce fire danger across large swaths of Santa Clara County — has passed.

Read the full article here.

Large oak tree with huge branches covered in green leaves sits on top of a hill covered in golden grass in front of a blue sky and sun that is shining through its branches

June 9, 2026 - Silicon Valley Business Journal

Santa Clara County voters approve Measure D as citizen-led initiative secures funding

Santa Clara County voters approved Measure D, a parcel tax expected to generate about $17 million annually for wildfire prevention, open space preservation, water restoration and agricultural land preservation projects across the South Bay.

Read the full article here.

Proposed battery storage site (prime farm field) in Coyote Valley

June 1, 2026 - The Mercury News

Major battery storage project proposed in San José's Coyote Valley

Environmentalists, political leaders and parents at a nearby school oppose the plan for a Virginia energy company to build one of the largest battery storage plants in California in Coyote Valley.

Read the full article here.

A Tule elk approaches a green plant with purple flowers

April 24, 2026 - SFGate

Bay Area hikers are skipping crowds for this elk haven

Coyote Valley, the narrowest stretch between the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Diablo Range, hosts thousands of acres of farms, orchards and ranches. It’s also one of the few places to see a federally threatened species: Tule elk.

Read the full article here.

FAQ

Latest News

Press Releases & Media Advisories

Aerial View of Fisher Creek and Fisher's Bend

Northern California Public Media: Fisher Creek Women

Publish On
When a group of women environmentalists from Point Blue Conservation Science and Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority get together to plant native flora along a creek bank in Coyote Valley, the conversation turns to the role of women in conservation. Hear how they excel in nurturing and caring for the planet! For more information visit https://www.openspaceauthority.org and https://www.pointblue.org
Mike Flaugher along with fellow board members and OSA staff hold a framed certificate

The Mercury News: Milpitas Open Space Authority director dies

Publish On
Mike Flaugher, a longtime Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority director who represented Milpitas on the board, died on Saturday, Feb. 22. As director of District 2, Flaugher also represented communities from North San José and Berryessa. He first joined the authority as a member of the Citizen Advisory Committee in 2012 before being elected to the board in 2014.

Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority District 2 Director Mike Flaugher Passes

Publish On
San José, Calif. (February 24, 2025) - The Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority (the Authority) announces the passing of Mike Flaugher, Director of District 2 on Saturday, February 22. Director Flaugher represented communities from North San José, Berryessa and the City of Milpitas since 2014
A cornfield full of tall green crops with a row of sunflowers in the foreground, under a pink cloudy sunrise

The Mercury News: California Senate Bill takes aim at saving farm lands

Publish On
Amid a push by local leaders to conserve farmlands and open spaces in the Bay Area from future development, state senator David Cortese has introduced a bill that would shore up funding to preserve agricultural land throughout the state despite the measure’s uncertain financial outlook.