New Gavilan campus would destroy wildlife corridor

The vote by the Gavilan College board of trustees to approve the construction of a 10,000-student campus in the heart of Coyote Valley will permanently destroy a key wildlife corridor in the region. Most troubling is the failure of the college leadership and consultants to use a sound scientific approach to evaluating the environmental impact. In this case, sound science shows their assessment was wrong.

The De Anza College wildlife corridor stewardship team of students and instructors has been studying wildlife movement across Coyote Valley. Over 18 months, using field wildlife tracking techniques and observation, infrared cameras and GPS units, the team verified movement by mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, badgers, deer and other animals. More than 165 bird species, including bald eagles and 16 other species of raptors, were identified.

A "core" area of this wildlife corridor is the 55 acres that Gavilan plans for development. The increased traffic on Bailey Avenue, Santa Teresa Boulevard and Monterey Highway in South San Jose will be devastating to wildlife movement.

The corridor has valuable riparian habitat, seasonal wetlands and native plants and is a vital watershed. Coyote Valley is a rare ecological reserve and critical wildlife corridor for many species between the Diablo Range and the Santa Cruz Mountains. Thousands of people experience Coyote Valley firsthand through hiking, biking, birdwatching and wildlife.