How Coyote Valley's Fisher Creek Became a Conservation Priority

At first glance, Fisher Creek might seem like a modest, tree-lined ribbon of water winding through open fields. But look a little closer, and you’ll see signs of a much bigger story — paw prints in the mud, a rustle in the brush, a sudden burst of wings from the creek bed. This small waterway is doing big work, helping wildlife move safely across the valley floor and offering a rare chance to restore a historic landscape. 

Over the years, POST and our partners have been steadily piecing together a clearer picture of how this creek supports animal movement, connects habitats, and fits into the Valley’s broader hydrologic system. It’s a story of resilience, discovery, and restoration — and it’s far from over. Here’s how POST’s focus on Fisher Creek has grown over time — and why it matters for the future of Coyote Valley.

What makes Coyote Valley so important? My colleague Megan Nguyen interviewed me alongside Marian Vernon, our Wildlife Linkages Program Manager:

An Entirely Man-Made Feature

In nature, creeks form gradually. First, water—think rain, snowmelt, or springs—flows downhill. Over time, that flowing water shapes the landscape, creating a natural path that deepens and widens, finding its own winding course. Most creeks are the result of thousands of years of water following the same path.

But Fisher Creek has a different kind of origin story. It cropped up on the landscape quite rapidly, and it’s an entirely man-made feature.  Just over 100 years ago, in 1916, settlers built it to dry out roughly 1,200 acres of wetlands and wet meadows in Coyote Valley to make the land suitable for agriculture. This transformation redirected water that once nourished local ecosystems and recharged the aquifer, instead channeling it into Coyote Creek. (Sidenote: An unintended consequence of this action was worsening flood risks downstream in San Jose.) But nature is resilient. Over time, the landscape adapted, and Fisher Creek evolved into a vital feature of the valley’s ecology.

Here are some traveling wildlife we’ve spotted at Fisher Creek, thanks to photographer Vishal Subramanyan:

A Key Link in a Larger Landscape

In fact, Fisher Creek is central to POST’s work in Coyote Valley. This relatively small area connects and supports the resilience of more than 1.13 million acres of protected open spaces and core habitats. As a key feature of this landscape linkage, the creek has long been on our radar. And over time, our understanding of its importance — and our investment in its protection — has only deepened.

How Science Guided Our Conservation Strategies

We were first inspired to focus more closely on Fisher Creek following a 2016 study that identified it as an especially important pathway for mammals. Since then, POST and our partners have worked to expand our knowledge of how animals are using the corridor and what conditions they need to thrive. The more we learned, the more we realized how critical this stretch of land is to the long-term survival of Bay Area wildlife.

That knowledge helped drive our decision to protect two key properties along the creek: the 63-acre Fisher’s Bend and the 30-acre Fisher Flats. Both contain valuable creek frontage and are part of the puzzle of preserving this “last chance” landscape. Turns out, we were just getting started.

Today, we’re on the cusp of a landmark conservation story. Thanks to tireless efforts by local organizations and community members, there are over 1,500 acres of permanently protected valley-floor lands in Coyote Valley. Now, the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority is working with POST and the City of San José on the Coyote Valley Conservation Areas Master Plan (CVCAMP) — a big-picture plan for Laguna Seca and other recently protected lands in Coyote Valley. Together, we’re shaping the future of this vital region, with even more protected lands expected to be added in the coming years.

Cruising Creatures Caught on Camera

Footage collected by wildlife cameras in the area affirms what we suspected all along: Fisher Creek is pulsing with life. We’ve documented multiple bobcats cruising the corridor, along with coyotes, opossums, and raccoons.  The creek corridor is also important for birds, including raptors like red-shouldered hawks, white-tailed kites, and kestrels. These sightings offer a glimpse into the dynamic, diverse creatures who depend on this habitat. We conducted this work via our partnerships with the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority, Wilmers Lab at UC Santa Cruz, California Department of Fish & Wildlife, Santa Clara Valley Habitat Agency, and Pathways for Wildlife. With funding from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, we tracked bobcats via radio collars and placed motion-activated cameras throughout the valley — including several along the Fisher Creek corridor.

Studying Groundwater

Fisher Creek also figures into our ongoing efforts to restore nearby Laguna Seca, one of the Bay Area’s largest freshwater wetlands. You see, water in Coyote Valley still moves through a connected system. Fisher Creek, Laguna Seca, and Coyote Creek (which is fed by Anderson Reservoir) all affect each other. When water levels are low in one, they’re usually low in the others too — and the same goes when water is high. That means by studying groundwater in Coyote Valley, we get a better idea of how the whole water system is working. It helps us keep a closer eye on the health of this living landscape.

What’s Ahead

Looking ahead, we’re collaborating with partners to identify ways to restore and enhance habitat along Fisher Creek. But looking back, it’s clear why we chose to focus here. Fisher Creek is more than just a waterway — it’s a thread that ties together the valley’s ecological future.

Stay tuned as we continue to learn from this complex and critically important landscape — and work to protect it before it’s too late.