Developer scales back plan for controversial sand mining operation after county report

by Olivia Wynkoop, Bay City News September 1, 2022August 31, 2022

Flowers bloom in the hills around Sargent Ranch southwest of Gilroy in an undated image. The Amah Mutsun Tribal Band refers to the area as Juristac, which is the proposed site for a sand and gravel quarry mining operation the tribe says will destroy its sacred lands and harm wildlife. (Photo courtesy of Protect Juristac)

A controversial proposed sand and gravel mine project in Santa Clara County is being scaled back following public outcry and a draft environmental report from the county.

Sargent Ranch is a 6,200-acre plot of undeveloped land four miles south of Gilroy. After longstanding owners filed for bankruptcy in 2013, the new property owners are asking the county’s permission to use less than 8 percent of the land to mine 40 million tons of sand and gravel for local concrete and asphalt production.

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