| |
|
 |
Younger |
Contact Information
Gage Dayton
UCSC Natural Reserves
c/o ENVS Nat. Sci. II
1156 High Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
Phone: 831-459-4971
ghdayton@ucsc.edu |
| |
Location
Santa Cruz County, 4.5 mi from
main Santa Cruz campus in Westside
Santa Cruz; adjacent to the UC Santa
Cruz Long Marine Laboratory (LML).
Map Quest |
| |
Facilities
Observation platform and access trail
provide wheelchair access and full view of
beach area without disturbance to wildlife
or plants (and another overlook is planned);
no on-site housing or laboratory facilities;
site best suited for day use. |
| |
Databases
Annotated checklist of over 100 bird species
documented on site available through the
reserve director (see Contact Information
below). Observed/expected lists available
for vertebrate species and plants as well. |
| |
Personnel
Reserve director and steward on Santa
Cruz campus. |
| |
Size
10 ha (26 acres) |
| |
Elevation
0 to 15 m (50 ft) |
| |
Average Precipitation
62 cm (24 in) per year |
| |
Average Temperature
Winter: 12°C (54°F)
Summer: 15°C (59°F) |
| |
 Transect
Articles
specific
to Younger |
| |
 Mathias
Grant Research
specific
to Younger |
| |
Site Spec Sheet (PDF) |
|
| |
|
|
<••• •••> |
|
Lagoon Reserve |
Established in 1987 |
 |
|
| Younger Website |
| |
 One of the few relatively undisturbed wetlands remaining on the California
Central Coast, the Younger Lagoon Reserve encompasses a remnant Yshaped
lagoon on the open coast just north of Monterey Bay. Portions of a freestanding sea wall remain. Most of the time, the lagoon is cut off from the ocean by
a barrier sand and rock bar. Infrequently, the mouth of Younger Lagoon opens to
ocean waters. The lagoon system provides protected habitat for 100 resident and
migratory bird species. Approximately 25 species of water and land birds breed at
the reserve, while more than 60 migratory bird species overwinter or stop there to
rest and feed. Opossums, weasels, brush rabbits, and harvest mice are known to
occupy the lagoon; gray and also red foxes and bobcats have been sighted. Reserve
habitats include salt and freshwater marsh, backdune pickleweed flat, steep bluffs
with dense coastal scrub, pocket beach, grassland, and dense willow thickets. These
provide outstanding opportunities for research and teaching. Diverse university
courses using the site include environmental field methods, field sketching,
restoration ecology, ornithology, environmental planning and policy, biology,
natural history, environmental toxicology, plant systematics, independent studies,
and senior theses. |
|
| |
Photo Gallery
Habitat restoration
Removal of invasive poison hemlock; development of a mature, diverse coastal scrub; some of this work performed by UC Santa Cruz undergraduates. Water-quality monitoring:
Future development of a sampling program for lagoon waters.
Field courses
Site visits by university courses in wetland delineation, botany, and plants of the high country.
Environmental monitoring
Spring discharge at reserve monitored to assess effects of groundwater pumping by local Mammoth Lakes community; monitoring spring flows in Mammoth Creek; reserve manager monitors development in surrounding area and participates in local planning. |
|
| |
Selected Research
• Effects of adjacent developments on
vegetation communities and resident
and migratory wildlife.
• Environmental impacts of lagoon
isolation. |
|
|
