UCSC Natural Reserves - Younger Lagoon Reserve

Nature of Research/Program Description: 

The University of California Natural Reserve System (NRS) is a unique assemblage of 41 protected wild land sites throughout California. The reserves encompass nearly all of the state's major ecosystems, preserved in as undisturbed a condition as possible to support University-level research and teaching programs. The four NRS sites that form the UC Santa Cruz unit are spread along 60 miles of the central coast: Año Nuevo Island Reserve (25 acres), Landels-Hill Big Creek Reserve (4,200 acres), Fort Ord Natural Reserve (606 acres), Younger Lagoon Reserve (72 acres). The UCSC NRS also administers the UCSC Campus Natural Reserve (400 acres).      
                                

Younger Lagoon Reserve
Photo Credit: Christopher Woodcock

Younger Lagoon Reserve (YLR) represents a unique reserve within the UCSC’s Natural Reserve portfolio.  One of the few relatively undisturbed wetlands remaining on the California Central Coast, the Younger Lagoon Reserve encompasses a remnant Y-shaped lagoon on the open coast just north of Monterey Bay. The lagoon system provides protected habitat for 100 resident and migratory bird species. Reserve habitats include salt and freshwater marsh, coastal strand, backdune pickleweed flat, steep bluffs with dense coastal scrub, pocket beach, grassland, seasonal wetlands and dense willow thickets.  The location of the reserve (directly adjacent to UCSC’s Marine Science Campus on the urban westside of town) provides unparalleled opportunities for students to learn about the environment, implement field projects, obtain hands-on experience, and become actively involved in research and stewardship projects.  As a result, the Reserve serves as an outdoor classroom and living laboratory for hundreds of UCSC students and dozens of faculty on an annual basis. Additionally, a portion of the reserve has also become an informal recreational resource, highly valued and much used by campus and local community members. 

YLR staff and student interns are working to restore approximately 47 acres of former agricultural land to native grassland, scrub and seasonal wetland habitats over a 20-year period.  These lands were farmed for nearly 70 years, and restoration efforts require extensive weed control, propagation of native plants, planting and maintenance efforts (similar to farming or gardening, but in a wild-land setting).  Each quarter, the reserve sponsors dozens of undergraduate interns who participate in all aspects of restoration and stewardship activities.

Undergraduates participate as volunteers and research assistants in multiple projects.  Contact the program for current opportunities.  Projects include:

  • Native habitat restoration- Restoration of 47 acres of former agricultural land to native coastal prairie, scrub, and seasonal wetland habitats; much of this work is performed by UC Santa Cruz undergraduates.
  • Effects of native habitat restoration on vegetation communities and resident and migratory wildlife.
  • Water-quality monitoring of lagoon and seasonal wetlands.

Contact: Elizabeth Howard

Keywords: Monterey Bay; coastal habitat; habitat restoration; water-quality monitoring; wildlife; intern; credit

Location: 
Off-campus
Location Details: 
Adjacent to Long Marine Lab in Santa Cruz
Targeted Students/ Eligibity Requirements: 

Motivated students of any major eager to engage in hands-on-experiential learning and field research. Prior experience with plant and/or animal identification is helpful, though not mandatory.

Program Time Period: 
Academic Year
Summer
Winter Quarter
Spring Quarter
Fall Quarter
Compensation: 
Academic Credit
Paid
Stipend
Volunteer
Details: 
Occasional paid opportunities
Approximate Number of UCSC Students (Each Year): 
75-100
Contact: 
Elizabeth Howard
Contact Title: 
Director
Contact Email: 
eahoward@ucsc.edu
Program Goal(s): 
We utilize the unique physical setting of Younger Lagoon Reserve to allow students to become familiar with conservation science methods and applications in the realms of field ecology, land stewardship, and environmental education.
Reports/Articles/Videos: 
Major(s): 
Anthropology
Applied Physics
Art
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Bioengineering
Bioinformatics
Biology
Business Management Economics
Chemistry
Classical Studies
Cognitive Science
Computer Engineering
Computer Science
Computer Science: Computer Game Design
Earth Sciences
Ecology and Evolution
Economics
Education and Teaching
Electrical Engineering
Environmental Studies
Feminist Studies
Field and Exchange
Film and Digital Media
German Studies
Global Economics
History
History of Art and Visual Culture
Human Biology
Italian Studies
Jewish Studies
Language Studies
Latin American and Latino Studies
Legal Studies
Linguistics
Literature
Marine Biology
Mathematics
Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology
Music
Network and Digital Technology
Neuroscience
Philosophy
Physics
Physics (Astrophysics)
Physics Education
Plant Sciences
Politics
Prelaw
Premedicine
Psychology
Robotics Engineering
Sociology
Technology and Information Management
Theater Arts
Writing