Bodega Marine Lab, Bodega Marine Reserve

The University of California Natural Reserve System (UCNRS) is a system of protected areas throughout California.[1] The reserves support UC's mission of teaching, research, and public service. Unlike national and state parks, they are not available for recreational uses, because they were specifically created to enable UC scientists to conduct research free from such distractions.

The system began with UC Berkeley zoology professor Joseph Grinnell. In 1937, near the end of his career, Grinnell began to work on a proposal to establish UC's first wildland field station for zoology teaching and research. He had initially looked to the U.S. national parks for research sites, but became frustrated with the National Park Service and how its other priorities often got in the way of his priorities. Grinnell became convinced that only a natural reserve owned by the university itself "would provide the permanent protection necessary for long-term teaching, research, and monitoring of California's ecosystems."[2]

Grinnell did not live long enough to see his proposal succeed. In May 1939, two weeks after Grinnell's sudden death from a heart attack, the Regents of the University of California voted to accept his proposal and created the oldest reserve in the system, Hastings Natural History Reservation.[2]

On January 22, 1965, at the suggestion of Kenneth S. Norris, the UC Board of Regents voted to formally join Hastings and six other reserves into the Natural Land and Water Reserves System.[3] In 1970, it was renamed the Natural Reserve System.[4] In 2026, the organization was renamed UC Nature.[5]

List of reserves

Reserve Campus Area (ha) Area (Acre) Coordinates Web Notes
Angelo Coast Range ReserveBerkeley1,7554,33639°43′45″N 123°38′40″W / 39.72917°N 123.64444°W / 39.72917; -123.64444 (Angelo Coast Range Reserve)[6]On the South Fork of the Eel River.
Protected by The Nature Conservancy (TNC).
Año Nuevo Island ReserveSanta Cruz102537°6′30″N 122°20′10″W / 37.10833°N 122.33611°W / 37.10833; -122.33611 (Año Nuevo Island Reserve)[7]UC manages site within the larger Año Nuevo State Reserve, owned and operated by California State Parks.
Blue Oak Ranch ReserveBerkeley1,3193,25937°22′53″N 121°44′14″W / 37.38139°N 121.73722°W / 37.38139; -121.73722 (Blue Oak Ranch Reserve)[8]In the Diablo Range, northwest of Mount Hamilton.
Bodega Marine ReserveDavis14636238°18′25″N 123°3′54″W / 38.30694°N 123.06500°W / 38.30694; -123.06500 (Bodega Marine Reserve)[9]On Bodega Bay.
Box Springs ReserveRiverside6516033°59′31″N 117°17′43″W / 33.99194°N 117.29528°W / 33.99194; -117.29528 (Box Springs Reserve)[10]Adjacent to UC Riverside.
Philip L. Boyd Deep Canyon Desert Research CenterRiverside2,4776,12233°35′N 116°20′W / 33.583°N 116.333°W / 33.583; -116.333 (Boyd Deep Canyon Desert Research Center)[11]In the Santa Rosa Mountains, near Palm Desert.
Burns Piñon Ridge ReserveIrvine12932034°8′20″N 116°27′10″W / 34.13889°N 116.45278°W / 34.13889; -116.45278 (Burns Piñon Ridge Reserve)[12]In the Mojave Desert, near Joshua Tree National Park.
Carpinteria Salt Marsh ReserveSanta Barbara4912034°24′N 119°31′W / 34.400°N 119.517°W / 34.400; -119.517 (Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve)[13]In Carpinteria.
Chickering American River ReserveBerkeley6,82916,87539°14′48″N 120°19′31″W / 39.24667°N 120.32528°W / 39.24667; -120.32528 (Chickering American River Reserve)[14]In the headwaters basin of the North Fork of the American River, Sierra Nevada.
Coal Oil Point Natural ReserveSanta Barbara6817034°25′N 119°52′W / 34.417°N 119.867°W / 34.417; -119.867 (Coal Oil Point Natural Reserve)[15]Adjacent to the Santa Barbara campus. Coal Oil Point seep field is offshore.
Dawson Los Monos Canyon ReserveSan Diego9523433°8′30″N 117°15′20″W / 33.14167°N 117.25556°W / 33.14167; -117.25556 (Dawson Los Monos Canyon Reserve)[16]Within the town of Vista.
Elliott Chaparral ReserveSan Diego7418332°52′6″N 117°8′33″W / 32.86833°N 117.14250°W / 32.86833; -117.14250 (Elliott Chaparral Reserve)[17]At former Camp Kearny, on the Kearny Mesa.
Emerson Oaks ReserveRiverside9824133°28′N 117°2′W / 33.467°N 117.033°W / 33.467; -117.033 (Emerson Oaks Reserve)[18]In the Temecula Valley, southern Riverside County. Protected by TNC.
Fort Ord Natural ReserveSanta Cruz24560536°40′N 121°46′W / 36.667°N 121.767°W / 36.667; -121.767 (Fort Ord Natural Reserve)[19]At the former Fort Ord, near Monterey Bay.
Hastings Natural History ReservationBerkeley9602,37336°12′30″N 121°33′30″W / 36.20833°N 121.55833°W / 36.20833; -121.55833 (Hastings Natural History Reservation)[20]In the Santa Lucia Mountains, upper Carmel Valley.
James San Jacinto Mountains ReserveRiverside7719033°48′30″N 116°46′40″W / 33.80833°N 116.77778°W / 33.80833; -116.77778 (James San Jacinto Mountains Reserve)[21]In the San Jacinto Mountains.
Satellite site Oasis de los Osos (west end of the Coachella Valley) protected by TNC.
Hans Jenny Pygmy Forest ReserveBerkeley287039°17′N 123°45′W / 39.283°N 123.750°W / 39.283; -123.750 (Hans Jenny Pygmy Forest Reserve)[22]Above the coast in Mendocino County.
Protected by TNC.
Jepson Prairie ReserveDavis6341,56638°16′N 121°49′W / 38.267°N 121.817°W / 38.267; -121.817 (Jepson Prairie Reserve)[23]In the Central Valley.
Protected by TNC and the Solano Land Trust.
Kendall-Frost Mission Bay Marsh ReserveSan Diego82132°47′N 117°13′W / 32.783°N 117.217°W / 32.783; -117.217 (Kendall-Frost Mission Bay Marsh Reserve)[24]On Mission Bay.
Kenneth S. Norris Rancho Marino ReserveSanta Barbara20250035°31′41″N 121°4′35″W / 35.52806°N 121.07639°W / 35.52806; -121.07639 (Kenneth S. Norris Rancho Marino Reserve)[25]Coast near Cambria.
Landels-Hill Big Creek ReserveSanta Cruz1,5843,91136°4′N 121°35′W / 36.067°N 121.583°W / 36.067; -121.583 (Landels-Hill Big Creek Reserve)[26]In the Santa Lucia Mountains, along the Big Sur coast.
TNC involved in the protection of this site.
Lassen Field Station Davis N/A N/A 40°20′48″N 121°36′29″W / 40.34667°N 121.60806°W / 40.34667; -121.60806 (Kenneth S. Norris Rancho Marino Reserve) An agreement with the National Park Service makes Lassen Volcanic National Park available to users.
McLaughlin Natural ReserveDavis2,8007,05038°52′N 122°24′W / 38.867°N 122.400°W / 38.867; -122.400 (McLaughlin Natural Reserve)[27]Within the Blue Ridge Berryessa Natural Area.
Merced Vernal Pools and Grassland Reserve Merced 2,656 6,561 37°22′31″N 120°24′47″W / 37.3753°N 120.413°W / 37.3753; -120.413 (Merced Vernal Pools and Grassland Reserve) [28] Next to the UC Merced campus
Motte Rimrock ReserveRiverside28971533°48′45″N 117°15′30″W / 33.81250°N 117.25833°W / 33.81250; -117.25833 (Motte Rimrock Reserve)[29]In western Perris Valley, Peninsular Ranges.
Point Reyes Field Station Berkeley N/A N/A 37°59′48″N 122°42′12″W / 37.99667°N 122.70333°W / 37.99667; -122.70333 (Motte Rimrock Reserve) [30] Within Point Reyes National Seashore.
Quail Ridge ReserveDavis1,0112,50038°28′59″N 122°8′58″W / 38.48306°N 122.14944°W / 38.48306; -122.14944 (Quail Ridge Reserve)[31]Near the Blue Ridge Berryessa Natural Area. QuRiNet deployed here.
Sagehen Creek Field StationBerkeley3,6429,00039°25′57″N 120°14′13″W / 39.43250°N 120.23694°W / 39.43250; -120.23694 (Sagehen Creek Field Station)[32]In the northern Sierra Nevada, near Truckee and north of Lake Tahoe.
Operated by the University of California under a long-term special-use permit from the U.S. Forest Service.
San Joaquin Marsh ReserveIrvine8220233°39′30″N 117°51′30″W / 33.65833°N 117.85833°W / 33.65833; -117.85833 (San Joaquin Freshwater Marsh Reserve)[33]Upper Newport Bay.
Santa Cruz Island ReserveSanta Barbara18,62446,02034°0′N 119°44′W / 34.000°N 119.733°W / 34.000; -119.733 (Santa Cruz Island Reserve)[34]Santa Cruz Island.
Protected, owned, and managed by TNC.
Scripps Coastal ReserveSan Diego34284432°52′30″N 117°15′15″W / 32.87500°N 117.25417°W / 32.87500; -117.25417 (Scripps Coastal Reserve)[35]Adjacent to the UC San Diego Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
Sedgwick ReserveSanta Barbara2,3585,89634°42′N 120°1′W / 34.700°N 120.017°W / 34.700; -120.017 (Sedgwick Reserve)[36]In the Santa Ynez Valley and the foothills of the San Rafael Mountains.
Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory Santa Barbara 22.6 56 37°36′50″N 118°49′56″W / 37.61389°N 118.83222°W / 37.61389; -118.83222 (Valentine Eastern Sierra Reserve) [37] South of the town of Mammoth Lakes and southwest of the Mammoth Yosemite Airport. Land is leased from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.
Stebbins Cold Canyon ReserveDavis23358338°30′32″N 122°5′50″W / 38.50889°N 122.09722°W / 38.50889; -122.09722 (Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve)[38]Within the Blue Ridge Berryessa Natural Area.
Steele/Burnand Anza-Borrego Desert Research CenterIrvine35.68833°24′N 116°39′W / 33.400°N 116.650°W / 33.400; -116.650 (Steele Burnand Anza-Borrego Desert Research Center)[39]An agreement with Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and the Anza-Borrego Foundation makes the park, which is managed by California State Parks, available to field station users.
Strathearn Ranch Reserve Santa Cruz 1,093 2,700 36°50′2″N 121°9′48″W / 36.83389°N 121.16333°W / 36.83389; -121.16333 (Sedgwick Reserve) [40] Near Hollister.
Stunt Ranch Santa Monica Mountains ReserveLos Angeles12631034°6′N 118°39′W / 34.100°N 118.650°W / 34.100; -118.650 (Stunt Ranch Santa Monica Mountains Reserve)[41]In Los Angeles County, within the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.
Sweeney Granite Mountains Desert Research CenterRiverside3,6009,00034°48′20″N 115°39′50″W / 34.80556°N 115.66389°W / 34.80556; -115.66389 (Sweeney Granite Mountains Desert Research Center)[42]In the Granite Mountains, within the Mojave National Preserve.
Valentine CampSanta Barbara6215437°37′47″N 118°59′44″W / 37.62972°N 118.99556°W / 37.62972; -118.99556 (Valentine Eastern Sierra Reserve)[43]Within the town of Mammoth Lakes.
White Mountain Research CenterLos Angeles184537°21′41″N 118°19′36″W / 37.36139°N 118.32667°W / 37.36139; -118.32667 (White Mountain Research Center)[44]Five research facilities ranging from the Owens Valley to the highest point of the White-Inyo Mountains east of the town of Bishop.
Yosemite Field StationMercedN/AN/A37°32′23″N 119°39′29″W / 37.53972°N 119.65806°W / 37.53972; -119.65806 (Sierra Nevada Research Institute--Yosemite Field Station)[45]An agreement with the National Park Service makes Yosemite National Park, Sierra Nevada available to users.
Younger Lagoon ReserveSanta Cruz102636°57′3″N 122°3′57″W / 36.95083°N 122.06583°W / 36.95083; -122.06583 (Younger Lagoon Reserve)[46]The northwest edge of Monterey Bay on the west side of the city of Santa Cruz.

References

  1. ↑ "University of California Natural Reserve System—UCNRS". The Regents of the University of California. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
  2. 1 2 Alagona, Peter S. (2013). "Evolution of the UC Natural Reserves: An Introduction". In Fiedler, Peggy L.; Rumsey, Susan Gee; Wong, Kathleen M. (eds.). The Environmental Legacy of the UC Natural Reserve System. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 9–29. ISBN 9780520272002. Retrieved March 24, 2023. (at p. 10.)
  3. ↑ Alagona, Peter S. (2013). "Evolution of the UC Natural Reserves: An Introduction". In Fiedler, Peggy L.; Rumsey, Susan Gee; Wong, Kathleen M. (eds.). The Environmental Legacy of the UC Natural Reserve System. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 9–29. ISBN 9780520272002. Retrieved March 24, 2023. (at p. 12.)
  4. ↑ "The Environmental Legacy of the UC Natural Reserve System by Peggy Fiedler, Susan Rumsey, Kathleen Wong - ePub + PDF". University of California Press. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Introducing UC Nature - UC Nature". April 10, 2026. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  6. ↑ Angelo Coast Range Reserve
  7. ↑ Año Nuevo Island Reserve
  8. ↑ Blue Oak Ranch Reserve
  9. ↑ Bodega Marine Reserve
  10. ↑ Box Springs Reserve Archived 2009-10-22 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ↑ Philip L. Boyd Deep Canyon Desert Research Center
  12. ↑ Burns Piñon Ridge Reserve
  13. ↑ Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve
  14. ↑ Chickering American River Reserve Archived 2008-05-16 at the Wayback Machine
  15. ↑ Coal Oil Point Natural Reserve
  16. ↑ Dawson Los Monos Canyon Reserve
  17. ↑ Elliott Chaparral Reserve
  18. ↑ Emerson Oaks Reserve
  19. ↑ Fort Ord Natural Reserve
  20. ↑ Hastings Natural History Reservation
  21. ↑ James San Jacinto Mountains Reserve
  22. ↑ Hans Jenny Pygmy Forest Reserve
  23. ↑ Jepson Prairie Reserve
  24. ↑ Kendall-Frost Mission Bay Marsh Reserve
  25. ↑ Kenneth S. Norris Rancho Marino Reserve
  26. ↑ Landels-Hill Big Creek Reserve
  27. ↑ McLaughlin Natural Reserve
  28. ↑ "Field Station Planned for UC Merced's Vernal Pools and Grassland Reserve | Newsroom". news.ucmerced.edu. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  29. ↑ Motte Rimrock Reserve
  30. ↑ "Point Reyes Field Station – A hub for research and education in the heart of Olema Valley". pointreyes.berkeley.edu. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  31. ↑ "Quail Ridge Reserve". Archived from the original on June 27, 2009. Retrieved February 6, 2007.
  32. ↑ Sagehen Creek Field Station
  33. ↑ San Joaquin Freshwater Marsh Reserve
  34. ↑ Santa Cruz Island Reserve
  35. ↑ Scripps Coastal Reserve
  36. ↑ Sedgwick Reserve
  37. ↑ "Home - Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory". July 1, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  38. ↑ Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve
  39. ↑ Steele Burnand Anza-Borrego Desert Research Center
  40. ↑ "Strathearn Ranch Reserve Joins UC Nature - UC Nature". November 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  41. ↑ Stunt Ranch Santa Monica Mountains Reserve
  42. ↑ Sweeney Granite Mountains Desert Research Center
  43. ↑ Valentine Eastern Sierra Reserve
  44. ↑ White Mountain Research Center
  45. ↑ Yosemite Field Station
  46. ↑ Younger Lagoon Reserve

Further reading

allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_California_Natural_Reserve_System