Hanson Felton

Area: 22 Acres

Location: Felton, Santa Cruz County

Date Acquired: 1999-2000

Acquisition Type: CNLM holds a conservation easement and a long-term agreement with the land owner or third party.

Key Habitats: Zayante Sandhills Ecosystem

Species of Special Interest to CNLM:
Mount Hermon Junebeetle (Polyphylla barbata), Zayante band-winged grasshopper (Trimerotropis infantilis) Santa Cruz wallflower (Erysimum teretifolium), Ben Lomond spineflower (Chorizanthe pungens var. hartwegiana), Santa Cruz kangaroo rat (Dipodomys venustus venustus)

Introduction

The Hanson Felton Quarry Preserve consists of two parcels in Santa Cruz County. These include the West Perimeter Set-Aside Area (WPSA), which consists of 16 acres adjacent to an active quarry, and the Freeman Conservation Easement (six acres). The Felton Quarry Preserve was set aside between 1999 and 2000 under the terms of a Habitat Conservation Plan regarding the expansion of quarrying operations at Hanson Aggregates’ Felton Plant. The Preserve provides habitat for two federally endangered insects: the Mount Hermon Junebeetle (Polyphylla barbata) and the Zayante band-winged grasshopper (Trimerotropis infantilis). The locally rare Santa Cruz kangaroo rat (Dipodomys venustus venustus) was confirmed in the WPSA for the first time in 2010 and has been documented regularly ever since. The Center for Natural Lands Management (CNLM) holds conservation easements for both parcels and  gained perpetual management responsibilities in September 2014.

Conservation Significance

The Felton Quarry Preserve is situated in the sand hills of Santa Cruz County, a unique community of plants and animals found on outcrops of marine sand deposits concentrated near the towns of Felton, Ben Lomond, Scotts Valley, and Bonny Doon. The Mount Hermon Junebeetle and Zayante band-winged grasshopper are endemic to these communities and are foundnowhere else.

The locally rare Santa Cruz kangaroo rat was confirmed in 2010. In addition, two federally endangered plants endemic to the sandhillsare present on the Preserve, including the Santa Cruz wallflower (Erysimum teretifolium) and the Ben Lomond spineflower (Chorizanthe pungens var. hartwegiana). The habitats at the West Perimeter Set-Aside Area include northern maritime chaparral and ponderosa pineforest, while the Freeman Conservation Easement consists primarily of northern maritime chaparral and live-oak woodland.

Our Work

CNLM gains responsibility for management of the Felton Quarry Preserve in September 2014 and funding for the Preserve  is provided  from an endowment established by Hanson Aggregates.The management goals are focused primarily on maintaining habitat suitability for the Mount Hermon June beetle and Zayante band-winged grasshopper. To achieve these goals a number of  strategies are employed  including control of invasive species, such as Portuguese broom (Cytisus striatus) and french broom (Genista monspessulana), and control of trespass by off-road vehicles by fence upkeep and repairs. Focused surveys for the endangered insects are conducted to determine their status on the parcels.

Public Access

Due to the vulnerability of the species and habitats that exist on this Preserve, it is not open to the public.