Sandhills/Mayer

Area: 1 acre

Location: Unincorporated Santa Cruz County, California

Date Acquired: 2002

Acquisition Type: CNLM holds a conservation easement to protect imperiled species and habitats that exist on the preserve in perpetuity. The preserve is owned by third party.

Key Habitats:  Zayante Sandhills Ecosystem

Species of Special Interest to CNLM:  Mount Hermon June beetle (Polyphylla barbata) , Ben Lomond spineflower (Chorizanthe pungens var. hartwegiana)  and Santa Cruz wallflower (Erysimum teretifolium) .

Introduction

The Center for Natural Lands Management was granted a Perpetual Conservation Easement Grant in 2002 over 1.0 acre to mitigate for development of a single family residence. The San Lorenzo Valley Water District (SLVWD) owns the land on which the Conservation Easement was established. The property is managed under a Habitat Conservation Plan and Management Agreement.

Conservation Significance

The Preserve is located approximately 1.5 miles northeast of Felton in unincorporated Santa Cruz County, California. The site supports sand hills habitats endemic to areas with Zayante Soils in Santa Cruz County. The Preserve is occupied by the Mount Hermon June beetle (Polyphylla barbata) and Ben Lomond spineflower (Chorizanthe pungens var. hartwegiana), which are listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act. The Preserve also supports the Santa Cruz wallflower (Erysimum teretifolium), which is listed as endangered under both federal and state Endangered Species Acts.

Our Work

The landowners carry out management for access control and fence maintenance, while CNLM conducts photo documentation and invasive exotic species control.