Land Trust Purchases 9.82 Acres

Rare Sand Parkland in Scotts Valley Protected from Development

The Land Trust of Santa Cruz County purchased 9.82 acres of Sand Parkland bordering Quail Hollow County Park near Zayante Creek on April 20. Sand Parkland is a rare sub-habitat of the Sandhills and is unique to Santa Cruz County’s San Lorenzo region. The purchase will permanently protect the land from development.

“We protect land for a variety of purposes and in this case, the seven plants and animals that live here, and nowhere else on Earth, take precedence over desired human use” said Land Trust President Terry Corwin.

Rare Sandhills species include the Mount Hermon June Beetle, Zayante Band-winged Grasshopper, Santa Cruz Kangaroo Rat, the Ben Lomond Spineflower, Santa Cruz Wallflower, Bonny Doon (Silverleaf) Manzanita, and Ben Lomond Buckwheat. Biologist Peter Raven likened the Sandhills to the Galapagos because of its biological diversity.

Dr. Jodi McGraw, ecologist and lead scientist for the development of the Land Trust’s 25-year Conservation Blueprint (2011), began working with the Land Trust in 2004. Dr. McGraw’s Sandhills Protection Plan guides the Land Trust’s ongoing effort to protect Sand Parkland in the greater San Lorenzo area.

To date, the Land Trust has protected six properties totaling 291 acres of Sandhills habitat, including the 189-acre Randall Morgan Sandhills Preserve in Scotts Valley.

Corwin added that the Land Trust hopes to transfer the Sand Parkland property to the county one day, to be incorporated into Quail Hollow Ranch County Park.

In 2009, the Land Trust sought grants from the Wildlife Conservation Board and the US Fish and Wildlife Service to protect three Sandhills properties, totaling 221 acres. $116,800 remained from the grant which allowed the Land Trust to seek the protection of the Sand Parkland property. Total purchase price for the property was $350,000, and the Land Trust’s commitment, $233,200.

The Land Trust of Santa Cruz County was formed in 1978 by local residents concerned about protecting the lands that make Santa Cruz County special, the Land Trust has protected more than 13,500 acres by working with willing landowners and conservation partners. The trust protects both working lands, like farms and timberland, and natural lands with high conservation value — thus protecting water supplies, wildlife habitats, and open space. Visit www.LandTrustSantaCruz.org for more information.

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The Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) was created by legislation in 1947 to administer a capital outlay program for wildlife conservation and related public recreation with authority and funding to carry out an acquisition and development program for wildlife conservation. WCB consists of the President of the Fish and Game Commission, the Director of the Department of Fish and Game and the Director of the Department of Finance. The Legislative Advisory Committee consists of three members of the Senate and three members of the Assembly, which meet with WCB providing legislative oversight.

WCB’s three main functions are land acquisition, habitat restoration and development of wildlife oriented public access facilities, which are carried out through its programs.