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The Zayante Sandhills are Unique and Rare
The endemic sandhill species are rare due to their limited geographic
range, found only in Santa Cruz County and only on outcrops of sandy
soils derived from marine deposits. (McGraw*)
Habitat destruction due to quarrying, development and
agriculture has reduced and fragmented habitat. (McGraw*)
Historically, Zayante sandhills habitat was estimated to
have covered 6,265 acres (Lee 1994). When the Mount Hermon June beetle
was listed as an endangered species in January, 1997, an estimated 40
percent of its habitat had been lost and only 3,608 acres remained.
Today, even less Sandhills habitat remains mostly due to residential
development. (USFWS***)
Approximately 207 acres of sand habitat parkland remain, and
57 acres have the open structure required to support many unique
sandhill endangered species. (McGraw*)
Recreation more negatively impacts native biodiversity in
the sandhills than other system. (McGraw*)
Property
Owners in the Sandhills Need Mitigation
Landowners with a federally threatened or endangered species on their
property are struggling to meet local, state, and Federal regulatory
requirements. (USFWS***)
Santa Cruz County harbors a number species that are provided
Federal protection under the Endangered Species Act, many private
landowners are in need of an incidental take permit (ITP) to legally
conduct activities that would result in death or harm of those species.
(USFWS***)
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are developing an
interim-programmatic HCP (IPHCP) for the Mount Hermon June Beetle, Ben
Lomond wallflower, and Ben Lomond spineflower to be used for small
development projects proposed in the sandhills region for areas within
existing, dense residential development. (USFWS***)
Mitigation lands are needed for both the IPHCP and Regional
HCP projects. (USFWS***)
Conservation Bank Property is High-Quality Habitat
Zayante Sandhills Conservation Bank is situated in the approximate
central core or middle of the Zayante sandhills containing over 200 acres.
(Arnold 2004**)
The Bank properties support a number of federally or state-listed
endangered species of animals and plants, plus other plants that are
treated as endangered species under CEQA. (Arnold 2004**)
The proposed bank includes 52.013 acres of prime sand parkland habitat
and 10.905 acres of degraded parkland, which will be managed for
restoration. (Arnold 2004**)
19 of the 24 endangered, rare, endemic, or unusual plant taxa are
present on the proposed conservation bank site. (Arnold 2004**)
65% of the bank site supports native plant communities that have
experienced limited anthropogenic disturbance. (Arnold 2004**)
Mount Hermon June beetle and the Zayante Band Wing grasshopper have
known breeding habitat areas at the bank properties and the neighboring
properties. (Arnold 2004**)
Increased
Conservation Bank Management Plan Restoration Efforts
35% of the bank consists of areas that have been disturbed, including
mining activities that have removed Zayante sands. (Arnold 2004**)
Endowment funds are required to manage and monitor the land in
perpetuity. (USFWS***)
Restoration enhancement projects designed to increase the abundance and
distribution of endemic plant species and to increase populations in
animal endangered species. (McGraw*)
Biodiversity research and strategies are needed to develop additional
knowledge in preserved habitat. (McGraw*)
Develop ongoing education to increase sandhill awareness. (McGraw*)
More Information:
Sandhills - Rare & Unique
Sandhills - Habitat Loss
Overview
of Benefits
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