Project Specifications
Client: Land Trust of Santa Cruz County
Project Goals
Future habitat restoration; invasive weed control; management
Project Description
Ecological Concerns’ lead botanist, preformed the invasive weed mapping Star Creek Ranch. The Land Trust of Santa Cruz County acquired the property late 2012. It includes 1,200 acres that extends through the Pajaro Hills. The property’s main attribute is the linkage it creates between the Santa Cruz Mountains to the north and the Gabilan and Diablo ranges to the south and east. The newly protected habitat corridor provides safe passage of mountain lions, deer, bobcats, and other wildlife.
The collection of GIS data of weed populations on the Star Creek Property will help inform and prioritize future removal and control efforts. The areas that receive greater priority are ones that have a heavy invasive population surrounding more sensitive plant populations.