Habitat Planning

In recognition of the important natural resources present in the vicinity of UC Merced and the University Community planning area, and throughout Northeastern Merced County, the County has embarked on a regional habitat planning process in collaboration with the University of California. The goals of this planning process were described in a Joint Statement approved by the Merced County Board of Supervisors and UC Merced. In short, the planning process seeks to establish a regional habitat planning framework that is intended to preserve and protect vernal pool/wetland and grassland habitats, which are endimec to the low, rolling hills of eastern Merced County. This portion of Merced County, which has historically been used as grazing lands, is home to the largest intact vernal pool complexes remaining in California. In addition to the establishment of a regional habitat planning framework, the planning process is securing permits under the Clean Water Act and the federal and state Endangered Species Acts. This will allow development of UC Merced and the adjacent University Community to begin on the schedule established by Governor Davis. As part of the planning effort, the County and the University have jointly undertaken extensive biological and wetland studies of the areas to be affected by UC Merced and the University Community. These studies examined the site for the presence of vernal pool crustaceans, plants and mammals. Reports describing biological studies conducted in 1999 were submitted to the US Fish and Wildlife Service during Fall 1999, and the result of year 2000 studies were submitted in Fall 2000. Fact Sheets that summarize the findings of the 1999 studies are available, as are complete copies of the reports. Additional biological studies are being conducted in 2001. In addition, a formal wetland delineation for the planning area was completed and submitted to the US Army Corps of Engineers in Fall 2000. The process to verify the wetland delineation will be completed in 2001.

This page was last updated on April 18, 2002

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