Downloadable Reports
Enhancing Ecological Connectivity in the Southern Santa Cruz Mtns-Aug 2022.
the Diablo Range to the east, facilitating wildlife movement, dispersal, and migration of individuals and species. Protecting and restoring ecological connectivity between areas of core habitat in these mountain ranges is a high priority for regional conservation efforts and is essential to sustain ecological processes and allow adaptation to climate change (Hilty et al. 2020, Pörtner et al. 2021).
This study assessed ecological connectivity between these mountain ranges. We assessed the need for improved permeability of the region’s highways and identified specific recommendations for improving connectivity. These findings are intended to inform connectivity conservation efforts, including transportation infrastructure improvements, land acquisition and habitat restoration, and other land use decisions.
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American Badger and Burrowing Owl Habitat Suitability Assessment 2019-2022
The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (MROSD) Badger and Burrowing Owl Habitat Suitability Study (study) commissioned a study initiated in January 2019 to evaluate and identify science-based management and conservation strategies for American badgers (Taxidea taxus, badgers) and Western burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia hypugaea) throughout their Open Space Preserves (preserves). The three components of the study were
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the development of habitat-based predictive species distribution models in the preserves using sightings data and validation with field surveys;
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the development of GIS habitat linkage models within the preserve network and to adjacent areas and predicted corridor use documentation with remote cameras; and
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genetic analysis to determine the characteristics and structure of badger populations in the preserves, the San Francisco Peninsula, and surrounding regions.
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Hwy 17 Wildlife Connectivity Project-Lexington Study Area Annual Report 2016
Pathways for Wildlife conducted a three year study in collaboration with tMidpeninsula Regional Open Space District , Caltrans, and the UCSC Puma Project to identify the most suitable location for a wildlife crossing structure. Trout Creek was identified as an essential location for improving habitat connectivity in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
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Wildlife Permeability and Hazards across Highway 152 Pacheco Pass 2018-2019 Report by PFW
SR‐152 Pacheco Pass bisects the Diablo Range‐Inner Coast Linkage as identified by the Bay Area Critical Linkages Project. The purpose of the study was to identify bridges and culverts that wildlife are using to cross under SR-152 within the study area, and to make wildlife connectivity enhancement recommendations that would improve existing highway infrastructure for wildlife safe passage
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Coyote Valley Linkage Assessment Study 2015-2016 Annual Report 3
Coyote Valley has been identified as providing important habitat for wildlife movement between the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Diablo Range. However, there is very little data on wildlife movement across the valley floor and what habitats wildlife are using as pathways. This project included: 1) identifying important pathways and habitats that wildlife is using to travel across the valley floor through field camera surveys and 2) determining if genetic flow or isolation is occurring.
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Salinas River Wildlife Monitoring Study 2018 Report
The purpose of the Salinas River Wildlife Monitoring Study is to determine if clearing arundo (Arundo donax) improves the ability for wildlife movement through various sites within the Salinas River. Our study focused on areas that are highly constricted by arundo. Remote motion-activated cameras were set up in August 2019 for a 24-month monitoring period.
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