Area: 23 acres
Location: Between Ben Lomond and Felton, Santa Cruz County, California
Date Acquired: 2007
Acquisition Type: CNLM does not own the preserve, but we do hold a conservation easement to protect imperiled species and habitats that exist on the preserve in perpetuity.
Key Habitats: Zayante Sandhills Ecosystem
Species of Special Interest to CNLM: Mount Hermon June beetle (Polyphylla barbata), Ben Lomond spineflower (Chorizanthe pungens var. hartwegiana), Santa Cruz wallflower (Erysimum teretifolium) and Zayante band-winged grasshopper (Trimerotropis infantilis)
Introduction
The Center for Natural Lands Management (CNLM) was granted a Perpetual Conservation Easement Grant in 2007 over the 23-acre Ben Lomond Sandhills Preserve, which is the first preserve established as part of the Zayante Sandhills Conservation Bank.
Conservation Significance
The Ben Lomond Sandhills Preserve of the Zayante Sandhills Conservation Bank is comprised of a single parcel located between Ben Lomond and Felton in Santa Cruz County, California. The Preserve is occupied by several endangered species including the federal endangered Mount Hermon June Beetle (Polyphylla barbata), federal endangered Zayante band-winged grasshopper (Trimerotropis infantalis), federal and state endangered Santa Cruz wallflower (Erysimum teretifolium), and federal endangered Ben Lomond spineflower (Chorizanthe pungens var. hartwegiana). The Preserve contains high quality sandhills habitat with a diverse composition of native plants that dominate the site in terms of both cover and richness. The flora includes native plants found in Sandhills chaparral and sand parkland communities, as well as many species native to oak woodlands and mixed evergreen forests. In addition to state- and federally-listed species, a number of rare species associated with sandhills habitats are present on the Preserve.
Our Work
The landowners are responsible for management of the Preserve. CNLM’s role and primary goal is to monitor, enforce, and defend the conservation easement, ensuring that the sensitive habitats and species are protected in perpetuity.
Public Access
Due to the vulnerability of the species and habitats that exist on this preserve, it is not open to the public.
Contact
For information and inquiries regarding Zayante Sandhills, please contact Regional Preserve Manager, Cathy Little at clittle@cnlm.org or 760.731.7790 extension 209.