Ellicott Slough National Wildlife Refuge

The Ellicott Slough National Wildlife Refuge is a United States National Wildlife Refuge located in the northern part of the Monterey Bay area of California.

Ellicott Slough National Wildlife Refuge
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Calabasas Pond
Map of the United States
LocationSanta Cruz County, California, United States
Nearest cityWatsonville, California
Coordinates36.92661°N 121.838°W / 36.92661; -121.838[1]
Area168 acres (0.68 km2)
Established1975
Governing bodyU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
WebsiteEllicott Slough National Wildlife Refuge

Originally established to protect the habitat of the threatened Santa Cruz long-toed salamander subspecies, Ellicott Slough also harbors other species later federally listed as threatened due to habitat loss, including the California red-legged frog, California tiger salamander[3] and robust spineflower.

The refuge was established after the California Department of Fish and Game purchased the property from its original owner. It is made up of four discontinuous units all separated by less than 2.7 miles.

The refuge experiences a mild climate influenced by the Pacific Ocean. Temperatures are generally from 50 to 75 °F (10 to 24 °C).[4] The terrain is both hilly and flat.[5]

Ellicott Unit

The Ellicott Unit is one of the two units that has a pond. The Ellicott pond is breeding habitat for the Santa Cruz long-toed salamander. Ecosystems in the area include northern coastal scrub, San Andreas coastal live oak woodland, riparian woodland, closed-coned coniferous forest and California coastal prairie. There are a few houses and farms nearby

Calabasas Unit

The Calabasas Unit is the northernmost unit. A man-made water reservoir was largely destroyed in 1980 and the remaining dam and outflow were reinforced in 1994 and 2006. Homes surround the unit.

Harkins Slough Unit

The Harkins Slough Unit is the southernmost unit, adjacent to the Buena Vista Landfill. The unit contains some buildings and houses that are neglected and in need of repair. It is habitat for seabirds such as gulls and white pelicans.[6]

Buena Vista Property

The Buena Vista Unit is adjacent to California State Route 1 and is mostly undisturbed with the exception of one house and one garage that were built in 1951. It is the location of the other strip of Santa Cruz long-toed salamander breeding habitat.

References
  1. "Ellicott Slough National Wildlife Refuge". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  2. "Ellicott Slough National Wildlife Refuge". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  3. Masters, Ryan (2 January 2016). "Cell tower appealed on salamander grounds". Santa Cruz Sentinel. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  4. US Fish and Wildlife Service (September 2010). Ellicott Slough National Wildlife Refuge Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Final Environmental Assessment (PDF) (Report). United States Government Publishing Office.
  5. Loredo, Ivette. "Conceptual Management Plan". U.S. Dept. of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2005. Missing or empty |url= (help)
  6. Ellicott Slough National Wildlife Refuge, Santa Cruz County, CA. "Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact". Federal Registers. Missing or empty |url= (help)

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

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