The Sedgwick Reserve:
a Conjunction of Learning and the Land

Dr. Michael Williams
Sedgwick Reserve Director
University of California, Santa Barbara

Date: Thursday, April 27, 2006
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Place: Engineering II, Room 3361

ABSTRACT

Encompassing 24 square kilometers (9.2 square miles) on the southern slopes of the San Rafael Mountains, the Sedgwick Reserve spans an elevational range of 500 meters (1,650 feet) and is noted for both its large size and environmental heterogeneity. The reserve contains a major geologic fault system and two distinctive geologic formations: relatively young Paso Robles alluvium and much older Franciscan metamorphosed seafloor, including large areas of serpentine. Diverse vegetation types include coast live oak forest, blue oak woodland, valley oak savannah, buckbrush chaparral, coastal sage scrub, grassland, willow riparian forest, serpentine outcroppings, and agricultural lands. The site contains major portions of two watersheds and a variety of localized wetland habitats, notably vernal pools. The region has a rich Native American heritage, and at least one Middle Chumash habitat site (1,500 to 2,000 years old) rests on site. The reserve’s large size enables research of varying scales on native ecosystems.