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One of Santa Cruz County's Ben Lomond spineflower and Ben Lomond Although Santa Cruz is Conservation and most important natural wallflower also grow on West Ridge. West Ridge was famous for its beaches, one resources is... dedicated as a conservation easement in 1998. of the County’s most Protection of Sand important stretches of sand lies South Ridge high up in the Santa Cruz Mountains, in an area known as the Endangered Species The 32.6-acre South Ridge contains the best Zayante sandhills. Tucked between the communities For many years, biologists and local residents have remaining example of sand parkland habitat in the of Bonny Doon and Scotts Valley, the sandhills are acknowledged the rarity and importance of the and Habitats at world. This delicate area supports important isolated pockets of ancient sand that support an native plant and animal communities at Quail populations of all four endangered species. Steep ecologically distinct assortment of plants and Hollow. As part of its slopes and exposed soils make South Ridge an animals. Once covering about 6,365 acres, the Quail Hollow Quarry approved Habitat extremely fragile site. South Ridge was purchased sandhills are now restricted to less than 1,500, Conservation Plan, by Santa Cruz County in 1998. making it one of the rarest habitats in the state. Graniterock has dedicated 110 acres of the quarry to Protected Area the conservation and long- Quail Hollow Quarry in Felton contains some of term protection of native species, including four he 45.2-acre Protected Area links the three the best remaining examples of Zayante sandhills endangered species--Mount Hermon June beetle, T ridges and provides a buffer against quarry habitat in the region and is home to four Federal Zayante band-winged grasshopper, Ben Lomond operation. Smaller populations of Mount Hermon and State endangered species. Graniterock is spineflower, and Ben Lomond wallflower; and two June beetle, Zayante band-winged grasshopper, Ben working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, rare plants--naked-stemmed buckwheat, and silver- Lomond spineflower, and Ben Lomond wallflower California Department of Fish and Game, Santa Cruz leaved manzanita. Divided into four conservation occur here. Although not a conservation easement, County, and community members to protect and zones, these areas are home to two of Santa Cruz it is pro-tected by Graniterock from disturbance and manage this unique resource. Countyís rarest plant communities--sand parkland mining. The Protected Area was established in and northern maritime chaparral. 1998. North Ridge The 11.1-acre North Ridge is a patchwork of Quarry Conservation Areas northern maritime chaparral, sand parkland and oak woodland habitats. The chaparral and parkland Protected communities are home to Mount Hermon June Area beetle, Ben Lomond spineflower, and Ben Lomond West North wallflower. North Ridge was set aside through a Ridge Ridge conservation easement in 1997. Quarry Protected Area West Ridge Quarry The 21.1-acre West Ridge is dominated by sand parkland and northern maritime chaparral. Open, South sandy patches on top of the ridge are important Ridge habitat for Zayante band-winged grasshoppers. Both Mount Hermon June beetle Ben Lomond spineflower Graniterock has operated the Quail Hollow Quarry What Polyphylla barbata Chorizanthe pungens var. hartwegiana since 1997. The quarry is an internationally recognized source of high-quality, fine-grained sand makes the sandhills so unique? used to make glass containers and glass fiber he Mount Hermon June beetle he Ben Lomond spineflower is a T T products. Graniterock is operating under a permit is a 1/2-inch long, striped beetle wiry, 10-inch tall annual in the from Santa Cruz County to mine sand deposits for covered with scattered brown hairs. buckwheat family. It has small pink shipment to off-site production facilities. The sandhills sit on an ancient sandstone terrace It spends most of its 2-3 year life to purple flowering heads that are Graniterock is in compliance with both state and that was uplifted when the Santa underground. Males emerge in June and fly close to clustered on upright stalks. Plants county mining regulations, and federal and state Cruz Mountains were formed. The the ground in search of females. Female June germinate in the fall and flower in environmental laws. Graniterock has developed a soils that developed here are beetles do not fly, but remain in their underground April and May. They set seed shortly after and die Habitat Conservation Plan and has established a sandy, erodible, and nutrient- burrows. Newly-hatched larvae tunnel from the by June. Ben Lomond spineflower requires sandy, management fund to provide for the long-term poor. Many plants, including burrows to feed on plant roots. open areas for germination and growth. redwoods, cannot grow under conservation and protection of rare and endangered these conditions. Other plants; however, species and native plant communties at Quail Status: Federal endangered species Status: Federal endangered species have become uniquely adapted to this harsh Hollow. Graniterock is committed to combining Range: Restricted to the Zayante sandhills in Santa Cruz County Range: Restricted to the Zayante sandhills in Santa Cruz County environment. Some of these plants, like ponderosa responsible mining practices with long-term protection and stewardship of the land. pine (Pinus ponderosa), are usually found elsewhere Zayante band-winged grasshopper Ben Lomond wallflower in the state, while others, like Ben Lomond spineflower and Ben Lomond wallflower, are found Trimerotropis infantilis Erysimum teretifolium For further information, please nowhere else in the world. contact Graniterock at: The Zayante band-winged The Ben Lomond wallflower is a grasshopper is a 1/2-inch short-lived perennial in the mustard email: [email protected] t Quail Hollow, A long, gray to brown family. It’s distinct yellow flowers Phone: 831.768.2000 sandhills conservation grasshopper with yellow, do not appear until after its first or Fax: 831.768.2201 centers around two banded hindwings and pale blue hindlegs. Adult second year. As a seedling, it Mailing Address: Graniterock sensitive plant grasshoppers take flight between late May and early forms a basal rosette of leaves P. O. Box 50001 communities. Northern August, often moving no more than a few feet. that die back with the growth of Watsonville, CA 95077 maritime chaparral covers Zayante band-winged grasshoppers prefer open, its flowering stalk. Ben Lomond the lower slopes of the ridges, and is home to the sunny areas and require bare, loose soil to lay their eggs. wallflower requires open, sunny areas for rare silverleaf manzanita (Arctostaphylos silvicola). germination and growth. Rarer still is sand parkland, found along the Location Map of Quail Hollow Quarry Status: Federal endangered species ridgetops. With its carpet of diminutive native plants . d ZAYANTE Range: Restricted to the Zayante sandhills in Santa Cruz County Status: Federal and state endangered species R t FIRE HOUSE and sparse overstory of ponderosa pines, sand s a Range: Restricted to the Zayante sandhills in Santa Cruz County E e parkland stands in sharp contrast to the County’s t Mission 9 n a y Springs F a dense redwood forests. With less than 200 acres e Z lto Felton unt n Mo H Scotts a E d. r remaining in the world, sand parkland represents mpire R m Valley on Mt. Hermon R one of Santa Cruz County’s rarest habitats. G d. ra ham H i l 17 l R d 0 2400 6000 . feet Photos courtesy of Jodi McGraw Illustrations by Peg Edwards.