LTER Coordinating Committee Meeting

Sedgwick Reserve Tour

Timetable for Sedgwick Reserve:

Sedwick Reserve is located near Santa Barbara in the Santa Ynez Valley, spans nearly 1300 vertical feet and currently includes 5100 acres. Adjacent higher elevations are managed by the Los Padres National Forest. Vegetation of the ranch includes coast live oak forest, blue oak woodland, valley oak savannah, Ceanothus chaparral, coastal sage scrub, grassland, and willow riparian forest, plus a variety of localized wetland types. Three hundred and six plant species have been recorded on the site. The ranch's large size and environmental heterogeneity provide an exceptional opportunity for teaching and research dealing with biodiversity and landscape ecology. The extensive repetition of small drainages, distinct geologic and soil regimes (including large areas of unique serpentines), and complete drainage systems makes the site uniquely suitable for replicated experimental studies. At least one significant Chumash archeological site is located on the property. The Sedgwick Researve is part of the University of California Natural Reserve System.