This doesn’t happen too often, that our University gets to design and develop a spanking new ecological reserve and field station from scratch. And we are looking for recruits to help us. Sure, over the course of the 40+ years that the UC Natural Reserve System has been around there have been 35 other reserves that were initially start-ups (with the exception of less than a handful that were in operation prior to 1965). But its already clear that this will be the most unique one of the bunch for several compelling reasons.

    First, the reserve is large enough to contain multiple entire watersheds, and it has a land buffer of tens of thousands of acres of permanently protected parks and open space, so that anything from genes to landscape ecology to climate change effects can be rigorously studied in perpetuity without the direct and uncontrolled influence of humanity. There will never be encroaching bulldozers or uncontrollable edge-effects from development along the reserve boundaries. This unique setting allows for the re-engineering of natural processes -- be it introducing prescribed fire, release from over-grazing, establishing unobstructed hydrological flows, or pursuing invasive species eradication -- providing novel opportunities to design landscape and watershed scale ecological experiments in collaboration with our neighboring conservation partners, any of which would have been previously impossible for reasons which no longer remain.       

    Secondly, we anticipate that the convenience of BORR’s close proximity to both the Berkeley and Santa Cruz campuses, and the Bay area cities, will entice some really smart people to work here without needing to stage a major expedition. Yet for being only 10 air miles from the third largest city in California there is a tangible wilderness quality, one feels as if you are at one of our most remote reserves, hours away from civilization. Its inevitable that new major research themes involving conservation science in the wildland-urban interface will come from studies initiated here. We are honored to join local conservation partnerships including The Nature Conservancy, public agencies, private citizens and organizations who share a vision for permanent protection of hundreds of thousands of acres of open space in the Mount Hamilton region.

    Third, due to the extraordinary vision of our systemwide NRS office, led by Director Dr. Alex Glazer, in collaboration with the Blue Oak Trust, there is now established a sufficient funding base and management guidelines to reinvent the classical definition of the ecological reserve. With our initial start-up funds and core staffing, we are eligible for Proposition 84 funds to be used for facilities construction and infrastructure development. Up to $5 million in new funds will be made available in 2009 once a master plan is approved. With this extraordinary opportunity in mind, our campus, and Systemwide NRS are dedicated to designing the most ecologically sustainable facilities and supporting infrastructure of its kind. While there are some wonderful examples of green buildings and off-grid energy systems at field stations around the world, with several in the NRS, its our goal to advance the technologies by tapping in-house “Berkeley grown” expertise in green building design, alternative energy, and waste management, as well as taking lessons and soliciting prototypes from the leading green architects and builders. While $5 million seems like a lot (it is!) we need to be careful to meet the minimal footprint requirements for our Conservation Easement Management Guidelines, including a 10 acre total area footprint, as well as new building square footage of under 12,000 square feet. These constraints will mean that we will have to be truly innovative about how we meet the needs for housing, offices, classrooms, laboratories and utility systems. 

Now all we need is you!

We plan to hit the ground running, and are encouraging involvement across the Berkeley campus community, as well as neighboring institutions and conservation partners. Here are ways to become involved right now.

•Take a web survey (to be available in a couple of weeks)  and help us brainstorm how you might use BORR for your teaching, research and academic pursuits.

•Consider starting a research project, or bring a class field trip, or spend time on a reconnaissance and we will waive the day use fee during your first year of use (rules may apply)

•Join our email newsletter mailing list. We won’t spam you, but you will receive a monthly or quarterly PDF formatted report of what’s happening, and going to happen, at Blue Oak Ranch Reserve. Our first report is scheduled to be sent out in May.

Really serious? There are committees you can join to become directly involved in the development of BORR. We intend to solicit members for a Reserve Advisory Committee, Facilities Design Committee (Extreme Green Project), Research Coordination Network, Education Coordination Network, and an Outreach Coordination Network. These committees will help steer us in the right direction to take advantage of opportunities  and to engage a proactive community of users at BORR. If this sounds interesting, drop Mike Hamilton an email.