Quail
Ridge Natural Reserve is one of 35 Natural Reserves administered
by the University of California Natural Reserve System (NRS).
Established in 1991 with 242 ha (600 acres) of land, Quail
Ridge has since been expanded to over 784 ha (1937 acres).
Quail Ridge lies on a peninsula formed by the flooding of
Berryessa Valley and the creation of the Berryessa Reservoir,
and perhaps due to its isolation it retains many elements
of the native flora of this region.
Geologically the Reserve is fairly uniform,
but soil heterogeneity has promoted a patchwork of vegetation
types. The most widespread plant communities are native and
non-native grasslands, chamise chaparral, and oak woodlands,
and there are riparian woodlands along the valley bottoms.
In addition to a diverse flora the reserve fauna includes
more than 18 mammals (nearly 60 species potentially occur
here), 130 birds, 20 reptiles and amphibians, and over 500
moths and butterflies. Many taxa remain to be documented at
Quail Ridge.
Quail Ridge Reserve is a patchwork of parcels
under varied ownership, including the UC Regents, the Quail
Ridge Wilderness Conservancy (QRWC), the US Bureau of Reclamation,
the US Bureau of Land Management, and the California Department
of Fish and Game. The Reserve is managed by UC Davis NRS,
and the Napa Valley Land Trust holds conservation easements
on many of the properties. The peninsula also includes privately
owned parcels that are not part of the Reserve.
We strongly encourage the use of Quail Ridge
Reserve by educational and research users. Potential users
should read the Vistor Information portion of this site and
then contact the Reserve manager. ALL USERS MUST CONTACT THE
RESERVE MANAGER BEFORE VISITING THE RESERVE.
Access by the public to the Quail Ridge
peninsula is limited to guided hikes and boat trips sponsored
by QRWC.
Please call (530) 758-1387 for more information.
For Research or Class information contact:
Dr. Virginia Boucher, vlboucher@ucdavis.edu,
530-752-6949 |
