About

Arana Gulch is an open space located on 67 acres at the eastern border of the City of Santa Cruz. The eastern half of the property features the riparian corridor of Arana Gulch Creek and a tidal wetland where the creek drains into Monterey Bay at the Santa Cruz Harbor. The western half is a remnant of coastal prairie grassland that supports the Santa Cruz tarplant (Holocarpha macradenia) (SCT), a federally Threatened and a CA State Endangered species. A steep and narrow intermittent drainage called Hagemann Gulch crosses the property on the western boundary.

Adaptive Management Work Group (AMWG)

The HMP describes an Adaptive Management framework to guide the process of improving habitat conditions at Arana Gulch. The adaptive management framework recognizes that effective resource management and land-use decision-making requires sound scientific information.The Adaptive Management Working Group (AMWG) has a central role in the framework to guide the City on the implementation of HMP activities; The working group serves at the pleasure of the City with the approval of the Executive Director of the California Coastal Commission.

Establishment of the Arana Gulch AMWG has been conducted by the City of Santa Cruz to meet the first requirement of the CDP special conditions. It is comprised of a group of cooperative and committed stakeholders interested in the outcomes of decision-making and in the technical process of managing target conservation resources. The initial composition has been approved by the CCC Executive Director. The City of Santa Cruz has allocated funding to support implementation of the HMP.

Cattle Grazing

Feedback for AMWG

Habitat Management Plan

Implementation of the Arana Gulch Master Plan required the City to obtain a coastal development permit (CDP) from the California Coastal Commission (CCC) because a portion of the planning area lies within the designated Coastal Zone. The CDP (3-11-074) includes both standard and special conditions. The Arana Gulch Habitat Management Plan (HMP) was developed to satisfy the special conditions of the CDP. The purpose of the HMP is to provide for the restoration, enhancement, and long-term management of the Arana Gulch habitat Management Areas as self-sustaining and functioning habitats in perpetuity.

The Management Areas include: the Coastal Prairie/Tarplant Management Area, the Arana Gulch Riparian and Wetland Management Area, and the Hagemann Gulch Riparian Woodland Management Area.

Members

Voting members:

Dr. Grey Hayes, California Native Plant Society
Suzanne Schettler, Greening and Associates and California Native Plant Society [Alternate]
Bill Davilla, Ecosystems West
Serena Stumpf, CA Department of Fish and Wildlife
Mark Ogonowski, US Fish and Wildlife Service
Dr. Rachel Pausch, CA Coastal Commission
Kathy Lyons, Biotic Resources Group
Devii Rao, UC Cooperative Extension
Sylvie Childress, UC Santa Cruz Greenhouses

City Staff: