Conservation Program

Enviros and UC Merced Reach a Win-Win Accord

For the past two years CNPS (along with Butte Environmental Council, Defenders of Wildlife, Protect Our Water, San Joaquin Raptor/Wildlife Rescue Center, San Joaquin Valley Conservancy and The Nature Conservancy) have been meeting with the University of California and the regulatory agencies to discuss conservation issues related to the Merced campus. These meetings resulted in a stronger conservation strategy and a smaller campus. On Friday, October 5, 2007, the University issued a press release announcing the reduction of their footprint and the intention to start the environmental review process over.

Much of the proposed campus location will be permanently protected by a conservation easement. More easements to protect vernal pools and to contain sprawl are also expected as the new campus plan unfolds.

The agreed upon reduced footprint will protect an additional 670 acres of pristine vernal pool habitat that would have been destroyed by the current plan. Many additional occurrences of threatened and endangered plants and animals will also be conserved by the reduced footprint. CNPS applauds the University of California for coming to the table with a willingness to work out a compromise that works both for the environment and for the campus.

The UC’s announcement marks the beginning of a new public process for the campus expansion. Previous permit applications will be withdrawn. A new application will be submitted that will trigger a joint EIR/EIS for the campus and community. CNPS and others will continue to participate in the public process.

Background Information

For links to the press releases and news articles as they are published visit www.vernalpools.org/UCMerced.

CNPS Statement of Policy - Wetlands

CNPS Policy and Guidelines on Vernal Pool Mitigation

CNPS Policy on Appropriate Application of Ex Situ Conservation Techniques

CNPS Wetland Source Book 2000 (PDF, 137k)

Fremontia Vol. 27 No. 4 and Col. 28 No. 1 -- Special Issue: Vernal Pools

Vernal Pool Ecosystems Conference Proceedings (1998 CNPS Press) also available in PDF Format

CNPS letter on the UC's 404 Permit Application to fill wetlands and the Biological Assessment that accompanied the application (PDF, 4/12/02)

CNPS letter on the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) for the UC Merced campus and Phase I construction (PDF, 1/15/02)

CNPS letter on the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the UC Merced campus and Phase I construction (PDF, 10/3/02)

CNPS letter on the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the University Community Plan (PDF, 10/3/02)

CNPS comments upon the NCCP/HCP Scientific Advisors proposal asking that clarification be made (PDF, 7/11/01)

CNPS sends second packet of vernal pool information to California Legislature. Vernal pools and their associated grasslands are an ecosystem in peril (PDF, 5/21/01)

CNPS comment letter on the revised Campus Parkway Notice of Preparation (NOP) statingthat the highway project is still a part of the proposed UC Merced campus project (PDF, 5/14/01) 

CNPS Invites members of the California Legislature and their staff to a tour of Mather Field Vernal Pools  (PDF, 4/5/01) and Press Invitation (PDF, 4/24/01)

CNPS comment letter on the campus and community Notices of Preparation (NOPs) -- CNPS believes that a new site selection alternatives analysis is required under CEQA 15162. (PDF, 3/19/01) 

CNPS sends packet of vernal pool information to California Legislature urging conservation of  this unique and irreplaceable resource (PDF, 2/7/01)

CNPS comment letter on the Campus Parkway NOP (PDF, 1/28/01) and CNPS East Bay Chapter comment letter on the Campus Parkway NOP (PDF,1/26/01)

CNPS sends Regents education packet about vernal pools including October 1976 and January 2000 Fremontia as well as Vernal Pool Ecosystems (PDF, 9/19/00)

CNPS press release and letter to Greenlining Institute regarding August 9 rally at the Capitol (PDF, 8/8/00)

CNPS comment letter to UC and County regarding inadequacies of the "1999 Special-Status Plant Survey Report" (PDF, 6/17/00)

Resolution of CNPS concerning the siting of a University of California campus at Lake Yosemite, Merced County -- the proposed UC Merced campus (PDF, 6/10/00. 238k)

CNPS letter to UC regarding changes in scope and impacts since the original 1994 site selection EIR for the UC Merced campus location (PDF, 5/23/00, 329k)

Wetlands and Vernal Pools Web Links

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Additional Information

For more information, contact desertcnps.org.