PEPPERWOOD NATURE PRESERVE

PEPPERWOOD PRESERVE IS A 3000 ACRE NATURE PRESERVE IN THE MAYACAMAS MOUNTAINS THAT WAS AT ONE TIME MANAGED BY THE ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. THEY HAD LITTLE MONEY TO OPERATE IT. I HAD WORKED AS AN OUTDOOR ANTHROPOLOGY LECTURER FROM THE SRJC AND AS AN INDOOR LECTURER FOR SOME OF THE NEIGHBORS. THERE ARE ABOUT 74 PLANT COMMUNITIES THERE AS WELL AS 680 PLANT SPECIES IDENTIFIED. THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THIS UPLAND RIDGE AREA ARE THE MANY DIFFERENT BIRDS AS WELL AS THE DEER, MOUNTAIN LIONS, AND OTHER SMALL MAMMALS.

THIS LAND IS VERY RUGGED AND HAS STEEP TERRAIN AS WELL AS MANY PERRENIAL CREEKS. NEARBY THE ENTRANCE IS A RIDGE OF SERPENTINE WHERE SPECIAL PLANTS HAVE ADAPTED TO THIS SOIL. IN 2009 THE NEW PRIVATE LAND OWNER BUILT A PAVED ROAD TO THE BARN AND UP TO THE RIDGE. HE ALSO BUILT A LARGE ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER THERE.

THEY OFFER CLASSES IN VARIOUS SCIENCES AND SOME OF THE DOCENTS HAVE HELPED TO CREATE SOME TRAILS. AS FAR AS I KNOW THEY HAVE NOT INVENTORIED ANY OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES, EXCEPT FOR THOSE ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRANSMISSION LINE.

THE PRESERVE HAS A GREAT VIEW OF MOUNT ST. HELENA AS WELL AS THE ENTIRE ALEXANDER VALLEY. IF YOU CONTINUE DOWN THE MAIN TRAIL YUO CAN FIND A SMALL PREHISTORIC CAMP (NO REMAINING ARTIFACTS) OVERLOOKING A DRAINAGE.

THE PREVIOUS MANAGER 10 YEARS AGO GAVE US A TOUR OF THE HISTORIC STRUCTURES IN THE CENTRAL AREA I HAD NEVER BEEN BEFORE. HE WAS A BOTANY MAJOR AND TOLD US ABOUT MY TYPES OF OF PLANTS, SOME OF WHICH WERE EATEN BY NATIVE AMERICANS. THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF OAKS WHICH CROSS BREED HERE AS WELL AS THOSE AFFECTED BY SUDDEN OAK DISEASE. THERE IS A NICE COOL CANYON WITH A TRAIL THAT HAS A PERRENIAL STREAM WITH SALAMANDERS AND NEWTS. THERE ARE ALSO VERNAL POOLS THROUGHOUT THE PROPERTY WHERE SMALL FISH AND OTHER AMPHIBIANS LIVE.

HOPEFULLY SOME DAY THEY WILL RECORD THE PREHISTORIC SITES AND COVER THEM WITH SOIL. THERE ARE SOME VERY EXCELLENT VIEWS OF THE BAY AREA AS WELL AS THE OCEAN. ONE SPOT IN PARTICULAR OVERLOOKS FRANZ VALLEY. THEY ARE TRYING TO REDUCE THE POPULATION OF DOUGLAS FIR BY PULLING OUT THESE SMALL TREES AND/OR CHOPPING THEM DOWN. ONCE THE NEW OWNER TOOK OVER IT'S MANAGEMENT THE CATTLE WERE REMOVED. HE ALSO DECIDED TO LOCK THE GATE TO THE PROPERTY, AS WELL AS HAVE PEOPLE WHO WORKED OR WENT ONTO THE PROPERTY SIGN LIABILITY WAIVERS.