UC Merced and county make plans for rec area

UC Merced is working with Merced County on plans for a new recreation area between the campus and Lake Yosemite, officials announced Tuesday.

The Merced County Board of Supervisors unanimously agreed to a memorandum of understanding with the university to develop recreational space open to the community on land north of the campus. The vote was 4-0 as Supervisor Jerry O’Banion was absent from the meeting.

Plans are not finalized for the proposed recreation space between the Le Grand Canal and Lake Road and between the campus and Lake Yosemite.

The university will spend $2.4 million to maintain conservation space of 167 acres east of Lake Yosemite and neighboring the proposed recreation area, according to a news release. The land is home to California tiger salamanders, fairy shrimp, Swainson’s hawks and other endangered species unique to the Merced Vernal Pools and Grasslands Reserve.

The county and campus are set to develop a long-term management plan to govern grazing rights and protect the wetlands habitat, subject to approval by regulatory agencies, the news release said. The county will still own the property, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife will administer the conservation of the land.

The county and university will work together on the idea of building a perimeter trail, the release said, in an effort to educate the public about vernal-pool ecosystems.

John Pedrozo, supervisor for District 1, said the board is excited for the opportunity to partner with UC Merced.

“This will be of enormous benefit to students seeking higher education here in Merced County and will be of great benefit to the UC as it moves toward accomplishing the goals of its 2020 Project,” said Pedrozo, referencing the school’s initiative to cost-effectively add new capital facilities to the campus.

This story was originally published December 15, 2015 at 6:16 PM with the headline "UC Merced and county make plans for rec area."