Younger Lagoon Reserve: An outdoor classroom for coastal research, UC Santa Cruz
Younger Lagoon Reserve is one of the few relatively undisturbed wetlands remaining along the California Central Coast. Located on the UC Santa Cruz Coastal Science Campus, the natural reserve’s 25-acre lagoon and 47-acre “terrace lands” protect eight unique habitats, including freshwater marsh, saltwater marsh, riparian willow, coastal strand (back dune), coastal scrub, coastal grassland, seasonal freshwater wetlands, and the brackish lagoon. These protected habitats provide unparalleled opportunities for students to learn about the environment, implement field projects, obtain hands-on experience, and become actively involved in research and stewardship projects.