Merced Natural Reserve System
The UC Merced Natural Reserve System gives students and scientists access to two highlights of the Central California environment. Merced Vernal Pools and Grassland Reserve protects remnant San Joaquin Valley foothill habitats, while Yosemite Field Station serves as a gateway to the granite peaks and abundant wildlife of the Range of Light.
Merced Vernal Pools and Grassland Reserve
Seasonal rains catapult the rolling grasslands adjacent to campus into a frenzy of activity, as vernal pools fill and newly hatched endangered shrimp and salamanders scramble to mature before summer. A corps of student naturalists drawn from UC Merced monitors resident species and provides interpretive programs for visitors.
Yosemite Field Station
Offering easy access to the granite-walled wilderness of Yosemite National Park, the field station facilitates scientific research in the park while providing classroom space and accommodations to users in the Wawona district.