| Motte Rimrock Reserve | |
|---|---|
| Location | Riverside County, California |
| Coordinates | 33°48′45″N117°15′30″W / 33.81250°N 117.25833°W /33.81250; -117.25833 |
| Area | 736 acres (1.150 mi2) |
| Governing body | University of California, Riverside |
| Website | https://motte.ucr.edu/ |
The Motte Rimrock Reserve, a unit of the University of California Natural Reserve System affiliated with theUniversity of California, Riverside, is an ecological reserve and biological field station located on a smallplateau overlooking the Perris Valley in west-centralRiverside County,California, United States.
The reserve is located on 736 acres (2.98 km2) at an elevation of 1,580 feet (482 m)ASL, northwest of the city ofPerris. Much of the land of the Motte Rimrock Reserve was donated to the University of California in 1976 by Charles and Ottie Motte. Numerous parcels have been added since.
The Motte Rimrock Reserve contains large areas of opengrassland,coastal sage scrub, willow riparian woodland, and rocky outcrops that support a diversity of plant and animal species. The reserve harbors a mixture of both coastal and inland species and owes its diversity to its location equidistant between thePacific Ocean and theMojave Desert. The reserve also possesses a rich cultural history including some recognized archeological sites. Current on-going research projects include studies on the population dynamics of smallmammals, ant behavior, plant-insect interactions, and habitat restoration.
As the surrounding area experiences rapidurbanization, thereserve serves to protect a number of species threatened or endangered by development and habitat loss includingStephens' kangaroo rat, theCalifornia gnatcatcher,orange-throated whiptail, andBell's Sparrow, as well as several diminishing plant communities such asriversidean sage scrub. The reserve is an active participant in the Riverside County Habitat Conservation Agency (RCHCA) a joint powers authority created to protect and preserve the Stephens' kangaroo rat.
The director of the reserve is Kenneth J. Halama, PhD, an ecologist and conservation biologist.[1]