Bearpaw Reserve
| Bearpaw Reserve | |
|---|---|
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape) | |
  Location in California | |
| Location | San Bernardino County, California |
| Nearest city | Yucaipa |
| Coordinates | 34°05′27″N116°58′03″W / 34.09071°N 116.96750°W / 34.09071; -116.96750 |
| Area | 600 acres (240 ha) |
| Max. elevation | 6,000 feet (1,800 m) |
| Min. elevation | 4,500 feet (1,400 m) |
| Established | 1996 (1996) |
| Operator | The Wildlands Conservancy |
| Website | Bearpaw Reserve |
Bearpaw Reserve is a nature preserve on the north-facing slopes of the Yucaipa Ridge in the San Bernardino Mountains, where conifer and oak woodlands support wildlife such as flying squirrels and the southern spotted owl. Its most prominent feature is Columbine Falls, a seasonal waterfall about 110 feet (34 m) high. The 600 acres (240 ha) property is owned and managed by The Wildlands Conservancy as part of its system of preserves.
Geography
The site ranges from 4,500 feet (1,400 m) to 6,000 feet (1,800 m) in elevation on the north slope of the Yucaipa Ridge. It is largely surrounded by the San Bernardino National Forest and lies near Allen Peak and Birch Mountain. Columbine Falls is located within the tract.[1] The San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society’s Bearpaw Sanctuary, established in 1994, adjoins the property.
Flora and fauna
Habitats include mixed conifer forests of incense cedar, ponderosa pine, and coulter pine, along with chaparral and oak woodlands. A rare hybrid of black oak and interior live oak, sometimes called the oracle oak, occurs in the area.[1] Wildlife recorded on the land include black bears, flying squirrels, and the southern spotted owl.[1]
History
The property was donated to The Wildlands Conservancy in 1996.[1] Its acquisition prevented proposed road development and an RV resort in Mill Creek Canyon, and the land has been supported by conservation groups as a buffer for the San Gorgonio Wilderness.[1]
In September 2020 the El Dorado Fire burned through parts of Bearpaw, damaging understory vegetation and prompting fire defense efforts by staff and firefighters.[2] Subsequent studies have monitored fire impacts and geomorphic change in the Mill Creek watershed, including UAV surveys, multispectral imagery, and ecological succession research.[3][4][5][6]
Conservation
Management priorities include habitat protection, ecological research, and prevention of development in the Mill Creek watershed.[1] In 2022, a tree-planting and restoration project at Bearpaw was filed through the California Environmental Quality Act process.[7]
Recreation
Public access is limited.[1] The Columbine Falls Group Campground offers group camping for community organizations, schools, and universities.[1] Individual or family camping is not available.
See also
References
- ^ abcdefgh"Bearpaw Reserve". The Wildlands Conservancy. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
- ^Herrero, Dave (September 9, 2020). "Saving the Beauty of Bearpaw". The Wildlands Conservancy. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
- ^"UAV surveys of Yucaipa Ridge, CA catchments after the 2020 El Dorado Fire". OpenTopography. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
- ^"Using Multispectral Imagery to Explore the Effects of the 2020 El Dorado Fire on the Bearpaw Reserve"(PDF). University of Redlands. 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
- ^"Ecological Succession in the Bearpaw Reserve". University of Redlands. 2022. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
- ^"Post-fire debris-flow hazards in steep catchments of the San Bernardino Mountains, California". Earth Surface Processes and Landforms. 49 (4): 785–801. 2024. doi:10.1002/esp.5819. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
- ^"Bearpaw Reserve Tree Planting". California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). 2022. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
Further reading
- Kett, Katherine (2020). Assessing the Threat: A Survey of Goldspotted Oak Borer Infestation in Bearpaw Reserve. Senior thesis, Scripps College. Full text
- Thomas, Lucy S. (2021). Protecting California’s Oak Forests: An Evaluation of the Prevalence of the Gold Spotted Oak Borer in Bearpaw Reserve. Senior thesis, Scripps College. Full text
External links
