Theodore J. Hoover Natural Preserve
Encyclopedia
Theodore J. Hoover Natural Preserve, which includes Waddell Marsh, is located at the mouth of Waddell Creek
, a coastal freshwater marsh that is one of the rarest habitats on the Central Coast of California
. This habitat shelters many rare and endangered species such as the California red-legged frog
, Western pond turtle
, tidewater goby
, Black Rail
, San Francisco garter snake
, coho
and steelhead salmon. Working with experts from other areas, the Waddell Creek Association hopes to educate the public about wetlands, their value and necessity.
The Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail
threads its way through Big Basin Redwoods State Park
along Waddell Creek to the ocean at Waddell Beach, a freshwater marsh adjacent called Theodore J. Hoover Natural Preserve.
The preserve is located in northern Santa Cruz County
just one mile south of the San Mateo County
line. It is named after Theodore J. Hoover, dean of engineering at Stanford University
, and brother of President Hoover, whose family purchased Rancho del Oso in 1914.
Waddell Creek
Waddell Creek is the name given to both the creek and the watershed that run through Big Basin Redwoods State Park in Santa Cruz County, California...
, a coastal freshwater marsh that is one of the rarest habitats on the Central Coast of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. This habitat shelters many rare and endangered species such as the California red-legged frog
California Red-legged Frog
The California red-legged frog, Rana draytonii, is a moderate to large species of frog. It is known under the scientific name Rana draytonii, after being long included with the northern red-legged frog The California red-legged frog, Rana draytonii, is a moderate to large (4.4–14 cm) species...
, Western pond turtle
Western pond turtle
The western pond turtle , or Pacific pond turtle is a small to medium-sized turtle growing to approximately 20 cm in carapace length. It is limited to the west coast of the United States of America and Mexico, ranging from western Washington state to northern Baja California...
, tidewater goby
Tidewater goby
The tidewater goby Eucyclogobius newberryi is a goby native to lagoons of streams along the coast of California.-Taxonomy:The genus name translates as "true cycloid goby", referring to the scales, while the species epithet is in honor of J. S. Newberry. The tidewater goby is the sole member of its...
, Black Rail
Black Rail
The Black Rail is a mouse-sized member of the Rallidae family of birds. It is found in scattered parts of North America and the Pacific region of South America, usually in coastal salt marshes but also in some freshwater marshes. It is extinct or threatened in many locations due to habitat loss...
, San Francisco garter snake
San Francisco garter snake
The San Francisco Garter Snake is a slender multi-colored colubrid snake. Designated as an endangered species since the year 1967, it is endemic to California and resides only in San Mateo County, California, and the extreme northern part of coastal Santa Cruz County, California...
, coho
Coho salmon
The Coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch, is a species of anadromous fish in the salmon family. Coho salmon are also known as silver salmon or "silvers". It is the state animal of Chiba, Japan.-Description:...
and steelhead salmon. Working with experts from other areas, the Waddell Creek Association hopes to educate the public about wetlands, their value and necessity.
The Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail
Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail
The Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail is a 29.5-mile hiking trail that descends from the ridge of the Santa Cruz Mountains in Northern California to the Pacific Ocean, passing through Castle Rock State Park and Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Big Basin is California's first state park...
threads its way through Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Big Basin Redwoods State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of California, located in Santa Cruz County, about northwest of Santa Cruz. The park contains almost all of the Waddell Creek watershed, which was formed by the seismic uplift of its rim, and the erosion of its center by the many...
along Waddell Creek to the ocean at Waddell Beach, a freshwater marsh adjacent called Theodore J. Hoover Natural Preserve.
The preserve is located in northern Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz County, California
Santa Cruz County is a county located on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, on the California Central Coast. The county forms the northern coast of the Monterey Bay. . As of the 2010 U.S. Census, its population was 262,382. The county seat is Santa Cruz...
just one mile south of the San Mateo County
San Mateo County, California
San Mateo County is a county located in the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California. It covers most of the San Francisco Peninsula just south of San Francisco, and north of Santa Clara County. San Francisco International Airport is located at the northern end of the county, and...
line. It is named after Theodore J. Hoover, dean of engineering at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, and brother of President Hoover, whose family purchased Rancho del Oso in 1914.