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• Alameda County Altamont Landfill Open Space Fund Robertson Property Acquisition Pleasanton Ridge Regional Path East Bay Regional Park District FUNDING CRITERIA I. Significant Native Biodiversity Value Due both to its large size and its proximity to other protected lands, the Robertson property has outstanding biodiversity value for native species. Scientists have determined that large blocks of habitat are superior to small blocks, contiguous blocks are better than habitats which are fragmented, and interconnected blocks are better than isolated blocks. Large, contiguous, interconnected blocks of habitat create a preserve which provides species with better opportunities for foraging, shelter and breeding. The Conservation Lands Network is a five-year science-based study to identify the most essential lands needed to sustain biological diversity of plants,fish and wildlife in the nine-county Bay Area. Included in the study is the "Upland Habitat Goals Project," which surveyed, ranked and mapped natural resources in uplands throughout the Bay Area. This information is meant to help guide selection of lands to be conserved which incorporate migratory routs and buffer against predicted climate change impacts. According to this study, acquisition and permanent protection of the Robertson property are essential to achieve regional conservation goals. The Robertson property provides a critical link west to east from Walpert Ridge to Pleasanton Ridge, preserved lands which parallel Sunol Ridge on each side. Also, the 1,100' elevation gain from Palomares Road to Sunol Peak provides a vertical corridor for those species which move up- and downslope to roost, forage and breed. EBRPD staff has not yet had an opportunity to perform detailed surveys of flora and fauna on the Robertson property. However, wildlife and vegetation surveys have been conducted extensively on the adjacent Pleasanton Ridge parklands, including the recently acquired Tyler Ranch which abuts Robertson to the east. Due to the similarity of topography and plant communities, it is reasonable to assume that similar species will be found on the Robertson property. The three major plant communities on the Robertson property are California annual grassland, shrublands and oak woodlands; also present in smaller areas are riparian and ephemeral canyon creeks, ponds, springs and seeps. • California annual grassland provides nesting and foraging habitat for the California ground squirrel, California horned lark and loggerhead shrike. Ground squirrels are an important prey species for the golden eagle and other raptors and large mammals. • Oak woodlands support nesting, roosting and foraging birds, such as the ash- throated flycatcher, Bewick's wren, Hutton's vireo, black-headed grosbeak, band- tailed pigeon, orange-crowned warbler and Anna's hummingbird. Pallid bats use