Antonelli Pond facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Antonelli Pond |
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Sunset (February 2008)
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 Antonelli Pond
Location in California
Antonelli Pond
Location in the United States
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| Location | Santa Cruz, California |
| Coordinates | 36°57′17″N 122°03′37″W / 36.95472°N 122.06028°W |
| Type | artificial pond |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 6.4 acres (2.6 ha) |
| Max. depth | 0.9 m (3.0 ft) |
| Water volume | 3 m (9.8 ft) |
Antonelli Pond is a pond in Santa Cruz, California. It was made by people about 100 years ago. This pond and the land around it are now very important. They are special for both nature and the local community.
Many animals use the pond and its nearby areas. These include birds like raptors and egrets. You might also see great blue herons, deer, raccoons, and coyotes. Small animals like woodrats also live here. People in the area enjoy walking on the paths and going fishing at the pond every day.
Protecting Antonelli Pond
The Land Trust of Santa Cruz County (LTSCC) is a group that helps protect natural places. They bought the land around Antonelli Pond in different parts between 1982 and 1994. This land includes the pond itself, the areas along the water, and nearby grasslands. It also includes land next to Moore Creek.
The LTSCC now takes care of about 13.7 acres (about 5.5 hectares) of land at Antonelli Pond. The pond itself covers about 6.4 acres. In 1989, the LTSCC made some improvements. They added gravel walking trails and small platforms for fishing. They also built stairs near the northern side of the pond. Wooden benches and signs with information were also put in place.
The main goal of the LTSCC is to keep Antonelli Pond a natural area in the city. They want to make sure it stays a safe place for wildlife to live and find food. They also want to make sure people can continue to visit and enjoy the pond.
Problems at the Pond
Over time, Antonelli Pond has faced some challenges. Plants that are not native to the area have grown too much. These "invasive species" have taken over from the native plants. This has caused the number of different animals, like birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians, to go down.
The walking trails have also been damaged. This is mostly because vehicles that are not allowed have driven on them. This causes the ground to wear away, which is called erosion. Other problems include trash, like empty bottles, left around the pond. Some of the benches, stairs, and fishing platforms have also been broken by people.
Some of the most harmful invasive plants at Antonelli Pond are:
- Conium maculatum (poison hemlock)
- Himalayan blackberry
- English ivy
- Cape ivy
These plants can spread quickly and harm the natural balance of the area.
Restoring the Pond
In the spring of 2007, work began to fix up parts of Antonelli Pond. The first steps included removing many of the invasive plants. Gates were put up to stop vehicles from driving on the trails. The trails were also fixed to prevent erosion.
To help the wildlife, several special boxes were built. These "wood duck boxes" were placed around the pond. They give wood ducks a safe place to build their nests.
Future plans include collecting seeds from native plants already growing there. These seeds will be grown into new plants. Other native plants will be bought from local nurseries. The first new native plants were planned to be put in the ground in the fall of 2007. A special plan was written to guide all the cleanup, restoration, and protection efforts. This work will continue for many years to come.
