The SDSU/FLC docent program will be working together to do research on and around SDSU's Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve (SMER).  The FLC Docent's group is in the process of organizing the various projects and teams. These projects are open to non docent members of the community who may be interested in participating in research and visiting the reserve in a research or surveying capacity.  We will provide training for the projects that require it and there will be a team leader for each project so no scientific experience is needed.  If anyone is interested in participating in our research projects, please have them contact Tom Chester by email at tom@tchester.org or by phone at 760-723-0087. A   brief overview of the projects follows:

Archeology / History
    Objective: To locate, identify and record archeological and historical sites along the SMR.

Beaver Distribution And Impact
    Objective: To establish a foundation of information on current beaver activity on the SMR and to track changes in activity annually.  Possible questions: How do flooding patterns affect beaver activity? How does beaver activity affect water flow in the river? How long does it take for beaver communities to reestablish after flooding?

Birds
    Objective: To determine which species of birds and how many exist in a given area during specific times of year and which species show evidence of breeding.

Erosion along the Santa Margarita River
    Objective: Measure the extent of erosion along the banks of the Santa Margarita River over a period of ~110 years, using the old railroad bench constructed in 1882, repaired in 1884, and abandoned in 1891 due to washouts.

Exotic Plants
    Objective: To determine which species of exotic plants exist within SMER and to chart their distribution and location.

General Research Support
    Objective: To provide assistance to reserve researchers on request.

Impact Of Recreational Use Of Natural Areas
    Objective: To determine the impact of various forms of recreational use on natural areas and on trails. Possible Questions: What are the relative effects of foot traffic, horse traffic, and vehicle traffic on natural areas and trails? Do horses, hikers and dogs distribute exotic plant species?

Macro Invertebrate Survey
    Objective: To determine which species of macro invertebrates currently exist in the SMR.

Photographic Records
    Objective: To establish a photographic record of key areas of the Reserve taken at certain times of the year.

Plants - Timing of Blooms
    Objective: To determine which species of plants on SMER bloom during specific times of year.

Water Testing
    Objective: To determine the impact of released reclaimed water on the water quality of the SMR.