Research

Below are resources to help you learn more about Stunt Ranch Reserve as you plan your project:

• Our staff are knowledgeable about the reserve and its resources. Please reach out to reserve management with your questions.
• If you are unsure of whether your project is feasible and appropriate for a UC UC Nature site, review the UC Nature Use and Guidelines.
• Biota observations at Stunt Ranch Reserve.
• Data from the UCUC Nature weather station onsite at Stunt Ranch Reserve
• Bibliography of research conducted at Stunt Ranch since its establishment.
• Creating a Field Safety Plan and review the Stunt Ranch Emergency Protocol is highly encouraged.

New research projects require an RAMS project. Individual visits within a project are submitted as visits linked to the project. Please allow 3 business days for review of Visits.

The first step is to create an account and submit an Project in our Research Access Management System (RAMS).

– During the Project process, your proposal will be reviewed for research value and suitability based on a number of factors, including natural resources, permits, other conflicting research proposals, infrastructure, environmental conditions, and staff resources if required. We will make every effort to work with applicants and welcome new Projects.

– Be sure to record the username and log-in password you used when submitting your original Project and confirm each section has been completed.

Reserve management will contact you if they have questions or foresee any issues with your Project.

Make a Visit for every visit to the reserve. Coordination is essential for our reserve as it assures that researchers’ needs are met, and conflicting research uses are avoided. Your adherence to the online Visit process provides this essential research coordination.

• Create a Visit in RAMS every time you plan to come to Stunt Ranch.
• Staff will review your Visit(s) and notify you as to whether the Visit(s) has been approved. During the Visit process, staff are looking at accommodation availability, road and weather conditions, fire risk, personnel availability, and other activities on the reserve.
• Part of our job is to help you conduct a successful research project, so let us know how we can help. However, beyond basic administrative and field support, we would bill you for our time helping you get your project started. This would be discussed before billing.

Hours of Operation
Stunt Ranch Reserve staff are available Monday-Friday from 8am-5pm. Staff is not available on University Holidays. Users may submit a Visit from 5am- 10pm weekdays and weekends (how early/late you are permitted to visit is up to the discretion of reserve management). While we are working on making camping an option, at this time we cannot allow users to stay overnight at the reserve. The reserve operates on limited staff, thus, unless requested ahead of time, a staff member may not be on-site during your visit.

Liability Wavier(s)

Each UC UC Nature site require non-UC faculty and all unsupervised student researchers to sign a liability wavier before stepping onto the property. Once your reservation is approved, reserve staff will contact you and provide you with the liability waiver(s) for you (and your team) to sign and return. Waivers are also available in Resources. Students under the age of 18 are required to have a parent/guardian signature.

Guidelines for Research Visitors

• Once your Visit is approved, you will be provided with codes to access the reserve and the main gate.
• Charge and carry a cell phone. While cell phone reception can be spotty, Wi-Fi is available at the field station and should allow you to make a call.
• Review Stunts Emergency Instructions before your visit. If your planning multiple visits with a team of researchers, management may require you complete a Field Safety Plan.
• Keep vehicles on established roadways. Ensure you have the proper vehicle for the locations you plan to go to. Large vehicles (e.g. trucks, buses, etc.) must be approved by management before driving down the driveway as these vehicles may be at risk of clipping overhanging oak tree branches.
• Leave gates as you find them (e.g., if closed and locked, close and lock it after passing).
• Let reserve staff know if you see anything broken or unusual in the Reserve.
• Review our Code of Conduct.
• DO NOT visit without having made advanced Visit and receiving Reserve staff approval. Requests for personal or purely recreational visits to the Reserve will not be approved. If you’re unsure, check with staff.
• DO NOT drive off the roads or park in tall grass. You car’s catalytic converters can start a fire.
• DO NOT smoke, bring dogs, collect, hunt, or ride mountain bikes, horses, or ATVs on the Reserve.
• DO NOT disturb reserve residents, animals, or experiments.