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Steele/Burnand Anza-Borrego Desert Research Center: A Partner in Research
By Jim Dice, Reserve Manager Steele/Burnand Anza-Borrego Desert Research Center
Since the opening of the Steele/Burnand Anza-Borrego Desert Research Center in April 2012, the Center has provided lodging, meeting space, and classroom/lab space for researchers and classes from 140 different institutions and organizations around the world - including 27 California universities, 41 other U.S. universities, and 14 different international universities.
The Research Center is a partnership between University of California Irvine, the UC Natural Reserve System, California State Parks, AnzaBorrego Desert State Park, and Anza-Borrego Foundation. In addition to providing low-cost lodging to university classes and researchers, studies conducted by researchers using the Center have resulted in several new scientific discoveries in the fields of botany, entomology, ornithology and geology. Repeat annual visits by classes in geology (UC Irvine, Occidental College, North Carolina State University, University of Texas, University of Chicago), ecology (UC Irvine, UC Natural Reserve System, University of Florida, Colorado College, University of San Diego) and lab and program retreats (UC Irvine, University of Connecticut, CalTech, USC) have occurred throughout our first decade.
We have continually provided a venue for Anza-Borrego Foundation educational programs, board meetings and training sessions, as well as meeting space for State Parks staff and volunteer organizations (AnzaBorrego Botany Society, Anza-Borrego Paleontology Society, Colorado Desert Archeology Society). The Research Center and staff have provided meeting space for, and participated in, the annual Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count and the ABDSP 4th of July Bighorn Sheep Count. Additionally, we have hosted numerous meetings for community organizations (Borrego Valley Stewardship Council, Borrego Water District, Soroptimist International of Borrego Springs, and others) and annually host the Summer Learning Academy for elementary and middle school students staged by the non-profit BASIC in conjunction with the Borrego Springs Unified School District.
The University of California, Irvine and the UC Natural Reserve System have established a climate monitoring network of 9 weather stations within northwestern Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and adjacent lands that include air quality monitoring equipment (provided by Borrego Water District) on five of the stations within Borrego Valley. UCI scientists have collaborated (under contract) with California State Parks on studies concerning invasive species, vegetation monitoring and wetland ecology and restoration in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, and with the Borrego Water District and the Borrego Valley Endowment Fund on air quality monitoring studies.
