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Milagra Ridge is a small, 240-acre, parcel of land that overlooks the town of Pacifica, California. It was at one time included in the United States Army's coastal fortification system. In 1987 it was added to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area for the protection of an endangered butterfly: the Mission Blue.
Surrounded on all sides by development, Milagra Ridge is essentially an island ecosystem: unconnected with any other parcel of open space. This can increase a species vulnerability to disturbances such as the encroachment of non-native invasive plants species or human impacts that cause soil erosion and compaction from off-trail traffic.
In addition to the Mission Blue butterfly, several other endangered species make their home on Milagra Ridge. They include the San Bruno Elfin butterfly, the red-legged frog, and the San Francisco garter snake. Students from Oceana High School's Environmental Studies Course are helping to restore native plant habitat on Milagra Ridge to help protect these endangered species.
Throughout the year they participate in every phase of the restoration cycle. The Golden Gate National Recreation Area and the Park Association's Site Stewardship Program forged an unusual partnership with Oceana High School. Together, they funded, built, and currently manage a small native plant nursery on the school campus which is located at the base of Milagra Ridge.
Visit the Milagra Ridge website to learn more!
Intern Responsibilities/Duties
1. Butterfly Monitoring, Pacifica : The intern will monitor the Mission Blue Butterfly, at Milagra Ridge near Pacifica. The Site Stewardship Program has been working for more than 10 years to restore and enhance native habitat for threatened and endangered species on Milagra Ridge, a former World War II military base and Nike missile site located in Pacifica. The protection of the endangered Mission blue butterfly has been a priority at this site and the species is monitored to insure that protection goals are being achieved. Interns will collect data on the absence/presence of the butterfly and observe its behavior. Due to the mild weathers conditions required by the butterfly for flight, surveys are conducted only on relatively calm, sunny days. Interns will need substantial flexibility to be able to take advantage of good weather. Training will be provided on-site and in the office.
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for a full description of this internship.
Intern Skills/Qualities
· Student must be reliable as an on-call volunteer
· Detail-oriented and committed to collecting high-quality data
· Capable of working independently
· Comfortable working outdoors
Intern Transportation
Must be able to get to Building 34 at Fort Mason, located at Bay and Franklin on your own, and possibly to Milagra Ridge in Pacifica. Fort Mason is well served by public transit. Car pool to Milagra Ridge may be available from Building 34.