Status of NRS Reserve Internet Connectivity Development
(see map of NRS reserves at the system-wide office for reference)

UCNRS Information Manager, February 2009

The table on this page lists the status of Internet connectivity at the 37 NRS reserve field sites.

If a field site has no facilities, it is assumed that no internet connectivity is not a priority.

For remote sites with facilities, wireless technologies provide promising options to establish or improve connectivity. In particular, satellite links, are a cost-effective means to connect local area networks at those sites to the Internet. For example, Granite Mountains' solution is based on a satellite system. For Santa Cruz Island, we have initiated a wireless radio link that includes both network connectivity and phone channels.

We are also working with CENIC, which has a mandate to provide and improve network infrastructure for research and education in the state of California. Each reserve has been submitted to CENIC for revue. We are still awaiting specific information from CENIC on the types and speeds of connectivity options they may provide to NRS, as well as associated costs which may vary due to location.

For further details and additional connectivity resources see NRS Field site Internet connectivity options (incl. information on satellite systems and ways of connecting multiple machines at a reserve to the Internet, plus CENIC, HPWREN and more). In addition, the survey Information Technology and Electronic Networking in NRS provides baseline information on NRS connectivity as of May 2000.

The UCNRS Information Manager (infomgrucnrs.org) is a contact for all listed projects. In addition, key contacts for the various projects are listed below.

Satellite links and other technologies: see the connectivity options page.

CENIC: David Wasley, Director of Projects, (510) 987-0445, David.Wasley@ucop.edu. (Bob Sams in the Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, UCOP, has expressed interest in coordinating their communications needs with those of NRS. David Wasley has invited him to participate in our planning discussions). Cost Estimate and funding: The costs for connections through CENIC are not yet known. I have submitted a list of potential field sites to David Wasley, and he is presently looking into the possibilities for connections to those sites. Once we get information about CENIC options and associated costs, individual reserves will have to find the resources to fund the connections. Because this is a coordinated system-wide effort, we will look into the possibility of grants from NSF's Division of Biological Infrastructure and other funding organizations.

HPWREN: Hans-Werner Braun, senior fellow, SDSC, 858- 822-0949, hwb@nlanr.net; PI of the HPWREN project;
Braun and his associate, Frank Vernon of UCSD (HPWREN Co-PI, and SIO geophysicist, vernon@epicenter.ucsd.edu) went on a site visit at Boyd to meet and discuss details of the microwave link with reserve director Al Muth. Cost Estimate and funding: The HPWREN project is willing to provide the 802.11b radios and antennas for the link, including on Toro Peak, Agave Hill, and the target location at no cost. At the target location, the demarcation will be an Ethernet interface. Boyd will have to provide electricity and equipment housing on Agave Hill (examples: line power or 12V via a solar array) and whatever is needed to house the radio(s) and antennas (weather proof box, and 10' tower segment, such as a Rohn 25G that you would concrete into the ground). Due to weather constraints, installation of the link with Red Mountain and Toro Peak will likely be after winter 2001/2 (May+). The link will have a bandwidth > T1.

Santa Cruz Island Microwave link: Lyndal Laughrin (LLaughrin@ucnrs.org, 805-448-3491) is the main contact. In addition, Brian White (brian.white@commserv.ucsb.edu, UCSB Communications Services, 805-893-7279). The project is unusually complex as it involves several other parties (The Nature Conservancy; California Coastal Commision; UCSB campus departments such as Engineering). Also, in addition to a high-speed Internet connection, the link includes four direct phone lines to replace the present single cell phone connection.

Cost Estimate and funding: Lyndal Laughrin obtained a grant from NSF's Division of Biological Infrastructure for a communications link to the main land. The complexity of the link (data and voice, incl. infrastructure on the island), and the extreme physical parameters (31 miles over water), account for the total price tag of $35K (Lyndal will provide an updated cost breakdown with equipment and installation costs). In addition, the UCSB Communications Services department has been exceptionally helpful in providing assistance and services at little or no cost (incl. antenna installation on the Engineering building, planning for the campus feeds of voice and data).

LIST OF NRS SITE ADDRESSES SUBMITTED TO CENIC:

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Angelo Coast Range Reserve:
Coordinates: 39 deg. 43 min. 45 sec. North
121 deg. 38 min. 40 sec. West
Address:
42101 Wilderness Lodge Rd.
Branscomb, CA 95417

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Hastings Natural History Reservation:
Coordinates: 36 deg. 12 min. 30 sec. North
121 deg. 33 min. 30sec. West
http://nrs.ucop.edu/reserves/hastings/hastings.html
Street address for connection:
The office building there is not at a street address, but is about 1 mile in
from the Carmel Valley Road. There, it is at Martin Road, the
crossroad, and this is 38601 E. Carmel Valley Road.

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McLaughlin: http://nrs.ucop.edu/reserves/mclaughlin.html
Coordinates: 38 deg. 52 min. 0 sec. North
122 deg. 25 min. 40 sec. West
Street address for connection:
26775 Morgan Valley Rd.
Lower Lake, Ca 95457

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Quail Ridge: http://nrs.ucop.edu/reserves/quail.html
Coordinates: 38 deg. 28 min. 40 sec. North
122 deg. 08 min. 50 sec. West
Street address for connection:
7100 Highway 128
Napa, Ca 94558

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Motte Rimrock Reserve:
Coordinates: 33 deg. 48 min. 45 sec. North
117 deg. 15 min. 30 sec. West
Address:
21800 Lukens Lane
Perris, CA 92370

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Sweeney Granite Mountains Desert Research Center:
Coordinates: deg. min. sec. North
deg. min. sec. West
closest addresses:
(To the north, about 50 miles)
Mojave National Preserve Information
Center, 72157 Baker Blvd., Baker, CA 92309.

(To the south, about 30 miles)
Ludlow Chevron, 25635 Crucero Rd., Ludlow, CA 92338.

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Kenneth S. Norris Rancho Marino Reserve :
Coordinates: 35 deg. 32 min. 30 sec. North
121 deg.05 min. 30 sec. West
Address:
393 Ardath Drive
Cambria, CA 93428

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Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory:
Coordinates: 37 deg. 36 min. 51 sec. North
118 deg. 49 min. 47 sec. West
Address:
Route 1, Box 198, Mt. Morrison Rd.
Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546

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Landels-Hill Big Creek Reserve:
Coordinates: 36 deg. 3 min. 40 sec. North
121 deg. 34 min. 28 sec. West
Address:
Landels-Hill Big Creek Reserve,
Coast Route, Big Sur, CA 93920