University of California-Merced

authorized the allocation of funds for constructing new public education facilities, including those within the UC system. To supplement this, Assemblymember Dennis Cardoza secured an additional $55 million in dedicated state funds for UC Merced, with the explicit intention of ensuring the project would not impact the financial standing of the other nine UC campuses. In 1999, the Regents of the University of California appointed Carol Tomlinson-Keasey as UC Merced's founding chancellor, a key figure who proved instrumental in advocating for continued state support and funding.
To meet environmental standards, a formal wetland delineation following the 1987 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers guidelines was conducted, along with extensive biological surveys throughout 1999 and 2000. These surveys targeted a wide range of species including rare vernal pool invertebrates, plants, amphibians, and mammals to assess potential ecological constraints. Given the sensitivity of these habitats, UC and Merced County launched a …