Lafayette Reservoir

Ecosystem Overview

The Lafayette Reservoir ecosystem supports 70 documented wildlife species across 60 taxonomic genera. Located in Contra Costa County, California, this area provides critical habitat with diverse natural communities. The location hosts 15 frequently observed species and 13 occasionally documented species, creating a balanced ecosystem with both resident and visiting wildlife. While Contra Costa County nearby has 30% more documented species, Lafayette Reservoir offers unique wildlife observation opportunities. This location ranks #14 for species diversity among 45 Contra Costa County County natural areas, placing it in the 69th percentile for biodiversity.

Biodiversity Highlights

Total Species

Documented wildlife species

Genus Diversity

Taxonomic genera represented

Common Species

Frequently observed species

Rare Species

Occasionally documented species

#14

Regional Rank

Out of 45 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common15 species

Common21 species

Occasional21 species

Rare13 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#14 of 45 locations

69th percentile for diversity

vs. Contra Costa County

-30% species diversity

Ecosystem Overview

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Biodiversity Highlights

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Species Distribution

Very Common‌

Common‌

Occasional‌

Rare‌

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

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Most Common Species

Showing 20 most frequently observed species out of 70 total documented species.

Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

American White Pelican

Very Common12 obs.

Podilymbus podiceps

Pied-billed grebe

Very Common9 obs.

Bucephala albeola

Bufflehead

Very Common9 obs.

Zonotrichia atricapilla

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Very Common8 obs.

Melospiza melodia

Song Sparrow

Very Common7 obs.

Oxyura jamaicensis

Ruddy Duck

Common7 obs.

Butorides virescens

green heron

Common6 obs.

Sayornis nigricans

black phoebe

Common6 obs.

Ardea herodias

Great Blue Heron

Common6 obs.

Corvus brachyrhynchos

American Crow

Common4 obs.

Zonotrichia leucophrys

white-crowned sparrow

Common4 obs.

Bucephala clangula

common goldeneye

Occasional4 obs.

Aythya affinis

Lesser Scaup

Occasional4 obs.

Buteo jamaicensis

Red-tailed Hawk

Occasional3 obs.

Sialia mexicana

Western Bluebird

Occasional3 obs.

Fulica americana

American Coot

Occasional3 obs.

Pentagramma triangularis

goldenback fern

Occasional3 obs.

Aphelocoma californica

California/Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay

Rare2 obs.

Cathartes aura

Turkey Vulture

Rare2 obs.

Charadrius vociferus

Killdeer

Rare2 obs.

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Most Common Species

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Get Your Personalized Field Guide

Download a professional PDF field guide featuring all the species found in Lafayette Reservoir. Perfect for outdoor adventures, education, and nature exploration.

$6.99

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Download a professional PDF field guide featuring all the species found in Lafayette Reservoir. Perfect for outdoor adventures, education, and nature exploration.

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Regional Comparison

Regional Ranking

Species Count

-15%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 8 nearby locations in Contra Costa County County, California

Nearby Natural Areas

Contra Costa County

Importance: 0.49

100 species

-30% vs. current

Richmond

Importance: 0.49

100 species

-30% vs. current

Concord

Importance: 0.46

100 species

-30% vs. current

Walnut Creek

Importance: 0.45

100 species

-30% vs. current

Antioch

Importance: 0.44

100 species

-30% vs. current

Moraga

Importance: 0.43

47 species

+49% vs. current

Orinda

Importance: 0.43

100 species

-30% vs. current

Pittsburg

Importance: 0.43

11 species

+536% vs. current

About This Comparison

These comparisons are based on documented wildlife observations from citizen science data. Locations with higher species counts may have more observation activity, different habitat types, or larger coverage areas. Regional rankings help identify biodiversity hotspots and unique natural areas within Contra Costa County County.

Regional Comparison

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Regional Ranking

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Species Count

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vs. Regional Average

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Nearby Natural Areas

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About This Comparison

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Regional Comparison

Regional Ranking

Species Count

-15%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 8 nearby locations in Contra Costa County County, California

Nearby Natural Areas

Contra Costa County

Importance: 0.49

100 species

-30% vs. current

Richmond

Importance: 0.49

100 species

-30% vs. current

Concord

Importance: 0.46

100 species

-30% vs. current

Walnut Creek

Importance: 0.45

100 species

-30% vs. current

Antioch

Importance: 0.44

100 species

-30% vs. current

Moraga

Importance: 0.43

47 species

+49% vs. current

Orinda

Importance: 0.43

100 species

-30% vs. current

Pittsburg

Importance: 0.43

11 species

+536% vs. current

About This Comparison

Ecosystem Overview

Biodiversity Highlights

Total Species

Documented wildlife species

Genus Diversity

Taxonomic genera represented

Common Species

Frequently observed species

Rare Species

Occasionally documented species

#14

Regional Rank

Out of 45 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common15 species

Common21 species

Occasional21 species

Rare13 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#14 of 45 locations

69th percentile for diversity

vs. Contra Costa County

-30% species diversity

Most Common Species

Showing 20 most frequently observed species out of 70 total documented species.

Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

American White Pelican

Very Common12 obs.

Podilymbus podiceps

Pied-billed grebe

Very Common9 obs.

Bucephala albeola

Bufflehead

Very Common9 obs.

Zonotrichia atricapilla

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Very Common8 obs.

Melospiza melodia

Song Sparrow

Very Common7 obs.

Oxyura jamaicensis

Ruddy Duck

Common7 obs.

Butorides virescens

green heron

Common6 obs.

Sayornis nigricans

black phoebe

Common6 obs.

Ardea herodias

Great Blue Heron

Common6 obs.

Corvus brachyrhynchos

American Crow

Common4 obs.

Zonotrichia leucophrys

white-crowned sparrow

Common4 obs.

Bucephala clangula

common goldeneye

Occasional4 obs.

Aythya affinis

Lesser Scaup

Occasional4 obs.

Buteo jamaicensis

Red-tailed Hawk

Occasional3 obs.

Sialia mexicana

Western Bluebird

Occasional3 obs.

Fulica americana

American Coot

Occasional3 obs.

Pentagramma triangularis

goldenback fern

Occasional3 obs.

Aphelocoma californica

California/Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay

Rare2 obs.

Cathartes aura

Turkey Vulture

Rare2 obs.

Charadrius vociferus

Killdeer

Rare2 obs.

Want the Complete Field Guide?

Get all 70 species with 3-4 high-quality images each, detailed descriptions, and a downloadable PDF for offline use.

Premium field guide includes identification tips, seasonal patterns, and professional layout optimized for field use.