The sand hills between Scotts Valley and Ben Lomond where th quarry now stands are home to 87 different unique plant species only found in this type of soil. Twenty three of them are endangered. These plants and some animals do well on the soil which is high in calcium but low in other nutrients. The calcium comes rom the shells of sea creatures. The quarry has been asked to pause its operations until a plan can be made to revegetate the species in other parts of the quarry to preserve them.