The Carrizo Plain
The Carrizo Plain
SCI 256
02FEB2013
The Carrizo plain is a large enclosed grassland area that is approximately 50 miles long and 15 miles across. Its location is in California spread between the Kern and San Luis Obispo counties. The Carrizo plains national monument is the single largest native grasslands that remain in California. Its unique ecosystem is home to much wildlife and has the largest concentration of some of the most endangered species of animals in California. The San Andres fault line runs through the plains and is unique because of the ease on is able to view the fractures of the fault from the plains floor. The plains are home to many archeological sites as well that have been named national historic landmarks. The Geography of the Carrizo plains has a lot of diversity. It lies in the valley in between tow mountain ranges, the Caliente range on south west and the temblor range on the north east. One of the major features in this ecosystem is Soda Lake. This is the only closed basins in the southern California coastal ranges; all other valleys have drainage to the sea. The water runoff soda lake comes from the Carrizo and carries sediment from the basin into it. The lake is a shallow ephemeral, alkali Endothecia Lake, which means it’s a short lived closed basin the high alkali level. The water and surrounding areas are home to many creatures to include brine and fairy shrimp as well as lots of migratory nesting birds as well as the salt bush which thrives around its shore lines. The climate of the plains grasslands is semi arid, there are no trees growing in the area as well as the annual rain fall is about nine inches per year. Besides runoff from the mountain ranges and rain fall the only water the Lake receives is from the Wallace creek it’s a small stream that mostly stays dry throughout the year. Due to the tectonic movements because of the San Andreas Fault the creek bed is offset by 425 feet. There are other creek beds that were
SCI 256
02FEB2013
The Carrizo plain is a large enclosed grassland area that is approximately 50 miles long and 15 miles across. Its location is in California spread between the Kern and San Luis Obispo counties. The Carrizo plains national monument is the single largest native grasslands that remain in California. Its unique ecosystem is home to much wildlife and has the largest concentration of some of the most endangered species of animals in California. The San Andres fault line runs through the plains and is unique because of the ease on is able to view the fractures of the fault from the plains floor. The plains are home to many archeological sites as well that have been named national historic landmarks. The Geography of the Carrizo plains has a lot of diversity. It lies in the valley in between tow mountain ranges, the Caliente range on south west and the temblor range on the north east. One of the major features in this ecosystem is Soda Lake. This is the only closed basins in the southern California coastal ranges; all other valleys have drainage to the sea. The water runoff soda lake comes from the Carrizo and carries sediment from the basin into it. The lake is a shallow ephemeral, alkali Endothecia Lake, which means it’s a short lived closed basin the high alkali level. The water and surrounding areas are home to many creatures to include brine and fairy shrimp as well as lots of migratory nesting birds as well as the salt bush which thrives around its shore lines. The climate of the plains grasslands is semi arid, there are no trees growing in the area as well as the annual rain fall is about nine inches per year. Besides runoff from the mountain ranges and rain fall the only water the Lake receives is from the Wallace creek it’s a small stream that mostly stays dry throughout the year. Due to the tectonic movements because of the San Andreas Fault the creek bed is offset by 425 feet. There are other creek beds that were
References: Graham, C. (2011, ). Ode to carrizo plain. Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/873876879?accountid=35812 Carrizo plain. (1998, Sunset, 200, 84-85. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/203285413?accountid=35812