Corral Hollow
Map SatelliteCorral Hollow is of botanical, zoological and paleontological interest.
Predominantly chaparral, the area is, however, the northern outpost of many desert and semi-desert species that extend north along the western border of the San Joaquin Valley. At least nine species reach their northern limit here, including the mesquite, Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana. Others are Amsinckia vernicosa, Coreopsis calliopsidea, Mormon tea, Ephedra californica, the desert buckwheat, Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium, Monardella breweri, the primrose, Oenothera deltoides var. cognata, Phacelia fremontii, and Plagiobothrys arizonicus. Three rare plants have been collected in the vicinity, Amsinckia grandiflora, Eriogonum truncatum, and Tropidocarpum capparideum. Other noteworthy plants include Eastwoodia elegans, snake's head, Malacothrix coulteri, Thelypodium flavescens, and the plantain, Plantago ovata.
There is an abundance of animal life in the area, with a particularly rich reptile population. Badgers, Taxidea taxus, bobcats, Lynx rufus, and coyotes, Canis latrans, are still found in the area. There are bat caves.
Among the rock cliffs are large nesting colonies of the cliff swallow, Petrochelidon pyrrhonota. The white-throated swift, Aeronaubes saxatalis, also nests here.
A variety of lizards is found in the area, including the coast horned lizard, Phrynosoma coronatum, side-blotched lizard, Uta stansburiana, Gilbert's skink, Eumeces gilberti, Western whiptail, Cnemidophorus tigris, and the California legless lizard, Anniella pulchra. Snakes found here include the glossy snake, Arizona elegans, coachwhip snake, Masticophis flagellum, long-nosed snake, Rhinocheilus lecontei, among several others. The Western spadefoot, Scaphiopus hammondi, is locally common, as is the Western toad, Bufo boreas.
Several geological formations are present, including the manganese-rich Mesozoic rocks of marine sedimentary origin. There are mid-Cretaceous beds south of the site of Carneige. The Tesla Formation dates from the lower Eocene and includes both coal and sandstone. There are prominent outcrops of the Vaqueros Formation, lower Miocene marine sedimentary rocks.
The oldest fossil plants in the Bay Area have been recovered from the lower Eocene Tesla Formation. Leaves of the fan palm, Sabalites, magnolia, avocado, Persea, sebestena, Cordia, and huanchal, Cupania, have been identified. Their modern relatives are primarily tropical. Close association of these fossiliferous beds with shales containing marine fossils suggests that this forest bordered a lagoon or swamp along the seashore. A fossil pearl oyster, Pteria gregoryi, and an ammonite, Sonneratia rogersi, dating from the mid-Cretaceous, have been found in the area.
Integrity: Historically, the canyon was the route de Anza took in 1776 and, later, of the El Camino Viego between Los Angeles and the Bay Area. A road now runs through the area. The Tesla mine produced coal from the 1850's to the early 1900's. There was a pottery factory at Carneige, a town of 2,000 in the early 1900's. Ruins can still be seen. Manganese was mined in the area from 1867 to the Korean War. Motorcyclists have damaged a portion of the area; however a large part of the area is owned by the Lawrence Radiation Lab and atomic-related companies and is restricted and patrolled.
Use: Private
September 1975
Inventory of California Natural Areas
Revision © 2009 Steven Louis Hartman
