Table Mountain (Oroville)

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Table Mountain (Oroville)

This area contains scattered areas of valley grassland. The spring flora here is exceptionally rich, diverse, and spectacular, and is considered one of the finest wildflower areas in the north Central Valley. Fifty or more species may be spotted in an acre or two at the height of blooming period in April. There are large populations of valley sky lupine, Lupinus nanus, Kellogg's monkey flower, Mimulus kelloggii, golden brodiaea, Brodiaea ixioides, meadow foam, Limnanthes douglasii, gold violet, Viola douglasii, tomcat clover, Trifolium variegatum, common monkey flower, Mimulus guttatus, frying pan poppy, Eschscholzia lobbii, popcorn flowers, PIagiobothrys spp., Streptanthus diversifolius, Streptanthus tortuosus, prairie star, Lithophragma spp., bird's eye gilia, Gilia tricolor, white brodiaea, Triteleia hyacinthina, wild garlic, Allium cratericola, valley goldfields, Lasthenia californica, wild baby's breath, Linanthus filipes, purple and nodding godetia, Clarkia purpurea and Clarkia arcuata, tidy tips, Layia fremontii, purple owl's clover, Castilleja exserta, bitterroot, Lewisia rediviva, and Hartweg's odontostomum, Odontostomum hartwegii. All of these are found elsewhere but nowhere in such abundance in a relatively small area.

The area is essentially a plateau with rolling hills and several small steep canyons formed by the flow of lava down an ancient Sierra canyon. It is probably of the Oligocene-Miocene era, and it has been suggested that it may have originated at Diamond Mountain near Susanville. The flow followed a river bed and is now dotted with vernal pools and traversed by streams, some of which are ephemeral. There are several waterfalls including the 45-meter (150-ft.) Coal Canyon Falls. Below the falls the abrupt limit of the lava on top of the conglomerate of the ancient river bed is visible. The sheer cliffs of the canyon display columnar jointings of basalt.

There is a large colony of cliff swallows, Petrochelidon pyrrhonota, which nests on the walls of the canyon. Among the numerous reptiles present are the coast horned lizard, Phrynosoma coronatum, and the night snake, Hypsiglena torquata.

Integrity: Currently the area is used for cattle grazing and is fenced. There is an abandoned barn on the property. As Table Mountain is near the Oroville Lake recreational areas it may be subdivided for real-estate development.

Use: Private

January 1975