Italian Bar
Map SatelliteAlong this section of the South Fork of the Stanislaus River the plant community is best described as a deciduous oak chaparral. Among the trees are black and interior live oak, Quercus kelloggii and Quercus wislizenii, ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa, and, near the river, big-leaf maple, Acer macrophyllum, white alder, Alnus rhombifolia, and willow, Salix sp. Toyon, Heteromeles arbutifolia, Arctostaphylos mariposa, and Ceanothus sp. are amongst the shrubs that occur here.
Along this stretch of the river are found the best plots of the rare lily, Erythronium tuolumnense. It has been found downstream from this area for approximately 8 kilometers (5 miles) and gives its name to the Mountain Lily Mine, several kilometers downstream.
There is limestone in much of the area.
Integrity: Past gold-mining efforts continue to a limited extent. There are trash cans and toilets in the campsite, as well as a great deal of litter. Some of the hillsides have been damaged by motorcycles.
Use: Educational, research, observational, light recreation.
March 1976
Inventory of California Natural Areas
Revision © 2009 Steven Louis Hartman