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>Map >Satellite Famed as an important oil-producing field in the State, the north dome of the Kettleman Hills is of biological and paleontological interest also. The dominant vegetation is a valley grassland with Avena spp., Bromus spp. and Atriplex spinifera.
A variety of animal life is found in the area, including the San Joaquin antelope squirrel, Ammospermophilus nelsoni, the rare San Joaquin kit fox, Vulpes macrotis mutica, and, probably, the endangered blunt-nosed leopard lizard, Crotaphytus wislizenii silus.
As the surface rocks are weakly consolidated and as the area lies in the driest section of the San Joaquin Valley where the vegetation has been disturbed, the erosion patterns have produced a near badlands topography.
Numerous Miocene and Pliocene marine invertebrate fossils, including sand dollars, clams and snails, have been found in the area, as have plant fossils.
Integrity: The area is severely disturbed as a result of the oil production; however, in some of the less accessible portions the vegetation is in fair condition.
Use: Private
Ref: Woodring, W. P., et al, 1940. Geology of the Kettleman Hills Oil Field, Calif. U.S. Geo. Sur. Prof. Paper 195.
September 1977
Inventory of California Natural Areas
Revision © 2008 Steven Louis Hartman
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