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Map Satellite The Sand Canyon Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) is representative of the drier canyons on the eastern slope of the southern Sierras.
On the mid-elevation and lower slopes the vegetation is a creosote bush scrub, with Larrea tridentata the dominant species along with burro-weed, Ambrosia dumosa. Near the mouth of the canyon the saltbush, Atriplex polycarpa, is abundant.
In the higher elevations there is a pinyon-juniper woodland composed of Pinus monophylla and Juniperus californica. Digger pine, Pinus sabiniana, and Joshua trees, Yucca brevifolia, are also present.
A permanent stream on the canyon floor supports an extensive riparian thicket consisting primarily of arroyo willow, Salix lasiolepis, black willow, Salix gooddingii, and seep-willow, Baccharis salicifolia. There are scattered cottonwoods, Populus fremontii.
The uncommon Phacelia nashiana is present, as may be Phacelia novenmillensis.
A comparatively large number of mammals inhabit the canyon area including mule deer, Odocoileus hemionus, bobcat, Lynx rufus, Mojave ground squirrel, Citellus mohavensis, and a population of the vagrant shrew, Sorex vagrans.
Many migratory birds rest and feed in the area and numerous other birds breed here including chukars, Alectoris graeca, mountain quail, Oreortyx pictus, Gambel's quail, Lophortyx gambelii, and mourning dove, Zenaidura macroura. Golden eagles, Aquila chrysaetos, prairie falcon, Falco mexicanus, and long-eared owls, Asio otus, have been recorded with regularity in the area. There is a population of the Pacific tree frog, Hyla regilla, present.
Integrity: Cattle grazing has impacted some of the riparian vegetation and the stream banks in places.
Use: Research, educational, observational.
May 1982
Inventory of California Natural Areas
Revision © 2008 Steven Louis Hartman
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