Bodfish - Garfield Area

In this area, which includes a portion of Hot Springs Valley along the Kern River as well as the adjacent mountains, two communities dominate. Along the river is a riparian woodland with sycamore, Platanus racemosa, cottonwood, Populus fremontii, and sandbar willow, Salix hindsiana. In the mountainous area the foothill woodland is dominant, with blue oak, Quercus douglasii, digger pine, Pinus sabiniana, buckeye, Aesculus californica, silk-tassel bush, Garrya flavescens, buck brush, Ceanothus cuneatus, and some California juniper, Juniperus californica, among the more conspicuous plants. The rare Navarretia setiloba is found in the area, as is Eschscholzia californica (= Eschscholzia procera, a plant with a very limited distribution commonly named Kernville poppy).

Animal life is typical of the Upper Sonoran zone in the southern Sierra. The kangaroo rat, Dipodomys agilis, is here near the northeastern limit of its range.

The mountainous area is primarily Mesozoic granitics, while the valley is Quaternary alluvium.

Integrity: The area surrounds, but does not include, Bodfish and Garfield. There are roads and some mining activity.

Use: Educational, research, observational. Portions are private.

July 1976