South Fork Kern River Riparian Area

One of the largest remaining riparian forests in the State occurs on the flood plain of the South Fork of the Kern River. The forest, which varies in width from a few meters to over 800 meters (0.5 mile), extends eastward from Isabella Lake some 20 kilometers (12 miles).

Three species form the overstory, Fremont cottonwood, Populus fremontii, sandbar willow, Salix hindsiana, and black willow, Salix gooddingii; the cottonwood is the dominant. In most of the forest there is a dense understory, with mule fat, Baccharis salicifolia, nettle, Urtica dioica ssp. holosericea, and mudwort, Limosella aquatica, the conspicuous elements.

Freshwater marshes, with cattails, Typha sp., and sedges, Carex spp., are found along sloughs, ditches and ponds in the area.

Animal life is abundant. Among the mammals present are longtail weasel, Mustela frenata, brush rabbit, Sylvilagus bachmani, coyote, Canis latrans, and a particularly abundant population of the dusky-footed woodrat, Neotoma fuscipes. Beaver, Castor canadensis, is well established after being introduced in 1930. Black bear, Ursus americanus, and mountain lion, Felis concolor, are occasionally sighted in the area.

A wide variety of resident and transient birds is found in the area. Among the 60 species breeding here are mallard, Anas platyrhynchos, cinnamon teal, Anas cyanoptera, wood duck, Aix sponsa, Virginia rail, Rallus limicola, sora, Porzana carolina, great blue heron, Ardea herodias, osprey, Pandion haliaetus, blue grosbeak, Guiraca caerulea, and the rare yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus. Two desert riparian species reach the northwestern limit of their range in this area, summer tanager, Piranqa rubra, and Wied's crested flycatcher, Myiarchus tyrannulus.

Integrity: Much of the area has been heavily grazed by cattle. Fluctuations of the water level of the reservoir adversely affect the western portion.

Use: Educational, research, observational; private portions. At the western end, where the river flows into the lake, the Corps of Engineers has established the South Fork Wildlife Area. There is a nature trail through the forest. Upstream, The Nature Conservancy has created the Kern River Preserve.

May 1981