|
Map Satellite Five separate areas lying within the boundaries of the Blacks Mountain Experimental Forest constitute this Research Natural Area. This area was selected because it contains some of the best extant stands of virgin "eastside" ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa. Much of this type of pine in California was heavily logged 50 years ago to avoid loss to bark beetles.
Sagebrush flats border and form a part of the understory in the pure ponderosa forests in the lower levels. In the high levels the ponderosa is associated with white fir, Abies concolor, incense cedar, Calocedrus decurrens, and Jeffrey pine, Pinus jeffreyi. There are also some Western junipers, Juniperus occidentalis. The understory includes Purshia tridentata, Artemisia tridentata, Ceanothus spp., Arctostaphylos patula, Carex spp., and Festuca idahoensis.
Animals are typical and include pronghorn, Antilocapra americana, and porcupine, Erethizon dorsatum.
The often shallow soils are derived from Quaternary basalts.
Integrity: The Research Natural Area was established in 1976 on the Experiment Forest which dates from 1934. Though the area is grazed, the pines are in good condition.
Use: Research, educational.
February 1980
Inventory of California Natural Areas
Revision © 2009 Steven Louis Hartman
|
