Nickerson Arroyo

Sequit Reserve

Map Satellite

Several plant communities occur in this Reserve which lies in a steep-walled canyon on the east fork of the Arroyo Sequit.

Chaparral and coastal sage scrub are found on the canyon slopes. Chamise, Adenostoma fasciculatum, is the dominant in the chaparral, which also includes Ceanothus spinosus, Ceanothus megacarpus, Ceanothus cuneatus, Arctostaphylos glandulosa, and mountain mahogany, Cercocarpus betuloides. Elements of the scrub include California sagebrush, Artemisia californica, buckwheat, Eriogonum fasciculatum, black sage, Salvia mellifera, chia, Salvia columbariae, and Yucca whipplei.

On the floor of the canyon there is a mixed riparian woodland with sycamore, Platanus racemosa, California bay, Umbellularia californica, and red willow, Salix laevigata. Cattails, Typha domingensis and Typha latifolia, are found along the borders of the permanent pools,

Animal life is typical of the mountains.

Volcanic breccia and basalt flows of the Miocene occur here.

Integrity: Fire burned the higher portions of the area in 1956.

Use: Research, educational.

March 1981