Samuel P. Taylor State Park

Several main plant communities are found in the Samuel P. Taylor State Park. On the canyon bottoms and north-facing slopes are forests of redwoods, Sequoia sempervirens, mixed with Douglas fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii. On the drier slopes there is a mixed broadleaf evergreen forest with coast live oak, Quercus agrifolia, madrone, Arbutus menziesii, and tan-oak, Lithocarpus densiflorus. There are also scattered California nutmegs, Torreya californica.

In portions, the woodland becomes a grassland. There is some chaparral. Elymus californicus, a rare grass, occurs in the area, as does the uncommon Western leather-wood, Dirca occidentalis.

A variety of animal life, typical of the region, is found in the park. Badgers, Taxidea taxus, frequent the area. Populations of the State butterfly, the California dog-face, Colias eurydice, are common in the park.

Several anadromous fish spawn in the year-round Lagunitas Creek, including silver salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch, and steelhead, Salmo gairdnerii gairdnerii. The rare freshwater shrimp, Syncaris pacifica, probably is found in the creek here.

Integrity: The park has been used as a campground and for recreation since 1874. There was a paper mill as well as other developments in the area. Today there are numerous campsites, trails, etc. Portions are heavily impacted, others are in fair condition.

Use: Research, educational, observational, present.

February 1978