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Map Satellite Several kilometers to the east of the Pygmy Forest Ecological Staircase are remnant plateaus and canyon erosional features at the top of the staircase. The marine terraces here are found between an elevation of 240 meters (800 feet) and 300 meters (1,000 feet) and may date to 1,000,000 B.P. These older terraces are generally tilted and the pygmy forest soils have been eroded, leaving the original wave-cut bedrock platforms with shallow soils supporting grassland balds. As the soils build up, the redwood-Douglas fir forest becomes the dominant vegetation.
Further east the terrain is dissected by steep canyons and ravines.
Integrity: Much of the area has been logged and is maintained on a sustained-yield basis. The North Fork Caspar Creek watershed is approaching 100 years of redwood regrowth and is being maintained as a control area for research and comparisons. In the grassland area there is a farm camp. A very small portion of the virgin redwood stands remains.
Use: Research, educational, on public portion, Remainder, private.
Ref: Fox, W. A. 1976. An Ecologic Staircase. Calif. Geology No. 29, pp. 3-7.
January 1976
Inventory of California Natural Areas
Revision © 2009 Steven Louis Hartman
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