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Map Satellite Approximately three-quarters of the plant cover of this wilderness is chaparral, with chamise, Adenostoma fasciculatum, Ceanothus spp., Arctostaphylos spp., toyon, Heteromeles arbutifolia, and scrub oak, Quercus berberidifolia, the usual dominants. There is a mixed evergreen forest with coast and canyon live oaks, Quercus agrifolia and Quercus chrysolepis, Coulter pine, Pinus coulteri, and madrone, Arbutus menziesii.
On some of the more mesic north-facing slopes, big-leaf maple, Acer macrophyllum, and California bay, Umbellularia californica, occur. On the ridge tops and in the higher peaks there are ponderosa pines, Pinus ponderosa, sugar pines, Pinus lambertiana, and the narrow endemic Santa Lucia fir, Abies bracteata. A few stands of redwoods, Sequoia sempervirens, some virgin, are found in the western portion.
On the cliffs of the redwood-forested canyon at Ventana Creek is an excellent display of ferns. Along the several rivers and streams that flow in the wilderness there are white alder, Alnus rhombifolia, black cottonwood, Populus trichocarpa, willows, Salix spp., sycamore, Platanus racemosa, and bay.
Several rare plants occur in the wilderness, including Lupinus cervinus and Galium clementis.
A variety of animal life, typical of the central coast, is found in the area. Of note are wild pigs, Sus scrofa, which were introduced in 1925-26, and the black bear, Ursus americanus, which are probably descendants of the bears introduced in 1937.
The oldest rocks in the area are those of the Sur series, possibly of late Paleozoic marine origin, a diverse group of metamorphics and including various schists and gneisses. Plutonic rocks with a wide range of composition have intruded the Sur series. Younger rocks in the area include marine sedimentary rocks of the Paleocene, Eocene and Miocene epochs.
Both the Big and Little Sur Rivers rise in the wilderness and have cut steep canyon walls in places. A very steep-walled gorge has been formed in the Arroyo Seco, which flows into the Salinas River. Permanent pools are found in the gorge.
Integrity: The heavily used portions with ready access from the coastal area are being severely impacted. A fire destroyed much of the wilderness, including a number of the firs, in 1976.
Use: Research, educational, observational, present.
March 1980
Inventory of California Natural Areas
Revision © 2009 Steven Louis Hartman
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