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Map Satellite Several desert plant communities are found in this area which includes a portion of the wash and much of the lower watershed. At the mouth of the canyon is a desert wash community, with smoke tree, Psorothamnus spinosus, indigo bush, Psorothamnus schottii, several cacti, Opuntia echinocarpa, Opuntia basilaris and Echinocereus engelmannii, among others. There are a number of California fan palm, Washingtonia filifera, in the canyon. The slopes of the canyon are covered, sparsely in many places, by a creosote bush scrub with Larrea tridentata, Encelia farinosa, catclaw, Acacia greggii, and the several cacti. The presence of available water permits a substantial and varied animal population. Of particular import are the rare Peninsular bighorn sheep, Ovis canadensis cremnobates, that frequent the area. Other animals include the ringtail cat, Bassariscus astutus, bobcat, Lynx rufus, kit fox, Vulpes macrotis, and numerous rodents as well as Phainopepla nitens, road-runner, Geococcyx californianus, numerous migratory birds and at least 14 species of reptiles, including the Western shovel-nosed snake, Chionactis occipitalis. Rocks in the area are Mesozoic granite and pre-Cretaceous metasedimentaries which exhibit a high degree of folding. Integrity: There has been off-road-vehicle damage and some of the palms have been vandalized, but most of the area is relatively undisturbed. A portion is now fully protected by the Calif. Dept. of Fish & Game. Use; Research, educational, observational; also private. February 1978
Inventory of California Natural Areas
Revision © 2009 Steven Louis Hartman
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