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Map Satellite This creek, which cuts through a portion of the large serpentine body in the New Idria district (see New Idria Mine Area, San Benito Mountain and Spanish Lake), supports a relatively sparse but interesting flora. Some of the area is so highly mineralized that there is virtually no vegetation on the slopes.
In the lower elevations of the area there is a mosaic of chaparral and valley woodland, with gray pine, Pinus sabiniana, the dominant tree; in the higher, a scattered forest of Jeffrey pine, Pinus jeffreyi, occurs.
At least three rare plants are found here, Camissonia benitensis, Layia discoidea and Monardella antonina ssp. benitensis, and there is a disjunct colony of the oak Quercus palmeri. This oak is usually found in the Peninsular ranges and east, though there is another disjunct colony in San Luis Obispo County some 80 kilometers (50 miles) south.
Along the permanent creek there is a small riparian community with Salix sp. dominant.
Integrity: There are jeep trails in the area as well as a variety of mines. However, much of the area is relatively undisturbed.
Use: .Research, educational, observational. Many portions are private.
August 1976
Inventory of California Natural Areas
Revision © 2009 Steven Louis Hartman
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