Sisquoc Condor Sanctuary

Map     Satellite

Virtually all of this Sanctuary is covered by chaparral, with chamise, Adenostoma fasciculatum, scrub oak, Quercus sp., and mountain mahogany, Cercocarpus betuloides, dominant.  There are scattered pines, sugar and ponderosa, Pinus lambertiana and Pinus ponderosa, within the area.  Along Fall Creek there is some riparian woodland with white alder, Alnus rhombifolia, cottonwood, Populus fremontii, and bay, Umbellularia californica.

The area is one of the major roosting areas for the endangered California condor, Gymnogyps californianus.

Several faults traverse the area and there are steep cliffs, giving excellent exposures of the banded Cretaceous marine sedimentaries, primarily sandstones.

A waterfall, which cascades 60 meters (200 feet) in a distance of less than 60 meters (200 feet), gives the name to Fall Creek.

Integrity:  There is no development in the area. Apparently the pine forest was once somewhat more extensive but was logged by the Spaniards for the mission and other buildings.

Use:  Restricted

March 1977

Inventory of California Natural Areas
Revision © 2009 Steven Louis Hartman

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