Inland Marine Sand Hills
Map SatelliteThis is one of the few remaining undisturbed marine deposits in the area. The diversity of habitats within this limited geographical area is striking. An unusual number of rare plants are found here and it is the northern limit for several species of plants and animals.
The area consists primarily of Santa Margarita sandstone deposited in the Miocene.
Chaparral, closed-cone pines and mixed evergreen forests are found on the site. Vegetation includes Ceanothus cuneatus, Ceanothus incanus, Ceanothus papillosus, Arctostaphylos crustacea, Pinus attenuata and Pinus ponderosa. Horkelia cuneata ssp. cuneata, a typical coastal plant, is found inland here. Haplopappus ericoides ssp. blakei reaches its northern limit in this region. The rare or endangered Arctostaphylos silvicola, Mimulus rattanii, and Erysimum teretifolium occur in the area. A substantial sandstone cliff, eroding in a drainage pattern to the San Lorenzo Creek, is the habitat for the latter two species.
Both the Santa Cruz kangaroo rat, Dipodomys venustus, and the Merriam chipmunk, Eutamias merriarra, are at the northern edge of their range here. Clark's Nutcracker, Nucifraga columbiana, has been observed here.
This area serves as refugia, amidst the more humid vegetation of the coastal belt, for many Upper Sonoran forms. The ecotone between the redwood stand along the creek and the ponderosa pine forest is very sharp.
Integrity: The area is bordered to the south and west by the Henry W. Cowell State Park. At present there is a road bulldozed to the top of the hill and along the ridge and there are some horse trails. A subdivision is under development across the road that forms the northern boundary.
This area is the last remaining outstanding site of the Ben Lomond sand hills.
Use: Private
January 1975
Inventory of California Natural Areas
Revision © 2009 Steven Louis Hartman