Lava Springs State Park
Map SatelliteThe springs in this State Park, as well as those in the Fall River Springs region, have a common origin. Groundwater gradient studies indicate that the water is moving southward from the Tule Lake and Clear Lake areas, some 80 kilometers (50 miles) to the north, through the permeable soils interspersed between lava flows or in fissures in the lava of the Modoc Plateau. This water passes beneath and around the Medicine Lake highland. At several of the springs in this area, the water emerges with sufficient force to break the surface of the pond into which it flows.
Vegetation in the park varies from freshwater marsh, along a portion of the shoreline of Big Lake, to a juniper-sage scrub inland. There is some ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa, in the gullies. Chaparral, with Arctostaphylos spp., and mountain mahogany, Cercocarpus ledifolius, occur in scattered sites; however, much of the area is barren, broken lava.
Animal life is comparatively abundant. Nearly 190 species of birds have been observed here, including osprey, Pandion haliaetus, and bald eagles, Haliaeetus leucocephalus.
Integrity: There is an access road and some development has taken place by the lake, including improvement of the duck habitat; however, most of the area is virtually undisturbed.
Use: Research, educational, observational, present.
March 1978
Inventory of California Natural Areas
Revision © 2009 Steven Louis Hartman