Pepperwood Ranch Natural Preserve
Map SatellitePepperwood Ranch is located in the Franz Valley. Much of the area is in an oak woodland with coast live oak, Quercus agrifolia, interior live oak, Quercus wislizenii, black oak, Quercus kelloggii, and valley oak, Quercus lobata. The understory is grassland composed primarily of exotics.
There is some Douglas fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii, forest with California bay, Umbellularia californica, and madrone, Arbutus menziesii. A few redwood, Sequoia sempervirens, are also present.
In portions of the area there is a serpentine chaparral with such species as chamise, Adenostoma fasciculatum, Ceanothus spp., Arctostaphylos spp. and silk-tassel bush, Garrya congdonii.
Animals are typical of the region and include such species as raccoon, Procyon lotor, gray fox, Urocyon cinereoargenteus, pygmy owl, Glaucidium gnoma, California newt, Taricha torosa, and rough-skinned newt, Taricha granulosa.
Integrity: The area has been grazed and there are some buildings and roads on it.
Use: Research, educational.
July 1982
Inventory of California Natural Areas
Revision © 2009 Steven Louis Hartman