Pine Creek
Map SatelliteSpring-fed Pine Creek lies in a relatively steep-sided canyon cut through the Upper Pliocene Tuscan formation. Several plant communities are present: chaparral, foothill woodland and, along the perennial creek, riparian.
Most of the area is foothill woodland, with such species as gray pine, Pinus sabiniana, blue oak, Quercus douglasii, interior live oak, Quercus wislizenii, and California buckeye, Aesculus californica. The woodland intergrades into the chaparral, where Arctostaphylos spp. and redbud, Cercis occidentalis, dominate.
In the riparian community, white alder, Alnus rhombifolia, sycamore, Platanus racemosa, California bay, Umbellularia californica, willow, Salix sp., and canyon live oak, Quercus chrysolepis, are conspicuous.
The area is rich in wildlife. Among the nesting birds are the golden eagle, Aquila chrysaetos, and prairie falcon, Falco mexicanus. There are wild horses in the canyon.
Integrity: The area is grazed by cattle but otherwise is relatively undisturbed.
Use: Private
August 1977
Inventory of California Natural Areas
Revision © 2009 Steven Louis Hartman
