Creighton Ranch
Map SatelliteThe size of this preserve and the diversity of plant communities on it make it one of the most important in the Central Valley. Grasslands, freshwater marshes, riparian associations, a mesquite savannah, iodine bush scrub and some vernal pools are found here.
Of particular note is the mesquite savannah where Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana is found scattered throughout a grassland area; here, mesquite is near or at its northernmost limit on the floor of the valley.
Approximately a quarter of the preserve is a freshwater marsh. Juncus balticus is the dominant species in much of the marsh but there are cattails, Typha sp., some tules, Scirpus sp., and Cyperus sp. present, as are buttonbush, Cephalanthus occidentalis var. californicus, and black willow, Salix gooddingii. In the riparian association the black willow is dominant but there are some sandbar willow, Salix hindsiana, red willow, Salix laevigata, and yellow willow, Salix lasiandra. A few cottonwood, Populus fremontii, occur here, and on the higher ground there are scattered valley oaks, Quercus lobata.
Over an eighth of the preserve is given to a valley scrub, with iodine bush, Allenrolfea occidentalis, the main shrub and Sporobolus airoides the main grass, and with alkali blite, Suaeda moquinii, and alkali heath, Frankenia salina, present. The grasslands are primarily exotics.
Vernal pools are typical, with Lasthenia fremontii, Plagiobothrys sp. and Psilocarphus sp. common.
Animals are abundant. Among the mammals observed on the preserve are coyote, Canis latrans, badger, Taxidea taxus, and kangaroo rat, Dipodomys spp. The endangered San Joaquin kit fox, Vulpes macrotis mutica, has been sighted in the vicinity of the preserve and may occur on it.
Some 171 species of birds have been recorded here, including such breeders as blue grosbeak, Guiraca caerulea, yellow warbler, Dendroica petechia, white-tailed kite, Elanus leucurus, lesser nighthawk, Chordeiles acutipennis, and black-crowned night heron, Mycticorax nycticorax. There is a variety of shorebirds and waterfowl found on the preserve during the migratory season, including mountain plover, Charadrius montanus, Canada geese, Branta canadensis, pintail, Anas acuta, and mallard, Anas platyrhynchos.
The Tule River, channeled in part, traverses the preserve.
Integrity: There are levees, channels, roads and some buildings. Portions of the area are managed for marsh habitat. There is limited private hunting
Use: Research, education.
May 1982
Inventory of California Natural Areas
Revision © 2009 Steven Louis Hartman
