Ecological site group description

Provisional. A provisional ecological site description has undergone quality control and quality assurance review. It contains a working state and transition model and enough information to identify the ecological site.

Physiography

This ESG is found on mountains, often in convex/convex positions between 4000 to 7000 ft. in elevation. Slopes range from 15 to 50 percent. Aspects are typically west, southwest or south-facing, but may be found on other aspects in certain areas.

Climate

The average annual precipitation in this MLRA is 23 to 98 inches (585 to 2,490 millimeters), increasing with elevation inland. Most of the rainfall occurs as low-intensity, Pacific frontal storms. Precipitation is evenly distributed throughout fall, winter, and spring, but summers are dry. Snowfall is rare along the coast, but snow accumulates at the higher elevations directly inland. Fog is a significant variable that defines this MLRA from other similar MLRAs. Summer fog frequency values of greater than 35% are strongly correlated to the extent of coast redwood distribution, which is a primary indicator species in this MLRA. Nighttime fog is approximately twice as common as daytime fog and seasonally, it reaches its peak frequency in early August, with the greatest occurrence of fog from June through September (Johnstone and Dawson 2010). The average annual temperature is 49 to 59 degrees F (10 to 15 degrees C). The freeze-free period averages 300 days and ranges from 230 to 365 days, decreasing inland as elevation increases.

Soil features

The soils for this ESG are varied, but are primarily represented by mesic, Typic Haploxerepts. They typically range in soil textures from coarse-loamy to loamy and are moderately deep and well drained over colluvium and/or residuum weathered from granitoid sources, usually quartz monzonite.

The representative soils for this ESG include Cedarpines, Runningsprings, Groutcreek, Heapspeak, and Waterman.

Vegetation dynamics

This ESG fits best within the Montane Hardwood-Conifer (MHC) designated California Wildlife Habitat Relationships group and includes both conifers and hardwoods, often as a closed forest. There may be small areas of mixed conifer forest, but they are of minor extent in comparison to the MHC.

To be considered MHC, at least one-third of the trees must be conifer and at least one-third must be broad-leaved. The habitat often occurs in a mosaic-like pattern with small pure stands of conifers interspersed with small stands of broad-leaved trees. This diverse habitat consists of a broad spectrum of mixed, vigorously growing conifer and hardwood species. Typically, conifers to 65 m (200 ft.) in height form the upper canopy and broad-leaved trees 10 to 30 m (30 to 100 ft.) in height comprise the lower canopy. Most of the broad-leaved trees are sclerophyllous evergreen, but winter-deciduous species also occur. Relatively little understory occurs under the dense, bi-layered canopy of MHC. However, considerable ground and shrub cover can occur in ecotones or following disturbance such as fire or logging. Steeper slopes are normally devoid of litter; however, gentle slopes often contain considerable accumulations of leaf and branch litter.

Information from:

California Wildlife Habitat Relationships System
California Department of Fish and Game
California Interagency Wildlife Task Group
Richard Anderson

Major Land Resource Area

MLRA 019X
Southern California Coastal Plains and Mountains

Subclasses

• F019XG914CA–Loamy Hills >30"ppt

Correlated Map Unit Components

22673833, 22673832, 22673566, 22673565, 22673837, 22673840, 22673461, 22673459, 22673463, 22673467, 22673689, 22673687, 22673344, 22673348, 22673345, 22673339, 22673343, 22673582, 22673580, 22673576, 22673574, 22673577, 22673698, 22673691, 22673695, 22673696, 22673486, 22673554, 22673804, 22673684, 22673683, 22673556, 22673557, 22673514, 22673513, 22673642, 22673644, 22673643, 22673647, 22673650, 22673651, 22673652, 22673653, 22673654, 22673780, 22673664, 22673663, 22673666, 22673665

Stage

Provisional

Contributors

Curtis Talbot