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This
subsection comprises the bottom of Honey Lake Valley, just northwest of
the Diamond Mountains, which are at the northwest end of the Sierra Nevada.
The climate is temperate and arid to semi-arid. MLRAs 23f and
23g.
Lithology and Stratigraphy. Quaternary alluvial and lacustrine deposits predominate in this subsection. There are minor eolian deposits. Some Tertiary andesite and pyroclastic rocks are included in this subsection.
Geomorphology. Gently sloping to nearly level alluvial
fans, floodplain, and basin floor predominate in this subsection, forming
a large alluvial - lacustrine plain. Slopes are moderately steep
to steep on Bald Mountain, which is near the center of this alluvial -
lacustrine plain. Honey Lake is a remnant of much larger Pleistocene
and older lakes that occupied the valley. There are small remnants
of Tertiary lacustrine and Quaternary fluvial terraces. Tufa mounds
are common. The valley is aligned toward the north-west, parallel
to the very steep northeastern edge of the Diamond Mountains. The
elevation range is about 3980 feet on the current surface of Honey Lake
to 4200 feet on the alluvial - lacustrine plain and 5221 feet on Bald Mountain.
Fluvial and eolian erosion and deposition, lacustrine deposition,
and freeze-thaw are the main geomorphic processes.
Soils. Soils on bedrock are mostly Pachic Haploxerolls,
and Aridic and shallow Aridic Argixerolls. Those on the alluvial
- lacustrine plains are Typic, Xerollic, and Natric Camborthids;
Torripsammentic, Cumulic, Fluvaquentic, Calcidic, and Aridic Duric
Haploxerolls; Aridic Argixerolls; Xerollic and Durixerollic Haplargids;
Haploxerollic and Durixerollic Natrargids; Fluvaquentic Endoaquolls; Aeric
Halaquepts; and Xeric Endoaquerts. The soils are well to poorly drained.
Soil temperature regimes are mesic. Soil moisture regimes are mostly
aridic and aquic, and some xeric on the north side of Bald Mountain.
Vegetation. The predominant natural plant communities on well drained soils are Big sagebrush series on the west and Shadscale series on the east. On somewhat poorly to poorly drained soils, the predominant natural plant communities are Mixed saltbush series and Saltgrass series and Sedge meadow communities.
Characteristic series by lifeform include:Climate. The mean annual precipitation is about 4 to 8 inches. Much of the precipitation is snow. Mean annual temperature is about 48° to 52° F. The mean freeze-free period is in the range from 100 to 150 days.
Grasslands: Alkali sacaton series, Ashy ryegrass series, Bluebunch wheatgrass series, Creeping ryegrass series, Indian ricegrass series, Needle-and-thread series, Saltgrass series.
Shrublands: Big sagebrush series, Bush seepweed series, Fourwing saltbush series, Greasewood series, Mixed saltbush series, Rubber rabbitbrush series, Scadscale series, Winter fat series.
Forests and woodlands: Mountain juniper series, Western juniper series.
Surface Water. The Susan River entering the valley from the northwest, Willow from the north, and several streams from the Diamond Mountains are perennial, but all streams on the east side of the valley are dry during summer.
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