Section M262A
Central California Coast Ranges

Geomorphology.  Parallel ranges, folded, faulted and metamorphosed strata; rounded crests of subequal height.  Coast Ranges Geomorphic provinces.

Lithology.  Cenozoic marine and nonmarine sedimentary rocks and alluvial deposits, Late Mesozoic shelf, slope and eugeosynclinal sedimentary rocks, and Mesozoic ultramafic rocks.

Soil Taxa.  Alfisols, Aridisols, Entisols, Inceptisols, Mollisols and Vertisols in combination with thermic or mesic soil temperature regimes and xeric or aridic soil moisture regimes.

Vegetation.  Predominant potential natural communities include the Coast Live oak series, Blue oak series, Purple needlegrass series, Chamise series, Valley oak series and mixed chaparral shrublands.

The following series are found throughout the section and are not restricted to or extensive in any subsection. Series dominated by exotic plants are not listed under subsections unless they are extensive and stable.

Series dominated by exotic plants: California annual grassland series, Cheatgrass series, Giant reed series and Tamarisk series.
Series that can occur in all subsections, but are not extensive: Beaked sedge series, Bulrush series, Bulrush - cattail series, Cattail series, Creeping ryegrass series, Duckweed series, Foothill needlegrass series, Introduced perennial grassland series, Mexican elderberry series, Mosquito fern series, Nodding needlegrass series, One-sided bluegrass series, Pondweeds with floating leaves series, Pondweeds with submerged leaves series, Purple needlegrass series. Quillwort series, Saltgrass series, Sedge series and Spikerush series.
Series restricted to riparian settings: Arroyo willow series, Buttonbush series, California sycamore series, Fremont cottonwood series, Mixed willow series, Mulefat series, Narrowleaf willow series, Red willow series and White alder series.

Elevation.  100 to 5200 feet.

Precipitation.  6 to 40 inches.

Temperature.  45° to 65°F.

Growing Season. 120 to 275 days.

Surface Water Characteristics.  Few slow and moderately slow moving rivers and streams flowing northerly to Monterey Bay via the Salinas River.  Few streams in alluvial or weak bedrock channels flow directly toward the Pacific Ocean.  Many streams that flow eastward in alluvial or weak bedrock channels to the Great Valley section do not flow throughout the summer.  Reservoirs for irrigation and flood control are common.

Disturbance Regimes.

Fire: Fires are low, moderate or high intensity ground or stand replacing fires.
Seismic Activity: Seismically active area with strong shaking and ground rupture.
Climate: Wide fluctuations in precipitation and temperature for periods of years result in significant or catastrophic changes in biological communities.

Cultural Ecology.  Humans have been utilizing the section for about 8,000 years, and have been an integral part of Coast Range ecology for about 2,000 years.  World renown Chumash rock art is a unique reflection of prehistoric lifestyle.  Grazing is an important historic use, beginning with land grants during the Mexican period.  Contemporary attitudes and beliefs are dichotomized between emphasis on amenity/newcomer and commodity/long-time resident values, but all overlain by a rural lifestyle.  Economic emphases are recreation, agriculture, and government.

Subsections.  The Central California Coast Ranges Section is divided into 11 subsections.