Ecological Sections

California has diverse physical, climatic, and vegetational characteristics (table 1 and fig. 1). Elevations range from 300 feet below sea level to the highest peak (14,495 feet) in the mainland 48 states, with average temperatures ranging from 42 to 65^oF. Growing seasons are some of the longest in the nation, but the amount of precipitation varies widely (table 2). California's forests also vary widely; trees range from magnificent to mundane, from the largest living organisms on Earth to the inconspicuous, from abundant to restricted ranges, and from highly valuable to economically inconsequential. They provide goods and services ranging from lumber and firewood to scenic quality and nesting habitat.

Section	Geomorpholgy	Elevation (feet)	Rainfall (inches)	Temp. (°F)	Growing Season (days)	Major Disturbances
261A Central CA Coast	Parallel ranges and valleys	0-2400	14-50	50-63	200-330	Fire, seismic
261B Southern CA Coast	Narrow ranges and broad fault blocks	0-3000	10-25	61-65	250-360	Fire, seismic
262A Great Valley	Low fluviatile plain	0-800	5-30	55-66	230-350	Fire
263A Northern CA Coast	Parallel ranges	0-3000	40-100	50-55	250-310	Fire, seismic
M261A Klamath Mountains	Monadnock ranges	1500-8000	40-120	45-55	60-250	Fire, drought, seismic
M261B Northern Coast Ranges	Parallel mountain ranges	1000-7500	30-80	45-59	80-250	Fire, drought, seismic
M261C Northern Interior Coast Ranges	Parallel mountain ranges	200-2500	20-40	55-64	120-270	Fire, drought
M261D Southern Cascades	Volcanic mountains	1500-14,162	20-80	42-58	30-200	Fire, drought, volcanic
M261E Sierra Nevada	Block mountain range	1000-14,495	20-80	42-60	20-230	Fire, drought, seismic
M261F Sierra Nevada Foothills	Block mountain	500-3500	20-40	55-64	200-320	Fire, drought
M261G Modoc Plateau	Mountains with lake beds, cinder cones	3000-9900	12-30	42-52	70-140	Fire, drought
M262A Central CA Coast Ranges	Parallel mountain ranges	500-3500	10-30	55-64	120-270	Fire, drought
M262B Southern CA Mountains and Valleys	Narrow mountain ranges	500-11,500	10-40	45-64	100-200	Fire, drought, seismic, air pollution
322A Mojave Desert	Plains with isolated mountains	300-11,000	3-10	50-75	200-300	Fire, flash flood

Table 2 - General descriptions of some sections in California

Natural and other disturbance factors in California are likewise diverse. Forest health and forest uses are affected by insects and pathogens, fires, frequent droughts, air pollution, animal damage, avalanches, flooding and flash floods, urban encroachment, seismic events, and volcanic activities. Fortunately, not all of these disturbances happen in any one year or at frequent intervals.

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