California's Bioregions: A Bio-Geogrphic Overview
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Transcript of California's Bioregions: A Bio-Geogrphic Overview
CALIFORNIACALIFORNIAA Bio-Geographical OverviewA Bio-Geographical Overview
California is Exceptionally
Diverse
• Biologically
• Geographically
• Climatically
• Economically
• Demographically
• Culturally &
• Politically
It Has 54 Counties
If California was a country…If California was a country…
Its economy would rival the most powerful nations on the planet!
The state is commonly divided into
NORTH…
and
SOUTH
Northern, Central & Southern CA
A simple North-South division overlooks many unique geographical, climatic & ecological territories ecologists call BIOREGIONS
or
ECOREGIONS
A BIOREGION is…
"A relatively large area of land (or water) that contains a geographically distinct assemblage of natural communities.”
ECOLOGISTS locate at least 10 bioregions in California…
(1) Klamath/Cascade Coast Range(2) Modoc Volcanic Highlands(3) Sacramento Valley(4) Sierra Nevada Range(5) S.F. Bay & Delta Estuary(6) San Joaquin Valley(7) Central Coast Range(8) Mojave Desert(9) South Coast Range(10) Colorado Desert
Compare Geography to BioregionCompare Geography to Bioregion
Klamath-Cascade North Coast BioregionKlamath-Cascade North Coast Bioregion
• Big Timber & Rain• Rugged Coast• Small Population
UkiahEurekaFort Bragg
Modoc HighlandsModoc Highlands• Volcanic Mountains, Plateaus & Lava Beds
• Thick Forests, Few People• Ranching, Timber
AlturasSusanville
Sacramento Valley/RiverSacramento Valley/River
Sacramento, ReddingChico, Davis
• Big River
• Grasslands, Agriculture
The Sierra Nevada RangeThe Sierra Nevada Range• Rugged, Snowy Peaks
• Thick Forests
• Many Cold, Clear Lakes
• Gold Country
• Timber, Skiing, Recreation
Auburn, Truckee,Placerville, South Lake Tahoe
San Francisco Bay-DeltaSan Francisco Bay-Delta• Once: Magnificent
Wildlife Estuary
• Now: Busy, Urban, Global Port
The San Joaquin ValleyThe San Joaquin Valley From Wildflower Wonderland…
• To Dry Desert,
• To Irrigated Agri-business
Fresno, Bakersfield
Mass Transit for Water• The Dams, Canals &
Pumping Stations of the SWP & CVP Move Water from North to South
Central Coast RangeCentral Coast Range• A Camper’s Paradise• Spectacular Coastline
Monterey, Carmel, Monterey, Carmel, Santa Barbara,Santa Barbara,Big Sur Big Sur
Mojave Desert / Death ValleyMojave Desert / Death Valley• Sweltering Desert• Austere Beauty
Barstow, Palmdale, Victorville, Military TestingFacilities & Bases
South Coast South Coast Bioregion Bioregion Surf, Sun
& Smog
LA, San Diego, Long Beach, Riverside,Hollywood, La Jolla
Oil, Trade & Tourism
Colorado Desert Palm Springs,Salton Sea
Global Warming & California
Diminishing Sierra Snow Pack% Remaining, Relative to 1961-1990
Lower Emissions Higher Emissions
California Climate Projections — by 2050 —
• Higher emissions yield higher summer temperatures
– “Higher scenario” summer: + 9 to 18° F
– “Lower scenario” summer: + 4 to 9° F
• Heat waves 2-5 times more common, more intense, & longer lasting.
• Sierra snow pack loss:
– 70-90% in higher scenario and
– 30-70% lower scenario
The Pineapple Express• Increased frequency &
severity of a climate event called “the pineapple express” could overwhelm California’s levees, & leave Sacramento underwater.