HARTMAN MULTIMEDIA
Nature Based Multimedia Information Systems
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HARTMAN MULTIMEDIA
Nature Based Multimedia Information Systems |
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Cuyamaca Rancho State Park Within this large park there is a variety of vegetation
and terrain, ranging from mesas and meadows to steep-sided peaks.
Six major plant communities are found in the park: conifer forest, southern oak woodland, chaparral, meadow, grassland and
riparian. In the conifer forest are white fir, Abies concolor,
incense cedar, Calocedrus decurrens, and four species of pines, Jeffrey,
Coulter, sugar and ponderosa, Pinus jeffreyi, Pinus coulteri, Pinus lambertiana and
Pinus ponderosa. The latter species
reaches its southernmost limit here, as does the Pacific dogwood, Cornus
nuttallii. Four oaks are found here,
coast, canyon and interior live, and California black, Quercus agrifolia,
Quercus chrysolepis, Quercus wislizenii and Quercus
kelloggii. The main conifer forest is in
the northwestern portion of the park but important stands are found in other
sections. Chaparral dominates in the southern and lower portions,
of the park, with such species as Arctostaphylos glandulosa, Arctostaphylos
pungens,
Ceanothus greggii, chamise, Adenostoma fasciculatum, and mountain mahogany,
Cercocarpus betuloides. Along the Sweetwater River and its various tributaries
there is a riparian woodland with sycamore, Platanus racemosa, cottonwood,
Populus fremontii, Oregon ash, Fraxinus latifolia, and willows, Salix spp. Several rare plants occur in the park.
Of particular note is the Cuyamaca cypress, Cupressus stephensonii (see
Cuyamaca Cypress Stand); the only known population of this tree The fauna of the park is equally rich and varied. Some
28 species of mammals are found here, including the beaver, Castor
canadensis,
which was introduced in 1947. The
mountain lion, Felis concolor, once heavily hunted in the area, is making a
comeback since the park was established. Approximately 150 species of birds have been sighted in
the park, including the endangered bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, and
peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus. The rainfall in the park is approximately 92 centimeters
(36 inches) annually, with snow in the higher reaches. Much of the park is on Julian schists and stonewall
granodiorite; however, the Cuyamaca Peak area is of Cuyamaca gabbro. Over 150 Indian sites, ranging from seed-grinding
stations to major villages, have been identified in the park. Integrity: Highway
79 bisects the park, and there are 120 kilometers (75 miles) of trails, numerous
campgrounds and other facilities. The
Stonewall mine at the north end of the park has yielded over $2,000,000 in gold.
Much of the area is relatively undisturbed. Use: Educational,
research, observational, light recreation. March 1976
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