HARTMAN MULTIMEDIA
Nature Based Multimedia Information Systems
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HARTMAN MULTIMEDIA
Nature Based Multimedia Information Systems |
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San Onofre State Beach (San Mateo Unit) This State Park is divided into two areas, the beach and this non-contiguous inland portion which includes a section of
San Mateo and Cristianitos Creeks. Much
of the area is disturbed (see "Integrity" below); however, there are
relatively undisturbed portions, particularly in the flood plain of the San Mateo Creek and in the coastal sage scrub-chaparral areas on the western
slopes. In the lower portion are marshlands adjacent to the San
Mateo Creek wetlands which form the ecotone between the wetlands
and the riparian woodland. Here the
red willow, Salix laevigata var. araquipa, forms large trees surrounding the
marshland which gradually gives way to the upstream riparian community that
includes sycamore, Platanus racemosa, coast live oak, Quercus
agrifolia, Mexican
elderberry, Sambucus mexicana, among others. The coastal sage scrub area is dominated by California
sagebrush, Artemisia californica, and black sage, Salvia mellifera, with beaver
tail, Opuntia basilaris var. basilaris, and coast prickly pear, Opuntia
littoralis,
occurring on the ocean-facing slopes. The
chaparral is found further inland, with dominants that include toyon,
Heteromeles arbutifolia, lemonade berry, Rhus integrifolia, chamise,
Adenostoma
fasciculatum and Ceanothus spinosus. There
are several small prairie grassland stands west of Cristianitos Creek.
Purple and nodding needlegrass, Nassella pulchra and Nassella
cernua, are main
plant components of this community. The floor of the valley is Quaternary alluvial flood
plain. To the west of the creeks,
the highlands show typical exposures of the Miocene Capistrano Formation. Integrity: The
Park is owned by Camp Pendleton and leased to the State of California.
Several hundred acres within the Park boundary are on long-term
agricultural leases and are not to be considered a portion of the area discussed
above. The riparian area has been
disturbed with quarrying operations, roads, wells, etc., and has been frequently
flooded. The western slopes are
relatively undisturbed. Use: Educational,
research, observational. Ref: Anon.
1972. San Onofre State Beach
Resource Inventory Report. Resource
Management and Protection Division, State Department of Parks and Rec.,
Sacramento, Calif. November 1975
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