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.