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32-619: The Peter Strauss Ranch Park is noted for its extensive California oak woodlands and montane chaparral habitats traversed by a walking path and hiking trail . The moister area along Triunfo Creek has a riparian zone density of plants and animals. The park's habitats represent the California chaparral and woodlands Ecoregion - with the diverse species of the flora of the Santa Monica Mountains . Recreational facilities, beyond trails, also include guided nature walks and programs,

64-643: A decrease of greater than 5% in oak woodland area. Coastal California Coastal California , also known as the California Coastline and the Golden Coast , refers to the coastal regions of the U.S. state of California . The term is not primarily geographical as it also describes an area distinguished by cultural, economic and political attributes. The area includes the North Coast, San Francisco Bay Area , Central Coast, and South Coast. The coastline

96-534: A healthy future for the California oak woodlands include maintenance and restoration of old-growth forests , watershed management and improvement, protection of water quality , protection of wildlife species that have cultural and environmental value to the area, restoration of valley oaks , and the habitat maintenance of "special status botanical species" and select endangered species. Due to residential and commercial development, 64% of California counties reported

128-589: A swimming pool and the Lake Enchanto Dam, and a stone ranch house with a large terrazzo patio available for outdoor social events, including concerts, weddings, picnics, and art exhibits. The area was inhabited by the Chumash people for up to 8,000 years. After Spanish colonization of Alta California , it was taken to become part of the Rancho Las Virgenes land grant. After California became one of

160-829: Is a plant community found throughout the California chaparral and woodlands ecoregion of California in the United States and northwestern Baja California in Mexico . Oak woodland is widespread at lower elevations in coastal California ; in interior valleys of the Coast Ranges , Transverse Ranges and Peninsular Ranges ; and in a ring around the California Central Valley grasslands . The dominant trees are oaks, interspersed with other broadleaf and coniferous trees, with an understory of grasses , herbs, geophytes , and California native plants . Oak savannas occur where

192-719: Is associated with valley oak similar to drier northern sites, but also sees interior live oak , Coulter pine and California black walnut . Outside of the southern ranges of coastal wild oak are small areas of oak woodland characterized by Englemann oak. These sites can coincide with coastal live oak, however they can also occur as stands composed almost entirely of Englemann oak. Northern, wetter regions of California are populated with oak woodlands formed from Oregon white oak. These woodlands are associated interior live oak and canyon live oak similar to coastal live oak woodlands, but differ with Pacific madrone and California black oak . The variety of canopy density which results from

224-573: Is both multiple levels of vegetation heights and varied spacing between vegetation to create complex habitat structure both vertically and horizontally because there are more places for species that live in different layers of the vegetation. Among these species, the California quail ( Callipepla californicus ), Beechey ground squirrels ( Spermophilus beecheyi ), Botta pocket gopher ( Thomomys bottae mewa ), Audubon cottontail ( Sylvilagus audubonii vallicola ), deer ( Odocoileus spp), bobcat ( Lynx rufus californicus ), coyote ( Canis latrans ) and

256-568: Is often found on north facing slopes there is more moisture in the soils from protection from the sun ( slope effect ). In southern and central areas, the predominant oak species is coastal live oak which grow on coastal valleys and foothills. In drier regions within this range, coastal wild oak is associated with foothill pine , valley oak and blue oak ; whereas wetter areas are defined by tanoak , canyon live oak and California bay . Coastal live oak woodland found in Southern California

288-475: Is slowly eroding due to natural processes accelerated by climate change, though much more slowly in other places in the United States. In the last 100 years, the water line has risen less than 6 in (150 mm) along the coast of California. In the next 100 years, the water is expected to surge as much as 9 ft (2.7 m), bringing into question the fate of the many million dollar homes settled right on

320-582: The Central Valley are dominated by blue oak ( Q. douglasii ) and gray pine ( Pinus sabiniana ). The headwaters area of Yulupa Creek in Annadel State Park is cited as one of the best examples of California oak woodlands. Much of this woodland is a relatively pristine ecosystem with considerable biodiversity . An unusual characteristic of this Annadel forest is the high content of undisturbed prehistoric bunch grass understory , testifying to

352-522: The Indianapolis 500 , purchased the ranch as a weekend retreat from his factory and residence in Los Angeles . In 1926, Miller built the current stone ranch house, the look-out tower, and the aviary . He held grand parties there during Prohibition, having someone watch for the cops from the tower. The man would then run to the house to warn them to put the booze away. Miller also maintained a private zoo on

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384-547: The Pacific rattlesnake ( Crotalus viridis oreganus ) can commonly be found in California oak woodlands. Aspects of the California oak woodland that are important for wildlife of these habitats are habitat corridors, snags and downed wood. Natural vegetation create habitat corridors that connect the patches of habitat that host species. Habitat corridors provide protection and food for animals that migrate between patches such as deer, mountain lions, bobcats, or gray foxes. Snags are

416-703: The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy . The National Park Service purchased the ranch in 1987. On November 14, 2018, the Los Angeles Times published images showing ruined structures on the site and reported that the Ranch was reduced to "charred remnants." The stage was rebuilt in the natural amphitheater and concerts resumed in 2022. 34°06′48″N 118°46′48″W  /  34.11333°N 118.78000°W  / 34.11333; -118.78000 California oak woodland California oak woodland

448-791: The University of California, Davis found that the prominent presence of oak trees in California oak woodlands creates areas of soil that are optimal for new growth. The Bureau of Land Management partnered with the California Biodiversity Council to carry out the Agreement on Biological Diversity, started in 1991, to protect and expand the following oakland wood areas: King Range National Conservation Area , Cache Creek Management Area, Yuba River Watershed in Inimim Forest, Consumes River Preserve, and Fort Ord . The methods used to ensure

480-564: The Coastal region by mid-summer into warmer (south and east) and cooler zones (north). Peak and often intense heat tends to arrive in September much later than the rest of the nation or state. Over time, droughts and wildfires have increased in frequency and become less seasonal and more year-round, further straining the region's water security . Furthermore, extended droughts and decadal changes in land use are causing severe shoreline retreat to

512-471: The Sierra are characterized by a dominant overstory of Foothill Pine ( Pinus sabiniana ), Blue Oak ( Quercus douglasii ), Interior Live Oak ( Quercus chrysolepis ), California Black Oak ( Quercus kelloggii ), California Buckeye ( Aesculus californica ), and understory plants including Ceanothus spp. , Toyon ( Heteromeles arbutifolia ), Dogwood ( Cornus spp. ), and Redbud ( Cercis occidentalis ). It

544-409: The United States in 1850, the area was surveyed in 1881 to confirm the grant's land patent. A California live oak ( Quercus agrifolia ) that was used as a marker in the survey still stands, just west of the swimming pool, with an upside-down letter "T" still visible in the bark. In the early 20th century, the automobile manufacturer Harry Miller, famous for his patented master carburetor featured at

576-475: The absence of historic grazing or other agriculture . The Morro Bay watershed, located in Central California, is an example of a coast live oak ecosystem. This sub-category of California oak woodland consists primarily of coast wild oak and are predominantly found in coastal regions, but can extend to foothill ecosystems. The composition and characteristics of California oak woodlands varies across

608-478: The coast of the Gulf of Santa Catalina. The counties commonly seen as constituting coastal California are: During the 2000 Census, roughly a third of households had incomes exceeding $ 75,000, compared to 17.6% in the Central Valley and 22.5% at the national average. While the area has always been relatively expensive, when compared to inland regions and the national average, the recent real estate boom has left it as

640-437: The diversity of tree species found in different woodland regions causes a wide range of understory grass and shrub density, and plant type. An example of this can be seen by the commonality of annual grasses in open woodlands, a phenomenon that is not seen in dense woodland areas. All three oak species which characterize California oak woodlands can be defined as "long-lived, slow-growing trees." The frequent fires seen within

672-475: The edge of the sea. Coastal California is heavily influenced by east–west distances to the dominant cold California Current as well as microclimates . Due to hills and coast ranges having strong meteorological effects, summer and winter temperatures (other than occasional heat waves) are heavily moderated by ocean currents and fog with strong seasonal lags compared to interior valleys as little as 10 mi (16 km) away. Point Conception tends to divide

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704-502: The grounds. During the Great Depression , Miller suffered financial ruin after attempting to build aircraft engines, forcing him to sell the property. In the mid-1930s, the property was purchased by Warren Shobert and Arthur Edeson, who renamed the property "Shoson" and transformed it into a recreational fairyland resort for children and adults. The Lake Encanto Dam, creating Lake Encanto, was constructed on Triunfo Creek . The resort

736-405: The most extensive old growth forests left in the state. However, most oaks of full tree size are more than one hundred years old, and few saplings are ever produced, because cattle often tear the plants to pieces. The Oaks 2040 survey estimates that 750,000 acres (3,000 km ) of California oak woodlands are seriously threatened by 2040 as a burgeoning state population makes ever more use of

768-437: The oaks are more widely spaced due a combination of lack of available moisture, and low-intensity frequent fires . The oak woodlands of Southern California and coastal Northern California are dominated by coast live oak ( Quercus agrifolia ), but also include valley oak ( Q. lobata ), California black oak ( Q. kelloggii ), canyon live oak ( Q. chrysolepis ), and other California oaks. The foothill oak woodlands around

800-441: The range, 800 to 4,000 feet (240 to 1,220 m) in the central part, and 1,250 to 5,000 feet (380 to 1,520 m) in the southern part. Annual precipitation in the oak woodland range is 15 to 40 inches (0.38 to 1.02 m), with little precipitation in the summer. Growing season is 6–10 months. Temperatures range 75 to 96 °F (24 to 36 °C) in the summer, and 29 to 42 °F (−2 to 6 °C) in winter. The woodlands in

832-497: The region have resulted in species such as coastal live oak and Englemann oak (which grow in drier, more fire prone regions) to have developed a resistance to low-intensity fires. This resiliency has resulted in coastal live oak emerging as the predominant species in cleared regions, as the trees have higher fitness to survive compared to less resistant, deciduous oaks. The same cannot be said for Oregon white oak, which populate traditionally wetter, less fire-prone regions, resulting in

864-464: The standing wood that is left when trees die and are home to wood-eating insects that are food for animals such as birds. Snags provide temporary refuge for small birds, bats, swallows, salamanders, and lizards. Similarly, downed wood provide refuge for animals that require moist areas, such as amphibians, cover for nesting of multiple species of birds, and areas for dens for larger snags. Blue oak woodlands cover about 2,939,000 acres (11,890 km ) of

896-404: The state, and of this area about 79%, or 2,322,000 acres (9,400 km ), shows no evidence of past cutting of trees. Recent research by the University of Arkansas Tree-Ring Laboratory has studied several unlogged stands of blue oak woodlands, and suggests that the state may harbor over 500,000 acres (2,000 km ) of such old growth forests . This would make California's oak woodlands some of

928-465: The state, but are defined by three main oak species throughout coastal regions: coastal live oak , Englemann oak , and Oregon white oak . The concentration of each of these oak species correlates with the location of the woodland throughout California. In the Sierra Nevada range, oak woodland is found on western slopes at elevations of 500 to 3,000 feet (150 to 910 m) in the northern part of

960-528: The trees having little built-up fire resistance. Because of the lack of fires in these northern regions, white oaks can have the threat of being outgrown by conifers growing in the understory. California oak woodland habitats contain some of the most wildlife in California. More than half of the species of terrestrial vertebrates in California are found in oak woodlands. This includes more than 120 species of mammals, 147 species of birds, and 60 species of amphibians or reptiles. The most diversity occurs when there

992-451: The wildland. This comprehensive survey includes oak woodland maps and inventory data for the ten oak types found in California. By evaluating this new information against current State of California economic growth projections, the location and extent of oak woodlands most at risk of development are identified. Management practices, such as the grazing (or the lack thereof) can lower soil fertility and nutrient level. A study performed by

Peter Strauss Ranch - Misplaced Pages Continue

1024-461: Was later renamed "Lake Enchanto." Competition from other, larger amusement parks and resorts led to the decline of Lake Enchanto, which fell into disrepair and closed around 1960. In 1976, actor Peter Strauss purchased the property after being moved by the area's natural beauty while filming the mini-series Rich Man, Poor Man at nearby Malibu Lake . Strauss restored the property to a more natural look and lived there until 1983, when he sold it to

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