lambertiana
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2000
- Messages
- 9,393
I needed to get out today, but was not up to a longer drive up to Giant Forest or other Sierra destinations. Kaweah Oaks preserve is just a couple miles east of Visalia, and I drive by it all the time. Since it is on the valley floor I won't ever go there in the summer because it is too hot, but today I decided to see what was there.
It is a preserved example of San Joaquin Valley riparian habitat. This area gets about 11" of rain each year, so much of the valley has only small drought-resistant grasses and tumbleweeds. There aren't a lot of trees because the water table is 60' down. But in riparian environments, there is water close enough to the surface for more growth. Kaweah Oaks preserve is in the channel of an old river. This first picture shows the trees from the field of typical valley growth
Majority of the larger trees there are California Sycamore (a sure indicator of water near the surface), cottonwood, and Valley Oak. Here are some Valley Oak
And some sycamore
I have always liked the patterns on the sycamore bark
and some cottonwood
A few typical views there
And the reason for the relative abundance, water
It is a preserved example of San Joaquin Valley riparian habitat. This area gets about 11" of rain each year, so much of the valley has only small drought-resistant grasses and tumbleweeds. There aren't a lot of trees because the water table is 60' down. But in riparian environments, there is water close enough to the surface for more growth. Kaweah Oaks preserve is in the channel of an old river. This first picture shows the trees from the field of typical valley growth
Majority of the larger trees there are California Sycamore (a sure indicator of water near the surface), cottonwood, and Valley Oak. Here are some Valley Oak
And some sycamore
I have always liked the patterns on the sycamore bark
and some cottonwood
A few typical views there
And the reason for the relative abundance, water
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