__NOTOC__ The North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve is a nature reserve of located three miles (5 km) north of Oroville, in Butte County, northern

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

. The land was acquired by the state in October, 1993.

Ecology

The reserve protects and preserves the rare Northern Basalt Flow Vernal Pools, a

vernal pool Vernal pools, also called vernal ponds or ephemeral pools, are seasonal pools of water that provide habitat for distinctive plants and animals. They are considered to be a distinctive type of wetland usually devoid of fish, and thus allow the safe ...

habitat In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...

type that supports sensitive plants and animals that are either locally

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...

, or endemic to California. The Northern Basalt Flow Vernal Pools habitat is found in only four localities within the state. Time and erosion have split the volcanic plateau of Table Mountain into two sections, north and south. There are smaller ravines as well that support various types of trees and woodlands. The top expanse has grasslands with lichen-covered rocks. The winter/spring rains recharge the vernal pools and create waterfalls and wildflower displays. Vernal Pool NTMER

Biota

Sensitive plant and animal species that occur on the preserve include: *'' Limnanthes floccosa'' ssp. ''californica'' — Butte County meadowfoam *''

Juncus leiospermus ''Juncus leiospermus'' is an uncommon species of rush known by the common name Red Bluff dwarf rush. It is endemic to California, where it is known only from the Central Valley and adjacent Sierra Nevada foothills to the east. Description ''J ...

'' var. ''leiospermus'' — Red Bluff dwarf rush *''

Phrynosoma Horned lizards (''Phrynosoma''), also known as horny toads or horntoads, are a genus of North American lizards and the type genus of the family Phrynosomatidae. The common names refer directly to their horns or to their flattened, rounded bodies, ...

coronatumfrontale'' — California

horned lizard Horned lizards (''Phrynosoma''), also known as horny toads or horntoads, are a genus of North American lizards and the type genus of the family Phrynosomatidae. The common names refer directly to their horns or to their flattened, rounded bodies, ...

. Trees in the ravine habitats include native oaks,

madrone ''Arbutus'' is a genus of 12 accepted speciesAct. Bot. Mex no.99 Pátzcuaro abr. 2012.''Arbutus bicolor''/ref> of flowering plants in the family Ericaceae, native to warm temperate regions of the Mediterranean, western Europe, the Canary Islan ...

California buckeye ''Aesculus californica'', commonly known as the California buckeye or California horse-chestnut, is a species of buckeye native to California and southwestern Oregon. Description It is a large deciduous shrub or small tree, up to tall, with ...

s, and California bays. Birds seen include

golden eagle The golden eagle (''Aquila chrysaetos'') is a bird of prey living in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the most widely distributed species of eagle. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. They are one of the best-known birds of ...

, turkey vulture and peregrine falcon, to the small

canyon wren The canyon wren (''Catherpes mexicanus'') is a small North American songbird of the wren family Troglodytidae. It is resident throughout its range and is generally found in arid, rocky cliffs, outcrops, and canyons. It is a small bird that is h ...

and

meadowlark Meadowlarks are New World grassland birds belonging to genera ''Sturnella'' and ''Leistes''. This group includes seven species of largely insectivorous grassland birds. In all species the male at least has a black or brown back and extensively ...

Hunting management

In 2003, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) added North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve to the list of reserves under Title 14, California Code of Regulations, with special regulations that prohibit horses and bicycles from entering the reserve, but allows the department to issue livestock grazing permits, and also allows deer and upland game hunting with seasonal restrictions. Since

hunting Hunting is the human practice of seeking, pursuing, capturing, or killing wildlife or feral animals. The most common reasons for humans to hunt are to harvest food (i.e. meat) and useful animal products ( fur/ hide, bone/tusks, horn/antler, ...

is not normally permitted on ecological reserves, the special regulations are necessary so that DFG can determine when this public use is appropriate and will cause no impacts to protected species and habitat. Allium cratericola

References

External links

DFW−Department of Fish and Wildlife: official North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve website

DFW: Map of North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve

DFW: Management plan for North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve

— ''including Phantom Falls''.
DFW−Department of Fish and Wildlife: website on all State Ecological Reserves.
{{Protected areas of California, SWA Nature reserves in California Wetlands of California Protected areas of Butte County, California California State Reserves California Department of Fish and Wildlife areas Landforms of Butte County, California Natural history of the Central Valley (California) Sacramento Valley Protected areas established in 1993 1993 establishments in California

Ecology

Biota

Hunting management

See also

References

Further reading

External links