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Ecological Sections:
Colorado Desert Subsection 322Cb Borrego Valley - West Mesa This subsection includes the Clark and Borrego Valleys, West Mesa, and Yuha Desert. They are on the southwest side of the Imperial Valley, between it and the Peninsular Ranges. The subsection has a very hot arid climate. MLRA 30h. Lithology and Stratigraphy. Quaternary alluvial, lacustrine, and eolian deposits predominate in this subsection. Superstition Mountain, which protrudes through the alluvium on West Mesa, is mostly Mesozoic granitic rock; and Yuha Buttes on the Yuha Desert are Pliocene nonmarine and marine sedimentary rocks. Geomorphology. This subsection is mainly on very gently to moderately sloping alluvial fans, terraces, and nearly level basin floors and dry lake beds. Also, there are some Pliocene and Pleistocene sediments that have been eroded and dissected to form “badlands.” Clark and Borrego Valleys are aligned toward northwest, along the San Jacinto and Coyote Creek Faults. The elevation range is from about -230 feet on the shore of the Salton Sea up to about 2000 feet. The highest elevation in the Superstition Mountains, which trend toward the northwest, is 760 feet. Fluvial erosion and deposition and eolian deflation and deposition are the main geomorphic processes. Soils. The soils are mostly Typic Torrifluvents, Typic Torripsamments, and Typic Torriorthents on younger alluvial fans and lacustrine sediments, and Typic Calciorthids and Typic Haplargids on older fans and terraces. There are shallow Typic Torriorthents and Typic Calciorthids on Pliocene and Pleistocene sediments that have been eroded to form “badlands”. Soils on granitic rocks of the rocky Superstition Mountains are Lithic and shallow Typic Torriorthents. The soils are well drained, except on poorly drained playas. The soil temperature regimes are hyperthermic. Soil moisture regimes are aridic. Vegetation. The predominant natural plant communities are Ocotillo series and Creosote bush - white bursage series and, around the Salton Sea, Allscale series. There are some small areas of Fan palm series in riparian areas. Mixed saltbush series is common on basin floors. Characteristic series by lifeform include:Climate. The mean annual precipitation is about 3 to 4 inches; it is all rain. Mean annual temperature is about 68° to 75° F. The mean freeze-free period is about 300 to 350 days. Surface Water. Runoff is rapid from alluvial fans and slow from basin floor. Drainage is to the Salton Sea. Streams have no water in some years and are dry most of each year in other years. There is temporary ponding on playas, or dry lake beds, in some years. < previous - Colorado Desert - next > |
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