Great Valley Grasslands State Park
| Great Valley Grasslands State Park | |
|---|---|
   | |
| Location | Merced County, California, United States |
| Nearest city | Gustine, California |
| Coordinates | 37°16′58″N 120°52′2″W / 37.28278°N 120.86722°W |
| Area | 2,826 acres (1,144 ha) |
| Established | 1982 |
| Governing body | California Department of Parks and Recreation |
Great Valley Grasslands State Park is a state park of California, United States, preserving a parcel of remnant native grassland in the San Joaquin Valley. Such a temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome was once widespread throughout the whole Central Valley.[1] The 2,826-acre (1,144 ha) park was established in 1982.[2] Largely undeveloped, it was formed by combining two former state park units: San Luis Island and Fremont Ford State Recreation Area.[3] Its chief attractions for visitors are spring wildflowers, fishing, and wildlife watching.[4]
Grassland Ecological Area[edit]
The park is part of the larger Grasslands Ecological Area (GEA) of federal, state and private lands all managed for wildlife refuge values.[5] The GEA represents the largest remaining contiguous habitat block of wetlands remaining in all California.[6] The GEA is north of the Grasslands Wildlife Management Area.
Flora and fauna[edit]
Several rare and endangered species inhabit the park.
- In the grasslands habitat and plant community they include:
- Alkali sacaton (Sporobolus airoides) — a native California bunchgrass
- Delta button celery (Eryngium racemosum) — an endemic and state-listed endangered species
- In the flood plain of the San Joaquin River and in vernal pools, from biologists' reports, they include:
- California Tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense) — an amphibian endemic to Northern California, a listed vulnerable species
- Vernal pool fairy shrimp (Branchinecta lynchi) — a fairy shrimp endemic to the vernal pools of Oregon and California, a listed endangered species
- San Joaquin tadpole shrimp (Lepidurus packardi) — a tadpole shrimp endemic to California, endangered because of its limited distribution and habitat destruction
Proposal for closure[edit]
Great Valley Grasslands State Park was one of 48 California state parks proposed for closure in January 2008 as part of a deficit reduction program. Those closures were ultimately avoided by cutting hours and maintenance system-wide.[7]
See also[edit]
- List of California native plants
- List of California state parks
- List of protected grasslands of North America
References[edit]
- ^ Lange, Ariane (March 25, 2023). "The cure for winter flooding might be in this swamp — if California actually funds it". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
- ^ "California State Park System Statistical Report: Fiscal Year 2009/10" (PDF). California State Parks: 18. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ "Grasslands Trail". California State Parks. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
- ^ "Great River Grasslands SP". California State Parks. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
- ^ "Grassland Ecological Area". Our Los Banos. March 24, 2007. Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
- ^ "Grassland Ecological Area Enhancement and Restoration Project". Cooperative Conservation America. Retrieved October 1, 2010.
- ^ McGreevy, Patrick; Sahagun, Louis (September 26, 2009). "State parks to stay open, but with cuts in hours, staffing". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, Calif. Retrieved December 30, 2011.