Central California Valley Ecoregion: Chapter 17 in <i>Status and trends of land change in the Western United States--1973 to 2000</i>

Sleeter, Benjamin M.

Abstract:

The Central California Valley Ecoregion, which covers approximately 45,983 km² (17,754 mi²), is an elongated basin extending approximately 650 km north to south through central California (fig. 1) (Omernik, 1987; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1997). The ecoregion is surrounded entirely by the Southern and Central California Chaparral and Oak Woodlands Ecoregion, which includes parts of the Coast Ranges to the west and which is bounded by the Sierra Nevada to the east. The Central California Valley Ecoregion accounts for more than half of California’s agricultural production value and is one of the most important agricultural regions in the country, with flat terrain, fertile soils, a favorable climate, and nearly 70 percent of its land in cultivation (Kuminoff and others, 2000; Sumner and others, 2003). Commodities produced in the region include milk and dairy, cattle and calves, cotton, almonds, citrus, and grapes, among others (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2004; Johnston and McCalla, 2004; Kuminoff and others, 2000) (figs. 2A,B,C). Six of the top eight agricultural-producing counties in California are located at least partly within the Central California Valley Ecoregion (Kuminoff and others, 2000) (table 1). The Central California Valley Ecoregion is also home to nearly 5 million people spread throughout the region, including the major cities of Sacramento (state capital), Fresno, Bakersfield, and Stockton, California (U.S. Census Bureau, 2000) (fig. 1).

Genre:

USGS Numbered Series

ProdID:

70042608

Citation Author:

Sleeter, Benjamin M.

Citation Contributing Office:

Western Geographic Science Center

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Citation End Page:

189

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Citation Language:

English

Citation Larger Work Title:

Status and trends of land change in the Western United States--1973 to 2000: Volume A in Status and trends of land change in the United States--1973 to 2000 (PP 1794-A)

Citation LatN:

40.25

Citation LatS:

34.9

Citation LonE:

-118.75

Citation LonW:

-122.25

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Citation Phsyical Description:

Chapter 17: 9 p.

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Citation Public Comments:

This publication is Chapter 17 in Status and trends of land change in the Western United States--1973 to 2000, which is Volume A in Status and trends of land change in the United States--1973 to 2000, PP 1794. Volume A consists of 30 chapters. For access to other chapters, please visit PP 1794-A.

Citation Publisher:

U.S. Geological Survey

Citation Series:

Professional Paper

Citation Series Code:

Citation Series Number:

1794-A-17

Citation Search Results Text:

Central California Valley Ecoregion: Chapter 17 in Status and trends of land change in the Western United States--1973 to 2000; 2012; PP; 1794-A-17; Status and trends of land change in the Western United States--1973 to 2000: Volume A in Status and trends of land change in the United States--1973 to 2000 (PP 1794-A); Sleeter, Benjamin M.