1. CHAPARRAL

2. Where is Chaparral? Area’s of Chaparral in California (in acres) San Diego 1,003,441 Los Angeles 553,789 Riverside 499,160 Santa Barbara 440,645 San Luis Obispo 417,718 Monterey 369,345 Ventura 326,447 San Bernardino 276,010 San Benito 246,623 Santa Clara 188,427 Orange 111,550 Marin 37,566 San Mateo 36,152 Santa Cruz 32,328

3. Chaparral is a shrub-land plant community found primarily in California and in the northern portions of Mexico.Chaparral is a shrub-land plant community found primarily in California and in the northern portions of Mexico. CHAPARRAL

4. What are characteristics of chaparral shrubs? Sclerophyllous (hard-leaved) plants commonly form the foundation of this plant community.Sclerophyllous (hard-leaved) plants commonly form the foundation of this plant community.  They have small, hard leaves, that roll up, under, or fall off during the normal summer drought

5. CHAPARRAL

6. CHAPARRAL Fire is a major factor in the dynamics of this Chaparral plant community, and plants are adapted to fireFire is a major factor in the dynamics of this Chaparral plant community, and plants are adapted to fire  ie. crown-sprouting shrubs, and annual fire-followers

7. CHAPARRAL Fire Followers

8. Normal fire frequency should be about 100-400 years, depending on the Chaparral type and location.Normal fire frequency should be about 100-400 years, depending on the Chaparral type and location. The presence of weeds, and human carelessness has increased the fire frequency to as little as six monthsThe presence of weeds, and human carelessness has increased the fire frequency to as little as six months CHAPARRAL

9. CHAPARRAL Some people feel that we should remove Chaparral in urban interface areasSome people feel that we should remove Chaparral in urban interface areas

10. What would happen if we did? If you remove Chaparral, grass and weeds will growIf you remove Chaparral, grass and weeds will grow Weedy fields burn faster than you can drive. By the time you figure out a grassy area is burning, you could be in dangerWeedy fields burn faster than you can drive. By the time you figure out a grassy area is burning, you could be in danger

11. There is almost no erosion in clean Chaparral;There is almost no erosion in clean Chaparral; there are large mud slides in areas of Chaparral that have been converted to grass.there are large mud slides in areas of Chaparral that have been converted to grass. Removing brush would lead to enormous erosion problems.Removing brush would lead to enormous erosion problems. What would happen if we did?

12. Chaparral usually covers the rocks but when it rains like January 2006, the chaparral slides away and the geology is exposed…rock slides!  Topanga Canyon 1/9/06 Results of erosion

13. Fires benefit the Chaparral Burns release valuable nutrients into the soils. Fire can replace old growth with younger plants that will continue to release nutrients into the soil. The chaparral does not “need” fire to survive however, as some areas of old growth are thriving today..