Central Valley (California) - Environment

Environment

The 'Central Valley Grassland' is the Nearctic temperate and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands ecoregion which was once a diverse grassland containing areas of desert grassland (at the southern end), prairie, savanna, riverside woodland, marsh, several types of seasonal vernal pool, large lakes such as now-dry Tulare Lake, the largest lake in the United States west of the Mississippi, Buena Vista Lake and Kern Lake. However much of the Central Valley environment has been removed or altered by human activity including the introduction of exotic plants, especially grasses. The oak woodlands and chapparal that fringe the valley have been categorised as the California interior chaparral and woodlands ecoregion. The wetlands have been the target of rescue operations to restore areas nearly destroyed by agriculture.

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