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Ecoregions

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Central California Foothills and Coastal Mountains

Ecoregion in CA

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The primary distinguishing characteristic of this ecoregion is its Mediterranean climate of hot dry summers and cool moist winters, and associated vegetative cover comprising mainly chaparral and oak woodlands; grasslands occur in some lower elevations and patches of pine are found at higher elevations. Surrounding the lower and flatter Central California Valley (7), most of the region consists of open low mountains or foothills, but there are some areas of irregular plains and some narrow valleys. Large areas are in ranch lands and grazed by domestic livestock. Relatively little land has been cultivated, although some valleys are major agricultural centers such as the Salinas or the wine vineyard center of Napa and Sonoma.

— EPA

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Ecoregion