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Salinas Valley

Ecoregion in Coast Ranges, CA

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The Salinas Valley ecoregion includes gently sloping alluvial plains, stream terraces, and nearly level floodplains of the Salinas Valley, inland from Salinas and Ecoregion 6w. Pleistocene and some Plio-Pleistocene nonmarine deposits and recent alluvium predominate. Soils are mostly well drained, with some poorly drained on floodplains. Soil temperature regimes are thermic and soil moisture regimes are xeric, with some aquic on floodplains. The climate in the lower, northwestern part has more coastal influence with cooler summer temperatures and milder winter temperatures compared to the greater climate extremes in the upper valley to the southeast. Valley oak and needlegrass grasslands occur, but cropland is the dominant land cover. Lettuce, broccoli, spinach, tomatoes, celery, peppers, flowers, and grapes are grown in the ecoregion.

— EPA

Plants

Groundsel Senecio vulgaris (species), “Old-Man-in-the-Spring”

Salinas Valley

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