Plants and Nature of Lake TahoeDaniel Hildebrandt, GEL103, spring 2015, prof. Mark Lawler, LTCC

Plants and Nature of Lake TahoeDaniel Hildebrandt, GEL103, spring 2015, prof. Mark Lawler, LTCC

Manzanita

- Manzanita can grow in the form of shrub or small tree with rounded crown. It can reach 4 to 20 feet in

height, depending on the species.

- Manzanita has unusually-twisted branches covered with smooth, red bark that is rich in tannins (group of

bitter-tasting compounds). Red and grey-colored (dead) branches can be often seen at the same time

on the tree.

- Manzanita produces small, roundish or oval, yellowish-green leaves with short petioles.

- Manzanita produces white or pink, urn-shaped flowers. They are arranged in multi-branched

inflorescences (panicles) at the end of the branches.

- Manzanita blooms from April to June. Flowers attract bees and hummingbirds, main pollinators of this

plant.

Juniper

- Unlike other conifers that have either needles or scales, juniper trees have both, sometimes on the same branch. The needles have sharp edges and a pungent, distinctive scent.- Juniper trees bring toughness and beauty to the landscape. Because most of the trees are native to desert regions, they are hardy and drought-resistant wherever you plant them. The trees also give your landscape an interesting visual focal point with their fibrous and furrowed bark, twisting trunks, and attractive needles.- While juniper trees aren't particular about the type of soil they grow in, whether acidic or alkaline, heavy or light, they do need well-draining soil and little supplemental water once they are established, unless summers are very dry. Avoid planting a juniper near your lawn to reduce the chance that its roots might rot, turning the needles yellow and killing the tree. Junipers grow in full sun or part shade.

The only species of bears in California and Nevada are black bears. However, they do range in color from blonde to black, with cinnamon brown being the most common color in both states.There are an estimated 25,000 to 35,000 black bears in California and 200 to 300 In Nevada.

Several active volcanoes poured lava into the basin, eventually damming the outlet. The waters rose again, several hundred feet higher than the present level. Finally, a new outlet was cut, just east of volcano, Mt. Pluto and Mt. Watson, the present location of Northstar Ski Area and Fiberboard lumber and timber company. Cave Rock on the east shore of Lake Tahoe is the eroded remains of another volcano that once poured lava into the basin. Its “cave" is wave cut, a relic of the ancestral and much bigger Lake Tahoe

Cave Rock was first irreparably disturbed in 1931 and 1957 when two highway tunnels were blasted through its center. Then in the 1990s Cave Rock—managed by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS)—became an international center for rock climbing. This activity also violated the sacredness of the site. Sport climbers created at least 46 different bolted climbing routes, constructed a floor, closed up cave openings, and left surface graffiti, none of which were approved by the USFS.

About 400 million years ago when what is now the Sierra Nevada’s was completely covered with sea water, the sea floor was made up of mud, sand, and shells. This material continued to build up on the sea floor. After a few million years the weight of the sediment, along with some chemicals processing turned those sediments into a combination of mudstone, and sandstone . Then the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate collided causing what is known as subduction. Subduction is when one plate is pushed downward beneath another plate into the underlying mantle when plates move towards each other . Due to the friction and heat created of the subduction of the Juan de Fuca Plate, the Plate melted and pushed a large amount of magma towards the earth’s surface. This magma formed gigantic volcanoes such as Mount Saint Helens, and Mount Addams. In the case of the Sierra Nevada’s the hot molten rock did not reach the earth’s surface instead it cooled underground and formed layer upon layer of stacked plutons. The slow cooling of the plutons created the salt and pepper granitic rock that can be seen in much of the Sierra’s today .

References:1. Cochise College, Student Papers in Geology. (n.d.). Retrieved June 20, 2015, from http://skywalker.cochise.edu/wellerr/students/lake-tahoe/project.htm2. LAKE TAHOE INFO and FACTS: Lake Tahoe Basin Geology. (n.d.). Retrieved June 22, 2015, from http://www.tahoecam.com/tahoefacts.html3. Juniper Tree Facts. (n.d.). Retrieved June 19, 2015, from http://motherhood.modernmom.com/juniper-tree-9519.html4. Manzanita Facts. (n.d.). Retrieved June 21, 2015, from http://www.softschools.com/facts/plants/manzanita_facts/1559/5. Cave Rock - National Trust for Historic Preservation. (n.d.). Retrieved June 22, 2015, from http://www.preservationnation.org/issues/diversity/native-american-heritage-in-preservation/saved-places/cave-rock.html#.VYd_xvlViko6. Bears at lake tahoe | TahoeLight.com. (n.d.). Retrieved June 22, 2015, from http://scottsady.photoshelter.com/image/I0000s9YCjML.rP8