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Lithology and Stratigraphy.� This subsection is mostly on the Salinian Block, between the San Andreas and Nacimiento faults.� It is predominantly Mesozoic granitic and pre-Cretaceous metamorphic rocks.� There is some Cretaceous sedimentary rock of the Great Valley Sequence, considerable Miocene marine sediments, and some other Tertiary sediments.� Also, there are some rocks of the Franciscan Complex on the southwest edge where the subsection crosses the Sur-Nacimiento fault zone.
Geomorphology.�
This is a subsection of northwest trending mountains with rounded ridges,
steep sides, and narrow canyons.� Remnants of marine terraces are
present along the coast and nonmarine terraces on the Monterey Peninsula,
but they are not extensive.� The subsection elevation range is from
sea-level up to 5862 feet on Junipero Serra Peak.� Mass wasting and
fluvial erosion are the main geomorphic processes.
Soils.�
The soils are mostly shallow Typic Xerorthents, Entic and Pachic Ultic
Haploxerolls, and Pachic Argixerolls.� On Cretaceous and Miocene sedimentary
rocks they are Lithic Xerorthents and Calcic and Pachic Ultic Haploxerolls.�
Typic Natrixeralfs and Ultic Palexerolls are present on nonmarine terraces
on the Monterey Peninsula.� The soils are well drained, and most of
them are leached free of carbonates.� The soil temperature regimes
are mostly thermic, mesic at higher elevation, and some isomesic near the
coast.� Soil moisture regimes are mostly xeric, and possibly some
ustic.
Vegetation.��
The predominant natural plant communities are Douglas-fir - tanoak series,
with some Redwood series in canyons on the southwest side of the subsection;
Coast live oak series on north-facing and California sagebrush - black
sage series on south-facing slopes near the northwest end of the Santa
Lucia Range and inland; Canyon live oak series on steep canyon sideslopes;
and Chamise series and Live oak shrublands on shallow soils inland and
at higher elevations.� There are smaller amounts of Blue oak series
adjacent to the Salinas Valley, Valley oak series in Carmel Valley, California
sagebrush series and California oatgrass series near the ocean, and with
some Mixed conifer series at higher elevations.� Monterey pine series
on the Monterey Peninsula and Santa Lucia fir series on the coastal side
of the mountain range are not extensive but are of special interest.
Surface Water.� Runoff is rapid and all but the larger streams
and streams in the southwest part of the subsection are generally dry during
the summer.� Streams on the seaward side of the mountains may be perennial.�
There are no lakes in the subsection.
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