This document provides an overview of the biological, geographical, climatic, economic, demographic, cultural, and political diversity of California. It divides California into 10 distinct bioregions based on their unique assemblages of natural communities, including the Klamath/Cascade Coast Range, Modoc Volcanic Highlands, Sacramento Valley, Sierra Nevada Range, San Francisco Bay and Delta Estuary, San Joaquin Valley, Central Coast Range, Mojave Desert, South Coast Range, and Colorado Desert. The document notes that California's economy would rival powerful nations and discusses the impacts of climate change, including rising temperatures, more frequent heat waves, reduced snowpack in the Sierra Nevada, and increased flooding risks from more intense

1. CALIFORNIACALIFORNIA
A Bio-Geographical OverviewA Bio-Geographical Overview

2. California is
Exceptionally
Diverse
• Biologically
• Geographically
• Climatically
• Economically
• Demographically
• Culturally &
• Politically

3. It Has 54 Counties

4. If California was a country…If California was a country…
Its economy
would rival
the most
powerful
nations on
the planet!

5. The state is
commonly
divided into
NORTH…

6. and
SOUTH

7. Northern, Central & Southern
CA

8. A simple North-
South division
overlooks
many unique
geographical,
climatic &
ecological
territories
ecologists call
BIOREGIONS
or
ECOREGIONS

9. A BIOREGION is…
"A relatively large area of
land (or water) that
contains a
geographically distinct
assemblage of natural
communities.”

10. ECOLOGISTS
locate at least 10
bioregions in
California…
(1) Klamath/Cascade Coast Range
(2) Modoc Volcanic Highlands
(3) Sacramento Valley
(4) Sierra Nevada Range
(5) S.F. Bay & Delta Estuary
(6) San Joaquin Valley
(7) Central Coast Range
(8) Mojave Desert
(9) South Coast Range
(10) Colorado Desert

11. Compare Geography to BioregionCompare Geography to Bioregion

12. Klamath-Cascade North Coast BioregionKlamath-Cascade North Coast Bioregion
• Big Timber &
Rain
• Rugged Coast
• Small Population
Ukiah
Eureka
Fort Bragg

13. Modoc HighlandsModoc Highlands• Volcanic Mountains,
Plateaus & Lava Beds
• Thick Forests, Few People
• Ranching, Timber
Alturas
Susanville

14. Sacramento Valley/RiverSacramento Valley/River
Sacramento, Redding
Chico, Davis
• Big River
• Grasslands, Agriculture

15. The Sierra Nevada RangeThe Sierra Nevada Range
• Rugged, Snowy Peaks
• Thick Forests
• Many Cold, Clear Lakes
• Gold Country
• Timber, Skiing, Recreation
Auburn, Truckee,
Placerville, South
Lake Tahoe

16. San Francisco Bay-DeltaSan Francisco Bay-Delta
• Once: Magnificent
Wildlife Estuary
• Now: Busy, Urban,
Global Port

17. The San Joaquin ValleyThe San Joaquin Valley From Wildflower
Wonderland…
• To Dry Desert,
• To Irrigated
Agri-business
Fresno, Bakersfield

18. Mass Transit for Water
• The Dams, Canals &
Pumping Stations of the
SWP & CVP Move
Water from North to
South

19. Central Coast RangeCentral Coast Range
• A Camper’s Paradise
• Spectacular Coastline
Monterey, Carmel,Monterey, Carmel,
Santa Barbara,Santa Barbara,
Big SurBig Sur

20. Mojave Desert / Death ValleyMojave Desert / Death Valley
• Sweltering Desert
• Austere Beauty
Barstow, Palmdale,
Victorville, Military Testing
Facilities & Bases

21. South CoastSouth Coast
BioregionBioregion Surf, Sun
& Smog
LA, San Diego, Long
Beach, Riverside,
Hollywood, La Jolla
Oil, Trade & Tourism

22. Colorado Desert Palm Springs,
Salton Sea

23. Global Warming & California

24. Diminishing Sierra Snow Pack
% Remaining, Relative to 1961-1990
Lower Emissions Higher Emissions

25. California Climate Projections
— by 2050 —
• Higher emissions yield higher summer
temperatures
– “Higher scenario” summer: + 9 to 18° F
– “Lower scenario” summer: + 4 to 9° F
• Heat waves 2-5 times more common, more
intense, & longer lasting.
• Sierra snow pack loss:
– 70-90% in higher scenario and
– 30-70% lower scenario

26. The Pineapple Express
• Increased frequency &
severity of a climate event
called “the pineapple
express” could overwhelm
California’s levees, & leave
Sacramento underwater.