Post by spacecowboy2006 on Feb 14, 2017 3:51:35 GMT
Once the Central Valley was a land of extensive prairies, composed of perennial bunch grasses, now replaced by old-world annuals. The grasslands were dotted with scrub, and vernal pools spread over the floor of the valley in all directions. Spring wildflowers bloomed profusely. The rivers flooded annually, and massively about every five years into freshwater wetlands. The native grasslands and floodplains were a sanctuary for a great variey of wildlife including antelope, elk, deer, squirrels, jackrabbit, coyote, fox, golden eagle, and waterfowl. With the advent of agriculture and urban development much of the Central Valley's native habitats have vanished. A number of designated wildlife refuges preserve habitat, particularly vital to migratory birds along the Pacific Flyway.