Santa Susana Mountains

Geobox|Range
name=Santa Susana Mountains


image_caption=Scrubland in Aliso Canyon
country=United States
state=California
parent=Transverse Ranges
border= San Gabriel Mountains|border1=Simi Hills
region_type = Counties
region=Los Angeles
region1=Ventura
region2=
region3=
highest=Oat Mountain
highest_elevation_imperial=3747
highest_lat_d=
highest_long_d=

The Santa Susana Mountains are a transverse range of mountains in southern California, north of the city of Los Angeles, in the United States. The range runs east-west separating the San Fernando Valley and Simi Valley on its south from Santa Clara River Valley to the north and Santa Clarita Valley to the northeast. The Oxnard Plain is to the very west of Santa Susana Mountains.

Description

The Newhall Pass separates the Santa Susana Mountains from the San Gabriel Mountains to the east. Newhall Pass is the major north-south connection between the San Fernando Valley and the Santa Clarita Valley, and Interstate 5 and a railroad line share Newhall Pass. The Santa Susana Pass (containing SR 118) connects the Simi and San Fernando valleys, and separates the Santa Susana Mountains from Simi Hills to the south. Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park is located in the Simi Hills, just south of the Santa Susana Pass, at the northwestern edge of the San Fernando Valley.The Santa Susana Mountains are not as steep as the San Gabriel Mountains.

The western half of the range lies in Ventura County, and the eastern half of the range lies in Los Angeles County. The southeastern slopes of the Santa Susana Mountains are part of the City of Los Angeles, and housing subdivisions, including Porter Ranch, have been built on the lower slopes of the range. The city of Simi Valley lies southwest of the range. To the north of the range is the fast-growing city of Santa Clarita, and several large subdivisions in unincorporated Los Angeles County, including Lyons Ranch and Newhall Ranch, have been approved for development. The Sunshine Canyon Landfill is at the mountains' eastern end, and several canyons in the northwest corner of the range have been proposed for more landfills.

The first discovery of oil in California was in Pico Canyon, on the north side of the mountains, The California Star Oil Works, later Chevron, succeeded with "Well No. 4". It became famous not only as the first well in California, but also as the longest-producing well in the world, having been capped in September, 1990 after 114 years. Today it is a National Historic Landmark. The surrounding town, Mentryville, is maintained as an oil "ghost town". Unocal Corporation still operates oil wells in the mountains.

The mountains are within the acquisition area for the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, which operates several parks, including Santa Clarita Woodlands Park, Rocky Peak Park, and Happy Camp Canyon Park in the Santa Susana Mountains through the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority. The City of Los Angeles maintains O'Melveny Park at the eastern end of the mountains.

Note: the Santa Susana Field Laboratory, once operated by Rocketdyne, is actually in the Simi Hills, which are to the south of the Santa Susana Mountains.

Plants and Animals

The south-facing slopes are mostly covered in chaparral, grassland, and oak savanna. The north-facing slopes are home to magnificent oak woodlands, some of which have been protected in the Santa Clarita Woodlands Park. The mountains are part of the California chaparral and woodlands ecoregion. As far as oaks go, the non-deciduous Coast Live Oak, the deciduous Valley Oak, and the Scrub Oak all can be found in the area. Spring wildflowers include the Redbush Monkey Flower, Mariposa Lily, and Canyon Sunflower. Poison Oak is also an important member of the community .

Visitors to the mountain range may observe many bird species. Perhaps the most common raptors seen soaring over the brushy landscape are Turkey Vultures, Red-tailed Hawks, American Kestrels, and Red-shouldered Hawks. From the cover of chaparral, California Towhee and California Quail can often be heard, while the occasional Greater Roadrunner is glimpsed from a rocky perch. Evening is sometimes embraced by the eerie yet beautiful call of the Common Poorwill. As for owls, Great Horned Owls and the more often seen phantom-like Barn Owl both call the mountains home.

A handful of fascinating amphibians live in the area. Streams and creeks support populations of Pacific Tree Frog, the small amphibian whose signature chorus contributes much to the beauty of the surrounding atmosphere. Western Toads make their appearance at nightfall, emerging from burrows in search of water and insects, while California Slender Salamanders are often found under the cool leaf litter and canopy of oak woodlands. Many reptiles thrive in the Santa Susana range. Lizards that are likely to be observed on any given day include the common Western Fence Lizard and the equally abundant Side-blotched Lizard. Somewhat less frequently observed but still present are the Southern Alligator Lizard, Western Skink, Whiptail, and increasingly rare Coast Horned Lizard. While perhaps Southern Pacific Rattlesnakes are the most commonly observed snakes along the trail, Striped Racer, Gopher Snake, and California Kingsnake make their occasional appearance as well.

Mammals commonly observed in the mountains include smaller critters such as California Ground Squirrel, Brush Rabbit,Desert Cottontail, and Bats including California Myotis, though mostly in the evening . Other smaller mammals include the Dusky-footed Woodrat and Agile Kangaroo Rat. The two larger mammals that you are perhaps mostly likely to glimpse are the California Mule Deer and Coyote. Other mammals in the range that are more secretive and therefore less often encountered include the Gray Fox, Bobcat, Ringtail, American Badger, and the Mountain Lion.

Climate

The mountains have a mild to humid, dry summers and are prone to wildfires. Though not as steep as San Gabriel Mountains, winters are wet, tepid to cold winters, and snow occurs in some higher areas, such as Oat Mountain, though only cold winter storms are enough to receive plentiful snow in the area.

Peaks

The highest peaks in the range are Oat Mountain (1,142 m; 3,747 feet), Mission Point (845 m; 2,771 feet), Rocky Peak (827 m; 2,714 feet), and Sand Rock Peak (765 m; 2,511 feet). The peak of Rocky Peak itself lies directly atop the county line separating the counties of Ventura and Los Angeles and is indicated by a battered marker imbedded into the sandstone boulder summit.

ee also

Nearby mountain ranges
* Simi Hills - south
* San Gabriel Mountains - east
* Sierra Pelona Mountains - northeast
* Santa Monica Mountains - south (across S.F. Valley)
* Verdugo Mountains - southeast
* Topatopa Mountains- northwest
* Alamo Peak Area - north

External links

* [http://smmc.ca.gov/ Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy]
* [http://www.pacificnet.net/~rickh/ssmpa/ Santa Susana Mountains Park Association]
* [http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=611/ Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park, on the California State Parks website.]