San Jose Hills
Encyclopedia
The San Jose Hills are a part of the Transverse Ranges
located in Eastern Los Angeles County, California
, marking the border between the San Gabriel Valley
and the Pomona Valley
in the Inland Empire
. It includes portions of Covina
, West Covina
, Walnut
, Pomona
, and San Dimas
.
The San Jose Hills' highest peak is Buzzard Peak at 1319 feet (402 m). The highest elevations are composed of conglomerate rock with small, shallow patches of soil. At the bases, silty clay loam dominates. These geologic conditions restrain water absorption towards the rockier higher elevations, which allow runoff to hyrdrate the base creating a more inhabitable environment for plants. Because of the transverse (east-west) orientation of the range, this effect is pronounced on the north slope due to the lower rates of evaporation caused by sunlight directed from the south.
, known for its high adaptations for long dry summers and is drought deciduous. Above 1000 feet (304.8 m), Chaparral
makes its appearance, which differs from the Sage Scrub by being evergreen. Along the northern slopes, especially in the cracks and valleys, you can find Coast Oak and Southern California Black Walnut Woodlands. Southern California Black Walnut Woodlands are increasingly rare and threatened. The largest strands of this community are in the San Jose Hills and Puente Hills
to the South.
Mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians are very diverse in both the San Jose Hills and surrounding San Gabriel Valley. Mammals in the San Jose Hills include bobcats, gray fox
, skunks, opossums, squirrels, and other rodents. The bird diversity is exceptional, but notable species include California Quail
, Least Bell Vireo, Coastal California Gnatcatcher, Grasshopper Sparrow
, Southwest Willow Flycatcher, and Red-tailed Hawk
. Reptiles and amphibians include various lizards and snakes, the California Red-legged Frog
, Southwestern Arroyo Toad, Southwestern Pond Turtle, and other frogs and salamanders.
(Los Angeles County Fairgrounds) offers an annual L.A. County Fair and other events throughout the year. Fairplex is also the location of both the Los Angeles County Railroad Museum and the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum
. Automotive racing enthusiasts can enjoy adjacent Pomona Raceway-Dragstrip.
Two parks with significant natural areas are located in the eastern portion of the San Jose Hills; Ganesha Park include four picnic pavilions, a community center, amphitheater style band Shell, Olympic size swimming pool with slide, basketball courts, two lighted tennis courts, wildlife and hiking areas, and restroom facilities. Frank G. Bonelli park has 250 acres (1 km²) Puddingstone Lake used for swimming, water skiing, wind surfing, and sailing. The lake is also stocked with trout, bluegill, catfish, and large-mouth bass. Raging Waters
, a water theme park, is located at the south end of the lake. There are boat rentals, hot tubs, an equestrian center and a wedding chapel. Bonelli park facilities include vehicle camp sites, trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding, play equipment, gazebos, and group rental picnic areas.
East of Bonelli park is Mountain Meadows Golf Course, and on the west, Via Verde Country Club, the later that is south of Walnut CreekPark , a small park along Walnut Creek
(which drains both Puddingstone and nearby San Gabriel Mountains
into the San Gabriel River
).
Several large institutions of higher education are located in the hills. These include the California Polytechnic State University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona); Mount San Antonio College (Mt. SAC), and Pacific West Bible College. The Voorhis Ecological Reserve in the northwest part of the CalPoly Pomona campus and contains 31 ha of coastal sage scrub
and oak woodland. Biotrek is an educational program ran by the Biological Sciences Department. Biotrek includes a Rainforest greenhouse, a native plant garden, aquatic environments, and laboratories. Mt. Sac has a 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) native Wildlife Sanctuary.
Interment is provided by Forest Lawn Memorial Park and Mortuary. Near the Grand Avenue Corridor, Heritage Gardens Historical Park, located on the north slope, was recently redeveloped to include new hiking trails. Walnut Ranch Park can be found on the south slope.
Along Citrus Avenue,one can find South Hills Country Club. Three parks exists along the south slopes: Shadow Oak Park, Creekside Park, and Gringrich Park. On the western portion of the hills is the Industry Hills Recreation Center and smaller Rimgrove and Woodgrove parks. Just east of Azusa Avenue, along the north slopes is Galster Wilderness Park with its new Galster Park Nature Center
operated by the San Gabriel Mountains regional conservancy
and 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) of Walnut Woodland. The southern slope is West Covina's newest development, Big League Dreams. This mega-sports complex was built on top of a superfund
site, the old BKK landfill.
Other
Transverse Ranges
The Transverse Ranges are a group of mountain ranges of southern California, in the Pacific Coast Ranges physiographic region that runs along the Pacific coast from Alaska to Mexico in North America. The Transverse Ranges begin at the southern end of the California Coast Ranges and lie between...
located in Eastern Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 9,818,605, making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states...
, marking the border between the San Gabriel Valley
San Gabriel Valley
The San Gabriel Valley is one of the principal valleys of Southern California, United States. It lies to the east of Los Angeles, to the north of the Puente Hills, to the south of the San Gabriel Mountains, and west of the Inland Empire. It derives its name from the San Gabriel River that flows...
and the Pomona Valley
Pomona Valley
The Pomona Valley, located between the San Gabriel Valley and Cucamonga Valley in Southern California, straddles the border between Los Angeles County and San Bernardino County. Back on March 1, 1893 the California Assembly voted 54-14 for a new county to form in the region, San Antonio County,...
in the Inland Empire
Inland Empire (California)
The Inland Empire is a region in Southern California. The region sits directly east of the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Inland Empire most commonly is used in reference to the U.S. Census Bureau's federally-defined Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area, which covers more than...
. It includes portions of Covina
Covina, California
Covina is a small city in Los Angeles County, California about east of downtown Los Angeles, in the San Gabriel Valley region. The population was 47,796 at the 2010 census, up from 46,837 at the 2000 census...
, West Covina
West Covina, California
West Covina is a city located in Los Angeles County, California. Located some east of Downtown Los Angeles in the eastern San Gabriel Valley, it is a mostly middle class suburb of Los Angeles...
, Walnut
Walnut, California
Walnut is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 29,172 at the 2010 census and its current mayor is Tom King, a former Detective from the Los Angeles Police Department....
, Pomona
Pomona, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Pomona had a population of 149,058, a slight decline from the 2000 census population. The population density was 6,491.2 people per square mile...
, and San Dimas
San Dimas, California
San Dimas is a city located in the San Gabriel Valley, in Los Angeles County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 33,371. The city historically took its name from San Dismas Canyon in the San Gabriel Mountains above the northern section of present day San Dimas...
.
Geology
The San Jose Hills are part of the geologic history of Southern California. The San Gabriel Mountains (the Transverse ranges located north of the San Jose Hills) were uplifted by tectonic force as a result of the colliding Pacific and North American plates more than a billion years ago. This tectonic pressure created a deeply fractured and fissured sheets of rock that began to shift direction about 25 million years ago. Gradually, a portion of this fissured rock began to uplift from the ocean forming the Los Angeles Basin. Further folding and fissures helped form other uplifts that include both the San Jose Hills and Puente Hills. These hills, prone to erosion, were formed their domed appearance while still submerged under water. The San Jose Hills Fault has the possible magnitude of 6.0 to 6.5 and last was active in 1990.The San Jose Hills' highest peak is Buzzard Peak at 1319 feet (402 m). The highest elevations are composed of conglomerate rock with small, shallow patches of soil. At the bases, silty clay loam dominates. These geologic conditions restrain water absorption towards the rockier higher elevations, which allow runoff to hyrdrate the base creating a more inhabitable environment for plants. Because of the transverse (east-west) orientation of the range, this effect is pronounced on the north slope due to the lower rates of evaporation caused by sunlight directed from the south.
Plant communities and wildlife
The San Jose Hills are diverse with unique and rare plant communities. The dominate plant community is Coastal Sage ScrubCoastal sage scrub
Coastal sage scrub is a low scrubland plant community found in the California chaparral and woodlands ecoregion of coastal California and northern Baja California. It is characterized by low-growing aromatic, and drought-deciduous shrubs adapted to the semi-arid Mediterranean climate of the...
, known for its high adaptations for long dry summers and is drought deciduous. Above 1000 feet (304.8 m), Chaparral
Chaparral
Chaparral is a shrubland or heathland plant community found primarily in the U.S. state of California and in the northern portion of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico...
makes its appearance, which differs from the Sage Scrub by being evergreen. Along the northern slopes, especially in the cracks and valleys, you can find Coast Oak and Southern California Black Walnut Woodlands. Southern California Black Walnut Woodlands are increasingly rare and threatened. The largest strands of this community are in the San Jose Hills and Puente Hills
Puente Hills
The Puente Hills is a chain of hills, one of the lower Transverse Ranges, in an unincorporated area in eastern Los Angeles County, California.-Geography:...
to the South.
Mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians are very diverse in both the San Jose Hills and surrounding San Gabriel Valley. Mammals in the San Jose Hills include bobcats, gray fox
Gray Fox
The gray fox is a mammal of the order Carnivora ranging throughout most of the southern half of North America from southern Canada to the northern part of South America...
, skunks, opossums, squirrels, and other rodents. The bird diversity is exceptional, but notable species include California Quail
California Quail
The California Quail, Callipepla californica, also known as the California Valley Quail or Valley Quail, is a small ground-dwelling bird in the New World quail family...
, Least Bell Vireo, Coastal California Gnatcatcher, Grasshopper Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
The Grasshopper Sparrow, Ammodramus savannarum, is a small sparrow. The Ammodramus genus of 11 species inhabit grasslands and marshes....
, Southwest Willow Flycatcher, and Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
The Red-tailed Hawk is a bird of prey, one of three species colloquially known in the United States as the "chickenhawk," though it rarely preys on standard sized chickens. It breeds throughout most of North America, from western Alaska and northern Canada to as far south as Panama and the West...
. Reptiles and amphibians include various lizards and snakes, the California Red-legged Frog
California Red-legged Frog
The California red-legged frog, Rana draytonii, is a moderate to large species of frog. It is known under the scientific name Rana draytonii, after being long included with the northern red-legged frog The California red-legged frog, Rana draytonii, is a moderate to large (4.4–14 cm) species...
, Southwestern Arroyo Toad, Southwestern Pond Turtle, and other frogs and salamanders.
Culture and recreation
On the most northeastern boarder, FairplexFairplex
Fairplex, formerly known as the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds, has been since 1922 the home of the L.A. County Fair. It is located in the city of Pomona, California. The L.A...
(Los Angeles County Fairgrounds) offers an annual L.A. County Fair and other events throughout the year. Fairplex is also the location of both the Los Angeles County Railroad Museum and the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum
Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum
The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California, is located at Fairplex, 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Bldg. 3A, in Pomona, California 91768, USA. It houses a collection of memorabilia, automobiles and motorcycles related to the sport of hot rodding. ...
. Automotive racing enthusiasts can enjoy adjacent Pomona Raceway-Dragstrip.
Two parks with significant natural areas are located in the eastern portion of the San Jose Hills; Ganesha Park include four picnic pavilions, a community center, amphitheater style band Shell, Olympic size swimming pool with slide, basketball courts, two lighted tennis courts, wildlife and hiking areas, and restroom facilities. Frank G. Bonelli park has 250 acres (1 km²) Puddingstone Lake used for swimming, water skiing, wind surfing, and sailing. The lake is also stocked with trout, bluegill, catfish, and large-mouth bass. Raging Waters
Raging Waters
Raging Waters is the name of three water theme parks located in Sacramento, San Dimas, and San Jose, California. They are the largest water parks in the state of California. The three parks are owned by Palace Entertainment but each contains different attractions...
, a water theme park, is located at the south end of the lake. There are boat rentals, hot tubs, an equestrian center and a wedding chapel. Bonelli park facilities include vehicle camp sites, trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding, play equipment, gazebos, and group rental picnic areas.
East of Bonelli park is Mountain Meadows Golf Course, and on the west, Via Verde Country Club, the later that is south of Walnut CreekPark , a small park along Walnut Creek
Walnut Creek
-Communities:United States of America*Walnut Creek, California*Walnut Creek, North Carolina*Walnut Creek, Ohio-Schools:*A middle school in Metropolitan Detroit that belongs to the Walled Lake Consolidated Schools District in Oakland County, Michigan.-Streams:...
(which drains both Puddingstone and nearby San Gabriel Mountains
San Gabriel Mountains
The San Gabriel Mountains Range is located in northern Los Angeles County and western San Bernardino County, California, United States. The mountain range lies between the Los Angeles Basin and the Mojave Desert, with Interstate 5 to the west and Interstate 15 to the east...
into the San Gabriel River
San Gabriel River (California)
The San Gabriel River flows through southern Los Angeles County, California in the United States. Its main stem is about long, while its farthest tributaries extend almost altogether...
).
Several large institutions of higher education are located in the hills. These include the California Polytechnic State University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona); Mount San Antonio College (Mt. SAC), and Pacific West Bible College. The Voorhis Ecological Reserve in the northwest part of the CalPoly Pomona campus and contains 31 ha of coastal sage scrub
Coastal sage scrub
Coastal sage scrub is a low scrubland plant community found in the California chaparral and woodlands ecoregion of coastal California and northern Baja California. It is characterized by low-growing aromatic, and drought-deciduous shrubs adapted to the semi-arid Mediterranean climate of the...
and oak woodland. Biotrek is an educational program ran by the Biological Sciences Department. Biotrek includes a Rainforest greenhouse, a native plant garden, aquatic environments, and laboratories. Mt. Sac has a 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) native Wildlife Sanctuary.
Interment is provided by Forest Lawn Memorial Park and Mortuary. Near the Grand Avenue Corridor, Heritage Gardens Historical Park, located on the north slope, was recently redeveloped to include new hiking trails. Walnut Ranch Park can be found on the south slope.
Along Citrus Avenue,one can find South Hills Country Club. Three parks exists along the south slopes: Shadow Oak Park, Creekside Park, and Gringrich Park. On the western portion of the hills is the Industry Hills Recreation Center and smaller Rimgrove and Woodgrove parks. Just east of Azusa Avenue, along the north slopes is Galster Wilderness Park with its new Galster Park Nature Center
Galster Park Nature Center
The Galster Park Nature Center is a small museum and educational center set in Galster Wilderness Park, a wilderness park located on the north slope of the San Jose Hills in the San Gabriel Valley, California. It is operated by the San Gabriel Mountains regional conservancy in partnership with...
operated by the San Gabriel Mountains regional conservancy
San Gabriel Mountains regional conservancy
The San Gabriel Mountains Regional Conservancy is a regional environmental organization located in the foothill area of the eastern San Gabriel Valley...
and 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) of Walnut Woodland. The southern slope is West Covina's newest development, Big League Dreams. This mega-sports complex was built on top of a superfund
Superfund
Superfund is the common name for the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 , a United States federal law designed to clean up sites contaminated with hazardous substances...
site, the old BKK landfill.
External links
Parks and open space- Frank G. Bonelli Park
- Galster Wilderness Park Nature Center
- Mountain Meadows Golf Course
- Via Verde Country Club
- South Hills Country Club
Other