1. vegetation
The variety of trees (98% evergreen), shrubs, ferns, groundcover and canopy cover are typical of a healthy mixed evergreen forest.

• 13 species of trees were noted in the sampling area, with redwoods being by far the most common (31.9%).
• The character of the forest shows a healthy recovery from a century-old clear cut; there are a low number of remnant old-growth redwoods, an abundance of second growth trees of good height and diameter, and a distinct presence of smaller redwoods originating from natural seed germination and 20th Century regrowth.

2. stream habitat
The stream bed has high canopy coverage, good substrate variety, and abundant riffles, runs and pools with varied levels of large woody debris, and it provides many areas of excellent habitat and potential nesting sites for steelhead trout.  Water quality is excellent.
 

3. plant & animal observations
 A diverse array of plant and wildlife have been observed, including:

• 40 native vertebrate species (mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, fish)
• 11 native invertebrate species (insect, spider, crustacean, millipede, mollusk)
• French Broom, the most common of the few invasive plants
• feral cats and pigs, the only non-native animals observed
   

4. natural and historical notations
The forest is rich with points of natural, historical and educational interest, including:

• leaning redwoods in the "Jack Straw Forest" area, perhaps caused by earthquakes
• logging vestiges, including old-growth stumps with springboard holes
• existing roads and trails which add significant recreational potential

   

Sempervirens Fund thanks Professor Chris Brinegar and the students of his Redwood Forest Ecology course at San Jose State University for conducting this research and preparing this report.