Sierra Valley, California

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sierra Valley is a large mountain valley located east of the crest of California's Sierra Nevada mountain range in Plumas and Sierra Counties, north of Interstate 80.

1 Natural setting
2 Economy
3 Access
4 Principal towns
5 Outdoor activities
6 Sources
7 External links

[edit] Natural setting

An intermontaine valley at approximately 4,850 feet elevation, Sierra Valley is surrounded by mountains ranging in elevation from 6 to 8,000 feet. The huge valley, (120,000 acres) is a down-faulted basin, formerly a lake bed of similar geologic origin to Lake Tahoe to the south, now filled with sediment up to two thousand feet thick. Average annual rainfall is less than twenty inches, most falling as snow. The valley floor has a grassland and sagebrush ecosystem and is the site of extensive freshwater marshes filled with cattails, Bulrushes and alkaline flats that drain into the middle fork of the Feather River. Many species of wildlife make their permanent home in the valley, and a great number of migratory bird species stop over in the fall and nest in Sierra Valley in the spring. The Valley also has thermal activity. Marble Hot Springs is located in the north central valley floor.

[edit] Economy

Sierra Valley is an agricultural and livestock region. Tourism contributes to the local economy.

[edit] Access

Entrance from the west is through Yuba Pass on State Route 49. The valley is crossed by state State Route 89, State Route 70 and State Route 49, (the gold rush trail), which terminates beyond Sierra Valley at the Halleluja Junction with State Route 395.