Agua Tibia Wilderness
Encyclopedia
Agua Tibia Wilderness is a 17961 acres (72.7 km²) protected area in Riverside
and San Diego
counties, California
. It is mostly within the Palomar Ranger District of the Cleveland National Forest
.. The area was originally protected as the Agua Tibia Primitive Area until January 1975 when it was added to the National Wilderness Preservation System
with the passage of Public Law
93-632 by the United States Congress
. Between its inception and 1984, the ATW was San Diego County's only officially designated wilderness area. The Spanish name, Agua Tibia, translates as warm water.
Its approximate boundaries are:
Though the summer climate is hot, with limited shade and no water sources, there were no fires in the ATW for 110 years. In the last two decades, there have been four fires including the Palomar Mountain
Fire (1987), the Vail Fire (1989), the Agua Tibia Fire (2000), and the Poomacha Fire
(2007). Its pollution exposure is monitored within the San Diego Air Basin.
species and is endemic to Southern California. This population on the ATRNA is unique for its relatively great age, size, genetic purity, placement near the southern extent of the species' range, and for its remoteness and lack of disturbance by man. Other notable plants in the research area are Laguna linanthus (Linanthus orcuttii
ssp. pacificus) and Hall's monardella (Monardella macrantha
ssp. hallii). Both are listed as 1B by the California Native Plant Society
's Rare Plant Program.
Riverside County, California
Riverside County is a county in the U.S. state of California. One of 58 California counties, it covers in the southern part of the state, and stretches from Orange County to the Colorado River, which forms the state border with Arizona. The county derives its name from the city of Riverside,...
and San Diego
San Diego County, California
San Diego County is a large county located in the southwestern corner of the US state of California. Hence, San Diego County is also located in the southwestern corner of the 48 contiguous United States. Its county seat and largest city is San Diego. Its population was about 2,813,835 in the 2000...
counties, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It is mostly within the Palomar Ranger District of the Cleveland National Forest
Cleveland National Forest
Cleveland National Forest encompasses 460,000 acres , mostly of chaparral, with a few riparian areas. A warm dry mediterranean climate prevails over the Forest. It is the southernmost National forest of California. It is administered by the United States Forest Service, a government agency within...
.. The area was originally protected as the Agua Tibia Primitive Area until January 1975 when it was added to the National Wilderness Preservation System
National Wilderness Preservation System
The National Wilderness Preservation System of the United States protects federally managed land areas designated for preservation in their natural condition. It was established by the Wilderness Act upon the signature of President Lyndon B. Johnson on September 3, 1964...
with the passage of Public Law
Public law
Public law is a theory of law governing the relationship between individuals and the state. Under this theory, constitutional law, administrative law and criminal law are sub-divisions of public law...
93-632 by the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
. Between its inception and 1984, the ATW was San Diego County's only officially designated wilderness area. The Spanish name, Agua Tibia, translates as warm water.
Its approximate boundaries are:
- North- SR-79 SouthCalifornia State Route 79State Route 79 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California. The route goes from Interstate 10 in Riverside County to Interstate 8 in San Diego County.-Route description:...
- East- Arroyo Seco River
- South- Fray Creek
- West- Pala Road
Environment
There are no permanent streams in the ATW. The highest landform is Agua Tibia Mountain with an elevation of 4779 feet (1,457 m).Though the summer climate is hot, with limited shade and no water sources, there were no fires in the ATW for 110 years. In the last two decades, there have been four fires including the Palomar Mountain
Palomar Mountain
Palomar Mountain is a mountain in the Peninsular Ranges in northern San Diego County. It is famous as the location of the Palomar Observatory and Hale Telescope, and known for the Palomar Mountain State Park.-History:...
Fire (1987), the Vail Fire (1989), the Agua Tibia Fire (2000), and the Poomacha Fire
October 2007 California wildfires
The October 2007 California wildfires were a series of wildfires that began burning across Southern California on October 20. At least 1,500 homes were destroyed and over 500,000 acres of land burned from Santa Barbara County to the U.S.–Mexico border...
(2007). Its pollution exposure is monitored within the San Diego Air Basin.
Flora
The Agua Tibia Wilderness is home to rare and endemic plants. These include:- Nevin's Barberry (Mahonia neviniiMahonia neviniiMahonia nevinii is a species of flowering shrub in the barberry family known by the common name Nevin's barberry. This plant is endemic to southern California, where it is known from very few occurrences in the chaparral of inland canyons and foothills...
) - Rainbow Manzanita (Arctostaphylos rainbowensisArctostaphylos rainbowensisArctostaphylos rainbowensis is a species of manzanita known by the common name Rainbow manzanita. It is endemic to California, where it is known only from northern San Diego and southern Riverside Counties. A specimen was first collected in 1973 and considered to be part of a disjunct population of...
) - Round-leaved Boykinia (Boykinia rotundifoliaBoykinia rotundifoliaBoykinia rotundifolia is an uncommon species of flowering plant in the saxifrage family known by the common name roundleafed brookfoam. It is endemic to southern California, where it grows in shady forested areas near streams in the mountains...
) - Vail Lake Ceanothus (Ceanothus ophiochilusCeanothus ophiochilusCeanothus ophiochilus is a rare species of flowering shrub known by the common name Vail Lake ceanothus, native to Southern California...
)
Agua Tibia Research Natural Area
The Agua Tibia Research Natural Area (ATRNA), located within the wilderness, comprises 480 acres (194.2 ha) of Bigcone Douglas-fir – Canyon Live Oak forest. The area was set aside for the study of this forest type in the Peninsular Range province and with emphasis on forest succession, long-range ecological changes and the effects of resource management practices. Bigcone Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga macrocarpa) is a relictRelict
A relict is a surviving remnant of a natural phenomenon.* In biology a relict is an organism that at an earlier time was abundant in a large area but now occurs at only one or a few small areas....
species and is endemic to Southern California. This population on the ATRNA is unique for its relatively great age, size, genetic purity, placement near the southern extent of the species' range, and for its remoteness and lack of disturbance by man. Other notable plants in the research area are Laguna linanthus (Linanthus orcuttii
Linanthus orcuttii
Linanthus orcuttii is an uncommon species of flowering plant in the phlox family known by the common name Orcutt's linanthus. It is known only from southern California and Baja California, where it grows in chaparral and pine forests in the Peninsular Ranges and occasionally the San Bernardino...
ssp. pacificus) and Hall's monardella (Monardella macrantha
Monardella macrantha
Monardella macrantha is a species of flowering plant in the mint family known by the common name red monardella. It is native to coastal mountain ranges of southern California and Baja California, where it grows in several habitat types, including chaparral, woodlands, and...
ssp. hallii). Both are listed as 1B by the California Native Plant Society
California Native Plant Society
The California Native Plant Society is a California not-for-profit organization that seeks to increase understanding of California's native flora and to preserve that flora. Its "paramount purpose is to preserve wild plants".-History:...
's Rare Plant Program.