Spenceville Wildlife Area
Encyclopedia
The Spenceville Wildlife Area is an 11448 acres (46.3 km²) wildlife preserve
managed by the California Department of Fish and Game
. It is approximately 18 miles (29 km) east of the town of Marysville
and Beale Air Force Base
in central California
.
is found in the Spenceville Wildlife Area. The area was originally home to the Maidu
and Nisenan
Native American
s and evidence of their grinding holes and lodge pits still exist.
The geology
of the Spenceville area is part of the Smartsville Block formed during the Middle Jurassic
period 200 million years ago. The Smartsville Block is a part of the California Mother Lode
and consequently, Spenceville has had its share of mining activity. Cleanup from copper and zinc
mining continues to this day.
, biking, hunting, hunting dog field trials, target shooting, camping, equestrian
trail riding, birding and primitive camping. A popular trail leads to a double waterfall called Fairy Falls (a.k.a. Beale Falls, Shingle Falls, or Dry Creek Falls).
The Spenceville Wildlife Area may be impacted by the Waldo Dam Project proposed by the Yuba County Water Agency and by housing development proposed between Beale Air Force Base
and the wildlife area.
Take caution for a high level of rattlesnakes.
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
managed by the California Department of Fish and Game
California Department of Fish and Game
The California Department of Fish and Game is a department within the government of California, falling under its parent California Natural Resources Agency. The Department of Fish and Game manages and protects the state's diverse fish, wildlife, plant resources, and native habitats...
. It is approximately 18 miles (29 km) east of the town of Marysville
Marysville, California
Marysville is the county seat of Yuba County, California, United States. The population was 12,072 at the 2010 census, down from 12,268 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Yuba City Metropolitan Statistical Area, often referred to as the Yuba-Sutter Area after the two counties, Yuba and...
and Beale Air Force Base
Beale Air Force Base
Beale Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately east of Marysville, California. Originally known as Camp Beale....
in central 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...
.
Natural history
Spenceville is a foothill oak and grassland area notable for many species of birds and wildflowers; for example the poppy Yellow Mariposa Lily, Calochortus luteusCalochortus luteus
Calochortus luteus, or Yellow mariposa lily, is a mariposa lily endemic to California.-Description:The primarily a bright deep yellow flower is 3-5cm across and perianth Bulb-shaped, lined red-brown inside, often also with central red-brown blotch and sparse hair inside.-Distribution:This species...
is found in the Spenceville Wildlife Area. The area was originally home to the Maidu
Maidu
The Maidu are a group of Native Americans who live in Northern California. They reside in the central Sierra Nevada, in the drainage area of the Feather and American Rivers...
and Nisenan
Nisenan
The Nisenan, also known as the Southern Maidu and Valley Maidu, are one of many native groups of the Central Valley. The name Nisenan, derives from the ablative plural pronoun nisena·n, "from among us"...
Native American
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
s and evidence of their grinding holes and lodge pits still exist.
The geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
of the Spenceville area is part of the Smartsville Block formed during the Middle Jurassic
Jurassic
The Jurassic is a geologic period and system that extends from about Mya to Mya, that is, from the end of the Triassic to the beginning of the Cretaceous. The Jurassic constitutes the middle period of the Mesozoic era, also known as the age of reptiles. The start of the period is marked by...
period 200 million years ago. The Smartsville Block is a part of the California Mother Lode
Mother Lode
Mother lode is a principal vein or zone of veins of gold or silver ore. The term probably came from a literal translation of the Spanish veta madre, a term common in old Mexican mining...
and consequently, Spenceville has had its share of mining activity. Cleanup from copper and zinc
Zinc
Zinc , or spelter , is a metallic chemical element; it has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is the first element in group 12 of the periodic table. Zinc is, in some respects, chemically similar to magnesium, because its ion is of similar size and its only common oxidation state is +2...
mining continues to this day.
Current issues
Spenceville hosts a variety of activities: hikingHiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, biking, hunting, hunting dog field trials, target shooting, camping, equestrian
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
trail riding, birding and primitive camping. A popular trail leads to a double waterfall called Fairy Falls (a.k.a. Beale Falls, Shingle Falls, or Dry Creek Falls).
The Spenceville Wildlife Area may be impacted by the Waldo Dam Project proposed by the Yuba County Water Agency and by housing development proposed between Beale Air Force Base
Beale Air Force Base
Beale Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately east of Marysville, California. Originally known as Camp Beale....
and the wildlife area.
Take caution for a high level of rattlesnakes.