Land resource areas

In Santa Cruz County, capability classification is further refined by designating the land resource area in which the soils in a unit occur. A land resource area is a broad geographic area that has a distinct combination of climate, soils, management needs, and cropping systems. The 48 conterminous states in the Nation have been divided into 156 land resource areas.

It is necessary to make assumptions that affect management in a land resource area if soils are to be placed consistently in capability units. In the paragraphs that follow, those land resource areas having parts within Santa Cruz County are described so that local farming can be related to the resource area. Following the description of each resource area is a list of those conditions typical of the area that guided placement of the soils in capability classes and units.

Santa Cruz County has been divided into three land resource areas based on soil, climate, topography, vegetation, and land use. These resource areas are designated nationally as 4, 14, and 15. Land resource area 4 consists of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Land resource area 14 is the irrigated cropland in the Pajaro and Corralitos Valleys and along the coastal plain. Land resource area 15 consists of rangeland along the northern coast and northeast of the Pajaro Valley.

Capability units in two or more resource areas may be similar, but the management needs differ. These management differences result from differences in climate, vegetation, availability and quality of irrigation water, and kinds of crops that can be grown. In the section "Soil maps for detailed planning," at the end of each soil description, capability unit symbols are followed by the number (4), (14), or (15) to identify the three resource areas. The Felton soil in capability unit 3e-1(14) and the Elkhorn soil in 3e-1(14) have moderately slow permeability and available water capacity that averages more than 7.5 inches. The Felton soil, however, has a shorter growing season than the Elkhorn soil, and in many places water is not available for irrigating the Felton soil.

Land resource area 4-This land resource area is in the central California coastal mountains known as the Santa Cruz Mountains. The topography is dominated by steep and very steep slopes but includes small narrow mountain valleys that have some strongly sloping ridgetops. Most of the very steep slopes are the side slopes of the mountains and the sides of young, V-shaped river valleys. Elevation ranges from 100 feet to about 3,000 feet.

The summers are warm and dry except for morning and evening fog. The annual precipitation ranges from 35 to 60 inches in summer. Rainfall occurs mostly in winter and spring, but there are occasional thundershowers at higher elevations. The frost-free season is 220 to 245 days.

It is assumed that irrigation water is not available for most of the soils because a water supply has not been developed. Water is used in some places for irrigation of orchards and Christmas trees.

The soils in this area are used mainly for lumber production. Some apple orchards and Christmas trees are also grown. The number of houses has increased in recent years.

Land resource area 14-This land resource area is in the Pajaro and Corralitos Valleys and on the part of the coastal plain that extends from the Pajaro Valley to Davenport. The valleys are alluvial plains, and the coastal plains are remnants of the marine terraces. The area near the Pajaro Valley has been eroded to a rolling surface that has areas of old dunes near the coast. The area north of Santa Cruz has terraces that are mostly relatively small, irregularly shaped remnants left after the streams have intrenched. Elevation ranges from 20 feet to about 600 feet.

The summers generally are cool and dry, but there is heavy fog in the morning and evening. The annual precipitation ranges from 25 to 35 inches. Rainfall occurs mostly in winter and spring. The frost-free season is 245 to 275 days.

It is assumed that irrigation water will be available for all irrigable soils. The soils in this area are used mainly for irrigated row crops and apples. Some areas are used for pasture, and some areas are in urban uses

Land resource area 15-This land resource area is the rangeland along the coast, north of Santa Cruz, and northeast of the Pajaro, Valley. The area on the north coast is above the irrigated terraces and below the forested areas. The area northeast of the Pajaro Valley represents the foothills and slopes that extend to the forested areas. Elevation ranges from 20 feet to about 1,800 feet.

The summers generally are warm and dry, but there is fog in the morning and evening. The annual precipitation ranges from 25 to 35 inches. Rainfall occurs mostly in winter and spring. The frost-free season is from 245 to 275 days.

It is assumed that no significant amount of water is available for irrigation and that dryland farming is practiced in the area. The soils in this area are used mainly for grazing. Small areas are used for housing.