Chapter 13: The Empty Interior

The Empty Interior covers parts of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Wyoming, Alaska, and it continues into Canada.

Lumbering, tourism, ranching, and mining dominate this region.

Santa Clarita is miniscule compared to this region.  Tourism is what Santa Clarita has in common with the Empty Interior.  

THE SANTA SUSANA MOUNTAINS 


The Santa Susana Mountains are a transverse range of mountains in southern California, north of the city of Los Angeles, in the United States. The range runs east-west separating the San Fernando Valley and Simi Valley on its south, from Santa Clara River Valley to the north, and Santa Clarita Valley to the northeast. The Oxnard Plain is to the west of Santa Susana Mountains. 

The Newhall Pass separates the Santa Susana Mountains from the San Gabriel Mountains to the east. Newhall Pass is the major north-south connection between the San Fernando Valley and the Santa Clarita Valley, and Interstate 5 and a railroad line share Newhall Pass. The Santa Susana Pass (containing SR 118) connects the Simi and San Fernando valleys, and separates the Santa Susana Mountains from Simi Hills to the south. Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park, is located in the Simi Hills, just south of the Santa Susana Pass, at the northwestern edge of the San Fernando Valley. The Santa Susana Mountains are not as steep or high as the San Gabriel Mountains.
The western half of the range lies in Ventura County, and the eastern half of the range lies in Los Angeles County. The southeastern slopes of the Santa Susana Mountains are part of the City of Los Angeles, and housing subdivisions, including Porter Ranch, have been built on the lower slopes of the range. The city of Simi Valley lies southwest of the range. To the north of the range is the fast-growing city of Santa Clarita, and several large subdivisions in unincorporated Los Angeles County, including Lyons Ranch and Newhall Ranch, have been approved for development. The Sunshine Canyon Landfill is at the mountains' eastern end, and several canyons in the northwest corner of the range have been proposed for more landfills.


CALIFORNIA:





The geography of California is diverse. There are foggy coastlines, hot deserts, and a fertile central valley all existing in a largely mountainous terrain. The U.S. state of California is home to some of the world's most exceptional trees: the tallest (coast redwood), most massive (Giant Sequoia), and oldest (bristlecone pine). It is also home to both the highest (Mt. Whitney) and lowest (Death Valley) points in the 48 contiguous states.
The state is generally divided into Northern and Southern California, although the boundary between the two is not well defined. San Francisco is decidedly a Northern California city and Los Angeles likewise a Southern California one, but areas in between do not often share their confidence in geographic identity. The US Geological Survey defines the geographic center of the state at a point near North Fork, California.
Earth scientists typically divide the state into eleven distinct geomorphic provinces with clearly defined boundaries. They are, from north to south, the Klamath Mountains, the Cascade Range, the Modoc Plateau, the Basin and Range, the Coast Ranges, the Central Valley, the Sierra Nevada, the Transverse Ranges, the Mojave Desert, the Peninsular Ranges, and the Colorado Desert. Here, the Los Angeles Basin, the Channel Islands, and the Pacific Ocean are treated as distinct regions.


TRANSVERSE RANGES



Southern California is separated from the rest of the state by the east-west trending Transverse Ranges, including the Tehachapi, which separate the Central Valley from the Mojave Desert. Urban Southern California intersperses the valleys between the Santa Susana Mountains, Santa Monica Mountains and San Gabriel Mountains, which range from the Pacific Coast, eastward over 100 miles (160 km), to the San Bernardino Mountains, north of San Bernardino. The highest point of the range is Mount San Gorgonio at 11,499 feet (3,505 m). The San Gabriel Mountains have Mount Wilson observatory, where the redshift was discovered in the 1920s.
The Transverse Ranges include a series of east–west trending mountain ranges that extend from Point Conception at the western tip of Santa Barbara County, eastward (and a bit south) to the east end of the San Jacinto Mountains in western Riverside County. The Santa Ynez Mountains make up the westernmost ranges, extending from Point Conception to the Ventura River just west-northwest of Ojai, in Ventura County. Pine Mountain Ridge, Nordhoff Ridge–Topatopa Mountains, Rincon Peak–Red Mountain, Sulphur Mountain, Santa Paula Ridge, South Mountain–Oat Mountain–Santa Susana Mountains, Simi Hills, Conejo Mountains–Santa Monica Mountains are all part of the Western Transverse Ranges, in Ventura and western Los Angeles Counties.
The Liebre Mountains occupy the northwest corner of Los Angeles County, and represent a northwestern extension of the San Gabriel Mountains, both on the Pacific Plate side of the San Andreas Fault. The fault divides the San Gabriel Mountains from the San Bernardino Mountains further to the east in San Bernardino County.
It is possible to surf in the Pacific Ocean and ski on a mountain during the same winter day in Southern California.


MINING  

 

The Soledad Canyon High Desert, California Public Lands Conservation and Management Act of 2009

Dear Santa Clarita Community Member,
I am very pleased to inform you that the Sierra Club has endorsed H.R. 4332 and S.3057, the Soledad Canyon High Desert, California Public Lands Conservation and Management Act of 2009. The Sierra Club’s support for these bills is a reflection of the many environmental benefits this legislation will have on our community.
The new legislation is a slightly modified version of the 2008 Soledad Canyon Mine Act and seeks to accomplish the same goal as its predecessor- solve the long-standing mining dispute between the City of Santa Clarita and the international mining company CEMEX USA. These bills were carefully crafted in concert with members of the environmental and business communities, as well as local residents and stakeholders, to end the possibility of mining at the proposed site in Soledad Canyon, fairly compensate CEMEX for the cancellation of its mining contracts and potentially provide for the acquisition of environmentally sensitive lands in Southern California. The City Council is very excited about this legislation and the benefits it could provide our City, as well as the rest of Southern California.
Last year, the City Council was grateful to receive a tremendous outpouring of support from this community, which was crucial to building the momentum necessary in getting one step closer to ending the potential of mining at the proposed site in Soledad Canyon. We hope to receive similar support from our tremendous community this year. Even if you are already on record supporting last year’s bill, we need you to speak up again to help get these bills approved by Congress. Please take a moment to read through the H.R. 4332 and S. 3057 Fact Sheet, Frequently Asked Questions and complete bill text and then complete and return an Individual Supporter Form. Please also forward this web page to anyone else who you think would want to hear about how the bills could solve the mining dispute and provide the necessary funding to secure treasured environmental preserves in Southern California.
We thank you for your continued interest and look forward to working with you to achieve the promise of this legislation.
Sincerely,

Laurene Weste
Mayor
City of Santa Clarita
CEMEX Sub-Committee

The Empty Interior is filled with Pleistocene Lakes.  This region was filled by lakes during the Ice Age.  Castaic Lake is the closest Lake to Santa Clarita.
  
CASTAIC LAKE

 CASTAIC LAKE

Run by the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation, Castaic Lake is a beautiful state water reservoir located just north of Santa Clarita on the Interstate 5 Freeway.
Along with providing fresh water to local communities, Castaic Lake has also remained dedicated to providing the public with a wonderful place to have fun! Whether you come to admire, relax and reflect upon the beauty, or pack in an extreme day of fun and excitement, there is something here for everybody!

WILDLIFE

California's "Keep Me Wild" Campaign Many wildlife species are indigenous to the wilderness areas and foothills of California, including insects, rodents, reptiles and mammals. Life-threatening encounters are extremely rare, but you should acquaint yourself with the creatures that were here long before the arrival of humans--and still call Santa Clarita 'home.' Please follow our tips, and those on the Keep Me Wild website. Doing so will protect your family, pets, property--and the animals. If you experience an attack by a wild animal, call 911. Contact the local sheriff (661-255-1121  MOUNTAIN LIONS Are there mountain lions in the SCV wilderness? Yes. Foothills and mountains are mountain lion habitat. Generally, if you see deer, you are in mountain lion territory, as deer are the main food source for mountain lions. However, the absence of deer does not mean the absence of mountain lions, as they can subsist on smaller animals. Mountain lions are typically solitary and elusive, and prefer to avoid humans. They often co-exist among people, unseen and unheard. But rarely, they do abandon their natural instincts and attack humans. MOUNTAIN LION SIGHTINGS: On May 22, 2009 a mountain lion was found dead on I-5, just south of Calgrove Road. What can you do to be safe? First, understand that mountain lions are predatory animals; they tend to attack from behind and target the spine at the base of the skull. One theory, tested in Nepal with tigers, is to where a hat (or plastic Halloween-type mask) with a face on the back of your head. In a small study group, individuals wearing the masks were not attacked when tapping rubber trees, while the group without the masks did experience attacks. Second, hike in groups. Make noise. Mountain lions typically prefer not to come in contact with humans. Third, make yourself look as large as possible. When hiking, DO NOT CROUCH DOWN. PICK UP SMALL CHILDREN; mountain lions are drawn to children. If your property butts up against the foothills, do not leave children outdoors unattended. Fourth, California's Dept. of Fish & Game recommends that if you see a lion, DO NOT APPROACH IT and DO NOT RUN. If you run, it will mistake you for prey. Face it standing--making noise and waving your arms. The objective is to look as large as possible. Fight back if attacked; do not play dead. Is pepper spray effective? Perhaps. Understand there are two distinct types of pepper spray. The pepper spray marketed for humans pours out in a stream and requires you to face your attacker--an opportunity you may not have with a mountain lion. The type marketed for bear dispenses in a fog, which will undoubtedly affect you as well. COYOTES They're cute, so you want to feed them, right? Don't do it; it's a fatal mistake. When you feed a coyote, you're teaching him that Humans=Food. He'll be back--for your scraps, pet, or small child. He's a wild animal and it's all just food to him. If you see coyotes in your neighborhood, let them know they are not welcome. Spray a garden hose at them, make loud noises, throw rocks. Send a clear message. The greatest majority of attacks on humans occur between March through August, when the female is in gestation or has given birth. Male coyotes must forage for additional food resources. Keep in mind attacks occur outside of that window as well. Take precautions: Do not leave trash in open containers or pet food out over night. Do not leave small children unattended, even in your yard. Do not leave dogs, even large dogs, out at night. Some coyotes seek cats in residential areas; bring yours in at night. Motion-activated sprinkler systems can help keep coyotes and other unwanted wildlife at bay. What Type of Rattler Resides in SCV? Southern California is home to seven species of rattlesnakes: the Western Diamondback, Sidewinder, Speckled rattlesnake, Red Diamond rattlesnake, Southern Pacific, Great Basin rattlesnake and the Mojave rattlesnake. In Southern California, the Western Diamondback is most often involved in bites. Unfortunately, it is also the most poisonous by weight. However, the Mojave rattlesnake is the most dangerous (in North America), responsible for several deaths a year in California. The venom of the Mojave rattler is composed of hemolytic and neurotoxic elements, which means it destroys the red blood cells resulting in blood clotting problems and causes nerve damage. Its venom affects the nervous system and can lead to paralysis. The good news, according to the Placerita Nature Center, is that the only rattler residing in Santa Clarita is the Southern Pacific. This snake is most often found in the hillsides of our valley, but if you live near a rural area, you face the possibility of being visited by a rattler. The US Geological Society warns that this is a nervous species that will aggressively defend itself when annoyed. Yet, not one tourist has been bitten at the Placerita Nature Center of the millions who have visited since 1970. However, snakebites do happen and Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital reports four to six bites per year, none of which have been fatal. These bites are typically on the hand of someone who has chosen to handle a snake and rarely is the victim a hiker who has stepped in the wrong place. If you do not seek prompt medical attention, you do risk losing your limb. “If bitten by a snake…seek medical attention as quickly as possible,” said David Hartzog, R.N., a nurse in Henry Mayo’s Emergency Department. While medical professionals suspect a Green Mojave as the snake that bit Chris Bolewski of Saugus in May 2007, Heermann remains unconvinced. "The Green Mojave's range begins in Leona Valley and goes north. I once heard of a sighting in Acton, but that was the closest to the SCV."  http://www.santaclaritaguide.com/Wildlife.html

Events:  (1) Gloriana at the PAC, Dec 5  (2) Patrick Merrill - Conjunction: Intaglio & Relief  (3) San Antonio, TX: Reviewed for families, by a family of seven    . . . more events at Santa Clarita Guide   
The Mormon presence still exits in Santa Clarita, California.  There are many Latter Day Saints Churches throughout. 

Santa Clarita is a wonderful place to visit!!   The Empty Interior has gas stations every 150 miles whereas Santa Clarita has gas stations every few miles.  There are many restaurants, hotels, movie theatres, shopping, parks, hiking trails, bike trails, and then of course there is Six Flaggs Magic Mountain.  It is approximately 35 miles north of Hollywood, California, Santa Monica, California and the list can go on and on.