The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is becoming known at the best record of Late Cretaceous terrestrial life. The remains of dinosaurs—hadrosaurs, ceratopsians, and tyrannosaurs—are impressive, with more than 50 genera of dinosaurs represented. There are more than 5,000 square km of fossil-rich Late Cretaceous rocks exposed. The realization of the fossil riches in the area … More Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

Part 2C continues with hydroelectric reservoirs in the Mother Lode including the Bear, Cosumnes, Mokelumne, Truckee, and Yuba Rivers. The American River was previously described in part 2B. Bear River Alta Forebay, Pacific Gas & Electric (N39º13’ W120º47’) receives water from the Towle Canal (North Fork American River watershed) and regulates water entering the penstock … More Sierra Nevada Forests, Part 2C: Hydroelectric Reservoirs of the Mother Lode

Sierra Nevada map 1 Continuing south in the Sierra Nevada forests, the American River watershed drains the western slopes and the Truckee River drains the eastern slopes. This post describes some of the features in this landscape. Part 2 describes the Mother Lode and Lake Tahoe areas encompassed by general areas of the Eldorado and Tahoe … More Sierra Nevada Forests, Part 2A, American River and Tahoe Areas