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Biogeography of Florida Canyon Native Plant Preserve
You will be taking a walking tour of the Florida Canyon Native Plant Preserve. This canyon gives the visitor a glimpse of the original landscape of Balboa Park. The 150 acres of Coastal Sage Scrub provide an important habitat for native wildlife. Many hiking trails are scattered in Florida Canyon, and both the Park Rangers and the Natural History Museum conduct tours in this area. The Preserve was primarily set up for maintaining the Coastal Sage Scrub ecosystem; however on this walk you will also see Oak Woodland, as well as a number of non-native plants.
If you look closely at Florida Canyon from the high point of Morley Field, facing south, you will see that this is an area that had a streambed at the bottom of the valley. Originally, this valley was home to Kumeyaay, and even up until the building of “Newtown” or San Diego, this area was a Kumeyaay village.
From 1860 to 1890 a large Kumeyaay village is acknowledged to have occupied the mesas and canyons east of Russ School, near 18th and 'B' streets. Also, one of the best documented rancherias is the Switzer Canyon, or now Florida Canyon Kumeyaay band village. In the area where 19th and 20th streets intersect 'A' and 'B' streets signs of the long occupation are still found. Manuel Hatam was the well recognized leader of the Tribal people living on this Balboa Park location (
From the San Diego Historical Society:
1800s / Kumeyaay Indians inhabit numerous villages scattered throughout the San Diego region including Florida/Switzer Canyon and Mission Valley.1845 / Santiago Arguello organizes the first survey of San Diego — the lines laid down in this year establish the patchwork of the Pueblo Lands which eventually give way to the grid work of the city streets and Balboa Park.
1868 / Ephraim Morse presents a resolution to the Board of Trustees of San Diego that land be set aside for a city park. Morse, Thomas Bush and Alonzo Horton select the land north of downtown. Two years later, San Diego becomes the first city west of the Mississippi to set aside land for an urban park. This 1,440 acre tract becomes the site for City Park, now Balboa Park.
1873 / Wells drilled by the newly formed San Diego Water Company near site of present Cabrillo Bridge provide first reliable water supply for the city. Two reservoirs are constructed on mesas bordering canyon with a total capacity of 170,000 gallons.
1875 / Death of Jose Manual Hatam, the Chief/Captain of the Kumeyaay village of Milejo (present-day Switzer Canyon).
1890 / Over 10,000 trees are planted throughout park.
1892 / Kate Sessions leases ten acres of parkland for her nursery. In exchange she agrees to supply trees and plants for the park and other city projects.
1904 / Kate Sessions organizes an Arbor Day celebration and 4,000 citizens turn out to help plant about Monterey Cypress trees on what then became known as Cypress Point (southeast of Quince and Balboa Drive).
1916 brought about an El Nino weather pattern, and 7 inches of rain in one month. This caused the overflow of the river system, including the reservoir in Switzer Canyon, adjacent to Florida Canyon at 20th Street. The dam was considered weakened and unstable, so the city made the assessment that it needed to be removed. The dam was dynamited by the City after the January of bad weather. This, in turn, caused the flooding of 16th Street all the way to the bay (which at that time was around 11th Street.) Kate Session had a great deal to do with the development of Balboa Park and her nursery was nearby. Still, Florida Canyon was not developed to the extent that much of the rest of the park has been developed.
There is a trail that has vegetation marked with the common names of the plants, as well as scientific names. List 6 plants with their alternate names.
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7. What is the dominant soil type and Geologic feature? How are they related?
On the hike we will discuss different types of mammals and reptiles that also share this canyon. List six of these, with a short description.
Mammal/Reptile Name Description
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The Chaparral vegetation community plants use a variety of drought strategies to survive in this environment. Please list at least two of the types of strategies that plants use to get through hot summers in San Diego.
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16. The hillsides do not contain the same vegetation. What would account for this? Using the Scientific Method, outline a hypothesis and how you would evaluate this phenomenon.
Non-indigenous plants are a problem throughout San Diego, and keeping the ecosystem pristine is an effort for the staff and volunteers at Balboa Park. What kinds of plants are they seeking to eradicate, and how?
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There are a wide variety of birds that you will see along the trail. If you don’t already have one, now is the time to start your “Life List” of birds that you see around you where you live and were you travel. I hope you have learned a lot about the birds, and will return soon!
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