Great Valley Grasslands State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Great Valley Grasslands State Park |
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 Great Valley Grasslands State Park
Location in California
Great Valley Grasslands State Park
Location in the United States
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| Location | Merced County, California, United States |
| Nearest city | Gustine, California |
| Area | 2,826 acres (1,144 ha) |
| Established | 1982 |
| Governing body | California Department of Parks and Recreation |
Great Valley Grasslands State Park is a special place in California, USA. It helps protect a piece of native grassland in the San Joaquin Valley. Long ago, this type of grassy area, called a grassland biome, covered much of the Central Valley.
The park is about 2,826-acre (1,144 ha) big. It was created in 1982 by joining two older park areas: San Luis Island and Fremont Ford State Recreation Area. Even though it's mostly wild and undeveloped, it's a great spot for seeing spring wildflowers, going fishing, and watching amazing wildlife.
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A Home for Wildlife
Great Valley Grasslands State Park is part of a much bigger area called the Grasslands Ecological Area (GEA). This GEA is a huge network of lands, including federal, state, and private areas. All these lands are managed to protect wildlife.
The GEA is super important because it has the largest connected area of wetlands left in California. Wetlands are like watery lands that many animals and plants need to survive. This makes the park and the GEA a vital home for many creatures.
Animals and Plants of the Park
Many special and rare animals and plants live in Great Valley Grasslands State Park. Some of these are considered rare or endangered species, meaning they are at risk of disappearing forever.
Grassland Plants
In the grassy areas of the park, you can find unique plants like:
- Alkali sacaton (Sporobolus airoides) — This is a type of native California grass that grows in bunches.
- Delta button celery (Eryngium racemosum) — This plant is only found in certain areas (it's endemic) and is listed as an endangered species by the state.
Wetland Animals
In the flood plain near the San Joaquin River and in temporary pools of water called vernal pools, you might find:
- California Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma californiense) — This amphibian is a type of salamander that lives only in parts of California. It's considered a vulnerable species, which means it needs protection.
- Vernal pool fairy shrimp (Branchinecta lynchi) — These tiny fairy shrimp live only in the vernal pools of Oregon and California. They are an endangered species.
- San Joaquin tadpole shrimp (Lepidurus packardi) — This tadpole shrimp is also only found in California. It's endangered because it lives in a very small area and its home is being lost.
Protecting the Park
A few years ago, in 2008, Great Valley Grasslands State Park was one of many California state parks that faced a possible closure. This was part of a plan to save money. Luckily, these closures were avoided by making changes like reducing park hours and maintenance across all state parks. This helped keep these important natural areas open for everyone to enjoy.
