steep or clitfed. The Salicornietum lies between the Spartinetum and the 

 Sueadetum, and the Monanthochloetum occurs in low undrained areas on the 

 marsh surface. 



The marsh deposits, one to three feet thick, are laid upon a platform of 

 exceptionally well-sorted fine sand, the latter representing a period when cur- 

 rent and wave forces were stronger than now. Such was the case prior to 1861 

 when the mouth of the bay was in open communication with the sea. During 

 that year a great storm brought tremendous amounts of detritus to the coast 

 through the Santa Ana River channel, thus forming the sand spit of Newport 

 Beach and diverting the river into the lagoon behind the newly formed barrier. 

 It must be from this time that the birth of the present marsh deposits are 

 reckoned. The marshes are now physiographically young, with simple creek 

 systems, definitive floral communities and embryonic marshes on bordering 

 tidal flats . 



The marshes at Newport Bay are typical of this intertidal environment in 

 southern California. In this part of the United States such deposits are usually 

 confined to narrow channels which have been cut through coastal terraces and 

 hills by the intermittent streams. In some areas, such as Mission Bay near 

 San Diego, lagoons one to three miles wide support rather extensive marshes 

 on their borders. Normally, however, marshes more than a few hundred feet 

 across are uncommon. 



44 



