114! CHAPARRAL. 
If the prevailing winds came from any direction other than west, 
the delightful climate of the chaparral region would be ruined. 
Unwelcome proof of this comes now and then, when the northern or 
eastern desert wind, or “ Santa Ana,” flows through some of the low 
mountain passes on to the coastal plain. Compared with the normal 
temperature, this superheated air stratum feels like a furnace blast. 
The “ Santa Anas,” together with the “ Sonoras,” or southern storms, 
cause a wide range in the recorded maximum and minimum tempera- 
tures. Fortunately they are rare. 
The topographic relief is exceedingly diversified, and the mountains 
are high, ranging, in the National Forests, up to 11,485 feet. 
Dr. P. C. Ramondino, in 1892, after a careful study of the region, 
declared that, between the ocean and the mountain summits, five 
climates could be defined. These are: Insular, peninsular, coastal, 
lowland, and mountain. In the realms both of air and of water, 
they range from tropical to Arctic. One may, sandaled and hatless, 
pick an orange or a fig while gazing at snow-capped hills. The sea 
fauna from Santa Barbara to San Diego includes almost all forms, 
from Bering whale and seal to tropic goldfish, abalone, and sea 
turtles. 
The following table, which shows the equable coastal climate, was 
prepared from data in the United States Weather Burean: 
TABLE 1.—Climate at three cities in the chaparral region, California. 






Wind. Temperature. Average annual weather. 
Station. 3S £8 q d [oq EB 
= Sa Q = 3 age o g 
E bos) <3 Besse se BS ER os 
5 SB, 3} dq aS se oe = S Sg 
r= Dy 2 3 tal =I 3 3S ae 3 = 
fe = 1 4 ov B 4 ‘= — oS aS} lanj 
<q <4 fan) = > ne 3) aw O ps 
Inches. | Miles. °F. | °F. | °F. | °F. | Days.|Days. |Days. |Days. 
San Luis Obispo............-- 121.42 Bl MAYS 58.6 | 106 22 56 | 203 95 67 48 
IVOSPAMIgeleShe sateen 15. 86 4.7| W. | 60.3 | 109 28 AON alist og 56 36 
Sane iccoeeeer sete eter ecere 9. 54 5.6 |? NW. | 60.6 | 101 32 43 | 266 49 |} 50 43 





1 The only snowfall was at San Luis Obispo, March 3, 1896, and was one-half inch. 
2 Local topographic conditions at San Diego cause daily variations in the direction of winds. 
CHAPARRAL AND THE WATER SUPPLY. 
The economic importance of chaparral is due chiefly to the neces- 
sity for watershed protection in a region of such geographic condi- 
tions as have just been described. Throughout southern California 
water is of the utmost importance for irrigation and municipal sup- 
ply. On the arable valley and mesa lands the rainfall is insufficient 
for any crops but hay and grains. The deficit is met by irrigation. 
Water for this purpose comes from the streams which run during 
the growing season and from pumped underground waters, and is 
