400 University of California Publications. [Geology 



is a little over four miles long and is about a mile wide. Its 

 trend is north-northeast and south-southwest. This valley is 

 divided longitudinally into two parts by a low median ridge of 

 granitic rock. On the east side of this ridge is a flat bottomed 

 alluviated plain from one-half to three-quarters of a mile wide. 

 In this plain are situated the Hot Springs from which the valley 

 is named. The springs emerge from the alluvium of the plain 

 in its middle part but toward the east side. On the west side 

 of the median ridge is the somewhat tortuous channel of the 

 Kern River. The stream flows in a succession of low rapids with 

 intervals of smooth water over bare granite with a descent of 

 about 25 feet to the mile. The trench in which the stream flows 

 is a typical erosional feature. The stream enters this rocky 

 trench through a stream-worn notch in the north end of the 

 median ridge immediately at the junction of the South Fork and 

 the Kern River near the town of Isabella. Here we encounter 

 a totally different character of stream bed, the moment we pass 

 to the east of the median ridge. Both the Kern and the South 

 Fork are flowing upon expansive and far extended flood plains 

 and their confluence occurs upon a common flood plain. This 

 flood plain strewn with boulders and gravel extends north up 

 the Kern for a distance of over ten miles from Isabella with a 

 breadth diminishing from a mile and a half to a few hundred 

 feet. Up the South Fork to the east it extends for probably 

 fifteen miles, with a width in its lower part of over a mile. But 

 here the flood-plain silts and sands mantle the stream gravel in 

 large part and make agricultural land. Above the present flood 

 plain is a terrace about 25 feet in height, indicating that the 

 valley at one time was filled that much higher than at present. 

 The alluviated plain which forms the eastern moiety of Hot 

 Springs Valley is about on the grade of this terrace. 



To complete the description of that portion of Hot Springs 

 Valley which lies to the east of the median ridge, it should be 

 stated that the alluvium which forms its floor is derived from 

 three incoming streams. The largest of these is Erskine Creek, 

 which enters the valley at its southeast corner and there builds 

 up a notable fan which spreads out over its entire width. The 

 second is Vaughn Creek which enters at the south end and gives 



