Our Challenge
Key Terms
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Disturbed area
An area where an event or series of events have disrupted the ecosystem, community, or population structure, and altered the physical environment.
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Non-native plants
Plants that are not typically found in an area, but have been introduced through disruption to the ecosystem, including human activity.
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Riparian
Related to the bank of a river or stream.
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Vegetation
Plants.
Explore: Kumeyaay Land Erosion Causes
Kumeyaay homelands changed greatly after Europeans and Americans arrived. The Kumeyaay could no longer practice the land management techniques that had worked so well for them. Roll over the highlighted spots to learn more.
Kumeyaay homelands changed greatly after Europeans and Americans arrived. The Kumeyaay could no longer practice the land management techniques that had worked so well for them. Roll over or touch the highlighted spots to learn more.
Even large oak trees were affected by cattle grazing. Because cattle ate small seedlings, there were no young trees to replace the old ones when they died.
Settlers cut down oak trees for building material and to make room for cattle and farms.
The Spanish and Americans brought cattle with them. Cattle ate grasses and other small plants more quickly than they grow back through their natural cycle.
Farmers and ranchers sometimes drained water from natural wetlands to create more land for crops and livestock. They used equipment to carve channels so the water would flow away.
As plant life disappeared from the wetlands, so did water. When heavy rains came, the water rushed across the land and carved out a large opening in the land that soon dried up.
Try These Questions
That is correct!
Wetlands destruction has caused the water table to drop, making it much harder to find well water.
That is correct!
The Kumeyaay environment is particularly sensitive to the effects of cattle grazing. The subsequent loss of water and important plants has had a serious effect on the Kumeyaay people.
That is correct!
Oaks are a native plant that helps the land retain water. Cattle ate oak seedlings, erosion damaged the tree roots, and settlers cut down the oaks so their cattle could graze.
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