Modoc Plateau

The Modoc Plateau is a large, natural area located in the northeast corner of California and also stretches into parts of Oregon and Nevada. It covers nearly 1,000,000 acres and is part of the Modoc National Forest. The plateau sits between the Medicine Lake Highlands to the west and the Warner Mountains to the east.

This landform is a volcanic tableland, with heights ranging from 4,000 to 6,000 feet above sea level. It has been shaped by many faults running north to south. You can find occasional lakes, marshes, and slow-moving streams across the area.

The Modoc Plateau is made up of layers of old lava flows and tuff beds, along with many small volcanic cones. It features cinder cones, flat areas covered with juniper bushes, forests of pine trees, and lakes that appear only during certain seasons. Scientists believe the plateau formed about 25 million years ago as part of the southern extension of the Columbia Plateau flood basalts.

Vegetation and wildlife

The Modoc Plateau has many forests with trees like Ponderosa Pine and California Buckeye. It is also home to large groups of animals such as Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, and Pronghorn. There are also wild horses living there. Two important places for animals, the Clear Lake National Wildlife Refuge and Long Bell State Game Refuge, are on the plateau as well.

Watersheds

The Lost River watershed drains the northern part of the Modoc Plateau. In the southern part, water either collects in basin reservoirs or flows into Big Sage Reservoir, which is located in the center of Modoc County.