Potrero Hills (Richmond, California): Difference between revisions

The '''Potrero Hills'''<ref name="ptmolate">[http://www.pointmolateeis-eir.com/documents/draft_eis-eir/files/compiled/Volume_I.pdf Point Molate Casino EIR, Volumne I, 2009, accessed May 25, 2010]</ref> also known as the '''Potrero Ridge''' and '''Point Molate Hills''' is a chaparral and forested [[escarpment]] of that crests northwest to southeast along the [[San Pablo Peninsula]] in [[Richmond, California]].<ref name="casino">[http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/index.aspx?NID=1863 Point Molate Resort and Casino], city of Richmond website,May 25, 2010</ref><ref name="ptmolate"/> The steep hills crest from [[Point Richmond]] in the south to [[Point San Pablo]] in the north. They were formed by pressure created by the [[San Pablo Fault]] a sub-fault of the [[Hayward Fault]].<ref name="ptmolate"/> Part of the hills once were cultivated as a vineyard for the [[Winehaven, California|Winehaven Winery]], world's largest winery at the time. The range hosts two peaks the largest is a 494-feet (151 m) and the second largest a 328 feet (100 m) peak, both are unnamed.<ref name="ptmolate"/> The hills once formed the backbone of an island the existed off the coast of what is now central Richmond and has been landfilled, similar to [[Alameda, California|Alameda]]'s [[Bay Farm Island]]. The hills are made of [[shale]], [[sandstone]], and [[chert]].<ref name="ptmolate"/> The hills provide a natural barrier protecting the Point Molate area from [[NH3|NH₃]] and other contaminants that could be released from the [[Chevron Richmond Refinery]] in the event of a disaster.<ref name="ptmolate"/> A pass is carved into it at its southern end for [[Interstate 580]]. Some of the ridge was also formerly used for goat grazing and quarrying at the Blake Brothers Quarry. A weather station sits atop a peak overlooking [[Point San Pablo]]. [[Point Potrero Pond]] is a small lake near the [[Richmond-San Rafael Bridge]] toll plaza near the south of the hills. The hills are dotted with tank farms and polluted sites from the former [[Point Molate Naval Fuel Depot]].<ref name="quarry">[http://content.cdlib.org/xtf/view?docId=hb2m3nb1b0&doc.view=frames&chunk.id=div00033&toc.depth=1&toc.id=&brand=calisphere&query=richmond,%20california Changes in the Richmond Waterfront], access date 25-02-2009</ref> The hills vegetation is largely composed of eucalyptus woodlands, chaparral, grasslands with some wetlands as well.<ref name="ptmolate"/>▼