Traveling north, one can see the Sutter Buttes rising 2,132 feet from the valley floor, and visit the national and state wildlife refuges and reserves in the valley's many wetland areas along the Pacific Flyway. On the eastern edge of the bioregion is Folsom Dam and Folsom Lake. Still, the valley is known for tomatoes, rice, and olives, among other prominent crops produced in the plentiful fields and orchards. Food canneries, high-technology, and biotechnology play a significant role. Once, the bioregion had a substantial military presence with three Air Force bases, but downsizing changed the picture, closing Mather, then adding McClellan to the closure list, but sparing Beale.
Shipping is important in the port of West Sacramento.
The changing of the seasons is more evident in the Sacramento Valley than in the coastal regions to the west. Leaves turn gold during the brief, mild autumn that ends rather abruptly with the coming of winter fog around Thanksgiving. The so-called tule fog blankets the valley for much of the winter season from December into February, keeping temperatures chilled. Except during droughts, rainfall is frequent in winter, but snowfall is unusual because temperatures, particularly in the daytime, normally remain well above freezing. The Sacramento Valley is flat for the most part, but is situated within distant view of mountains, which are particularly visible on clear days.