The pollen record of Shellmaker Island spans over 8000 radiocarbon years of sedimentation. During the mid- and late Holocene (1200 - 120 cm), Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthus generally exceeds 30%, Labiatae reaches 4 %, and Ceanothus increases to 6%. From 1020 cm to 1480 cm (7000 - 8300 yr B.P.) Other Compositae percentages are over 20% and Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthus values generally are less than 20%. Sarcobatus (a taxon now absent west of the Sierra Nevada Crest) is consistently present at < 1%. Climate was relatively mesic during the occupation of CA ORA 64, and elevated percentages of Cruciferae pollen and charcoal suggest vegetation disturbance.

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