In Maine the estimated "virgin-old-growth" is ten acres. (No source...just heard it several times.)

Joe - I believe you are mistaken - even the "native grasses" of California turn brown...the state - as a whole (hole?) generally, receives less than 15 inches of rain/year.....somehow, I believe the 49'ers and the Gold Rush have more to due with its moniker. Not to mention a split-off from the rest of the nation its would make it's GDP the sixth largest producer in the world.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle