Desert Springs Action Committee
Ash Meadows Work Party - Oct. 6-7, 2000

The Desert Springs Action Committee, in conjunction with the Bay Area Killifish Association, North American Native Fishes Association, and others is happy to presents their latest conservation field trip to the Nevada desert.
During October 6-7 we will be undertaking conservation work at the Ash Meadows Wildlife Refuge, Nevada, under supervision of US Fish and Wildlife Service staff with the following days (8-9) being spent viewing habitats and travelling to Preston, Nevada to continue our guppy / springfish research.

Ash Meadows, Nevada is a very special place. It has a higher number of endemic species for its given area than any other place in the United States. This is primarily due to the presence of permanent freshwater springs that allow life to flourish in the desert. Ash Meadows was also the site of one of the longest environmental battles in North America, (1967-1984). For a considerable time the area was threatened by ranchers who diverted spring outflows and pumped excessive quantities of ground water for irrigation, threatening the continued existence of the springs. The next principal impact was a proposed desert city that would have also required large quantities of ground water. As a combined result of these impacts one fish species is extinct, and the remainder are currently listed as Endangered species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Today the area is a National Wildlife Refuge and despite its current protective status, problems still regularly occur (i.e. exotic fish species are still introduced into springs threatening native aquatic fauna).

The Ash Meadows pupfish Cyprinodon nevadensis mionectes 

Our primary objective is the removal of non-native organisms including gambusia, mollies, largemouth bass, crayfish and bullfrogs. We will likely also conduct some cattail removal from some springs, so bring gloves. There will be ample opportunity to see the native pupfishes and dace close up. Please note however, no native fishes may be removed from the refuge as all are fully protected by the Endangered Species Act.  We will be camping at the same locality as last year. Bathroom and shower facilities will be available. Directions to our camp site are as follows. If coming from the southern entrance, continue north up the dirt road for about 2 miles where there will bea rusty metal gate on the right side of the
road. Turn right (east) through the gate with a sign saying "Service Road Unauthorized Entry Prohibited." Continue on this road for about 3/4 mile to the trailer. Note, from the point where you enter the refuge from the south there will be four other road junctions to the right prior to the gated road to the refuge trailer, two of which also have the same "Service Road" sign. The turn off to the trailer however, is the only one which is gated. If coming from the north, or entering through the west, or east (Devils Hole) entrances: continue to the main "T" junction (where all the mail boxes re) and turn south. Continue south for 1.0 mile to the "Y" Junction. One branch of the Y continues due south, while the other angles to the east. Stay straight, continuing south for another 1/2 mile. Turn left (east) at the gate as described above. Alternative accommodation is also available at the nearby Longstreet Casino (1 800 508 9493)  You should book early though. Ash Meadows is located a few miles north of the CA-NV border on Hwy. 373 and is clearly marked with signpost.

We will gather at the camp site at 8 am on the 6th to organize activities. DSAC will be coordinating the meal preparation with help from various old hands. Cooking facilities will be provided, however you should bring your own eating utensils and food. The Desert Springs Action Committee, however, will provide the food for a Friday evening BBQ. A $12 stipend towards this BBQ is requested in advance. Please send checks to Jim Lawson at his address below prior to September 15. Please inform us early if you wish to form, or need car pool information. A very comprehensive web page of the work we do and past trips is located at http://www.tkphotos.com/dsac.

Contact Peter Unmack peter.unmack@asu.edu , 480 965 1578 or Jim Lawson, 802 Arlington Way, Martinez CA 94553, jelawson@ix.netcom.com , 925 335 9346 for further information, maps, and required registrations forms (cancelled check). The non-refundable stipend is due September 15, 1999. Please make checks payable to Jim Lawson at the above address. Thank you and we'll look forward to another great Ash Meadows weekend.

Most of the springs in Ash Meadows are spread out along the valley floor over a length of 12 miles. Many of these springs are little more than seeps, however these are important habitats for the many endemic aquatic invertebrates that can be found in Ash Meadows. The valley floor also contains the largest springs in Ash Meadows.   Here is one of them, called Big Spring.