Chemehuevi Valley North Endangered Desert Legacy

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Chemehuevi Valley North Endangered Desert Legacy Location: The Chemehuevi Valley North area is located in the Mojave Desert, in San Bernardino County, northwest of the town of Havasu Lake. The Sacramento Mountains lie to the north of the area. The Stepladder Mountains Wilderness lies to the west and Highway 95 lies to the east. Management Agency: Bureau of Land Management, Needles Field Office Description: The area is dominated by a broad bajada, cut by washes flowing south from the Chemehuevi Mountains. These washes then drain into the Chemehuevi wash. Elevations range from about 1,700 feet to about 2,400 feet. Wildlife and Plants: The importance of the Chemehuevi Valley to the continued viability of the threatened California desert tortoise (photo above) cannot be exaggerated. This area has been designated as a critical habitat for the desert tortoise. When a species is proposed for listing as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act, consideration is also given to whether there are areas of habitat believed to be essential to the species' conservation and thus should be designated as "critical habitat". Scientists have found that the region contains some of the highest tortoise population densities in the eastern Mojave Desert. Biologists have also determined that it is feasible to create corridors for the Chemehuevi Valley tortoise population and the populations in other nearby habitats. The Chemehuevi Valley is not only habitat for the California desert tortoise, but also for the protected desert bighorn sheep and golden eagle, and other species of special concern such as Bendire’s thrasher, loggerhead shrike and prairie falcon. The flowering spiny-hair blazing star can also be found in this area (photo above). Activities: This area is enjoyed by campers, cross-country hikers, equestrians, nature enthusiasts, bird watchers, wildflower viewers, star gazers, and others seeking the beauty and solitude of the desert. Rockhounds also enjoy collecting chalcedony, agate, and jasper in and around this area. Off-roaders enjoy traversing the nearby War Eagle Mine Trail and the North Chemehuevi Trail. Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan – California Wilderness Coalition Like us on facebook For more information contact: Linda Castro, 760.221.4895, [email protected] to get involved .

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Chemehuevi Valley Groundwater Basin Bulletin 118
Hydrologic Region Colorado River California’s Groundwater Chemehuevi Valley Groundwater Basin Bulletin 118 Chemehuevi Valley Groundwater Basin • Groundwater Basin Number: 7-43 • County: San Bernardino • Surface Area: 273,000 acres (427 square miles) Basin Boundaries and Hydrology This basin underlies Chemehuevi Valley in eastern San Bernardino County. The basin is bounded by Havasu Lake on the east and by nonwater-bearing rocks of the Sacramento Mountains on the north, of the Chemehuevi Mountains on the northeast, of the Whipple Mountains on the southeast, of the Turtle Mountains on the west and south (Bishop 1963). The valley is drained by Chemehuevi Wash to Havasu Lake. Annual average precipitation ranges from about 4 to 6 inches. Hydrogeologic Information Water Bearing Formations Groundwater in the basin is found in alluvium and the Bouse Formation. Alluvium. Holocene age younger alluvium, which is found in washes and the floodplain of the Colorado River, is composed of sand, silt and gravel (Metzger and Loeltz 1973). Older alluvium consists of unconsolidated, fine- to coarse-grained sand, pebbles, and boulders with variable amounts of silt and clay. Bouse Formation. The Pliocene age Bouse Formation is composed of a basal limestone bed overlain by interbedded clay, silt, and sand. Thickness of the formation reaches 254 feet (Metzger and Loeltz 1973). The formation is underlain by locally derived fanglomerate and overlain by alluviums of the Colorado River and its tributaries. Restrictive Structures An unnamed fault crosses a portion of the southern side of the basin (Bishop 1963), but it is not known whether or not this fault impedes groundwater flow in the basin.
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Distribution and Seasonal Movements of Bendire's Thrasher in California
WESTERN BIRDS Volume 20, Number 3, 1989 DISTRIBUTION AND SEASONAL MOVEMENTS OF BENDIRE'S THRASHER IN CALIFORNIA A. SIDNEY ENGLAND, Departmentof Wildlifeand FisheriesBiology, University of California, Davis. California 95616 WILLIAM E LAUDENSLAYER,JR., U.S. D. A. ForestService, Forestry Sciences Laboratory,2081 E. SierraAvenue, Fresno, California 93710 The ecology and distribution of Bendire's Thrasher (Toxostorna bendirei)have been little studiedand are poorlyunderstood. Garrett and Dunn (1981:280) classifiedthe speciesas a "fairlycommon but very local summer resident on the Mojave Desert" in southern California. Californiabreeding populations are known primarily from the eastern Mojave Desert and scattered locations in and around Joshua Tree NationalMonument in the southernMojave Desert (Johnson et al. 1948, Miller and Stebbins1964, Garrett and Dunn 1981), areas frequently visitedby bird watchersand naturalists. However, recordsfrom other parts of the Mojave and Colorado deserts suggest that breeding populationsof Bendire'sThrasher may be more widely distributedthan currentlyrecognized. Also, the preferredbreeding habitat in Californiais relativelywidespread. This habitatis typicallydescribed as Mojavedesert scrubwith either JoshuaTrees (Yucca brevifolia), SpanishBayonet (Y. baccata), Mojave Yucca (Y. schidigera), cholla cactus (Opuntia acanthocarpa,O. echinocarpa,or O. rarnosissirna),or other succulents (Grinnelland Miller 1944, Bent 1948, Garrett and Dunn 1981). Remsen(1978) consideredthe total Californiabreeding population of Bendire'sThrasher to be under 200 pairs, and the specieshas been placedon the list of Bird Speciesof SpecialConcern by the California Departmentof Fishand Game (Remsen1978). It was placedon this list becausepopulations are smalland locallydistributed and believedto be threatenedby off-roadvehicle use, overgrazing,and harvestingof Joshua Treesand other speciesof yucca. In this paper, we report the resultsof a 2-year studyof the breeding- season distributionand movement patterns of Bendire's Thrasher in California.
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(LHFO) Proposed Resource Management Plan
United States Department of the Interior U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2321 West Royal Palm Road, Suite 103 Phoenix, Arizona 85021-4951 Telephone: (602) 242-0210 FAX: (602) 242-2513 In Reply Refer To: AESO/SE 02-21-05-F-0784 June 15, 2006 Memorandum To: Field Manager, Lake Havasu Field Office, Bureau of Land Management, Lake Havasu City, Arizona From: Field Supervisor Subject: Biological Opinion on the Effects of the Lake Havasu Field Office (LHFO) Proposed Resource Management Plan Thank you for your request for formal section 7 consultation on the final Lake Havasu Field Office District Proposed Resource Management Plan (PRMP), pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531-1544), as amended (Act). Species addressed in this consultation include effects of your proposed action on the following species: • Endangered southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) (SWWF) • Threatened bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) (BAEA) • Endangered razorback sucker (Xyrauchen texanus) (RBS) and critical habitat. • Endangered bonytail chub (Gila elegans) (BTC) and critical habitat • Endangered Yuma clapper rail (Rallus longirostris yumanensis) (YCR) • Threatened desert tortoise – Mohave Desert Population (Gopherus agassizii) (MDT) You have also requested our concurrence with your determination that the proposed action may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect, the endangered California brown pelican (Pelicanus occidentalis californicus) and the candidate western yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus occidentalis). We concur with these determinations, which are addressed in Appendix A at the end of this memorandum. This biological opinion (BO) is based on information provided in the November 28, 2005, biological assessment (BA), the PRMP EIS, email correspondence, updated memos, telephone conversations, site investigations, meetings between the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and us, and other sources of information (all this information is considered part of the proposed 2 action).
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Flora of the Whipple Mountains
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UNIVERSITY of CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE Spiritual Geographies of Indigenous Sovereignty Connections of Caxcan with Tlachialoyantepec
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE Spiritual Geographies of Indigenous Sovereignty Connections of Caxcan with Tlachialoyantepec and Chemehuevi with Mamapukaib A Dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History by Daisy Ocampo December 2019 Dissertation Committee: Dr. Clifford E. Trafzer, Chairperson Dr. Rebecca Kugel Dr. Robert Perez Copyright by Daisy Ocampo 2019 The Dissertation of Daisy Ocampo is approved: Committee Chairperson University of California, Riverside Acknowledgements I wish to thank many people, tribes, and institutions for all their support, knowledge, and patience. Thank you firstly to my three committee-members: Cliff Trafzer, Rebecca ‘Monte’ Kugel, and Robert Perez. I must especially acknowledge Cliff Trafzer for providing me all of the guidance I needed every step of the way. On behalf of my family and Caxcan people from El Remolino, thank you for believing in this research project, in the power of our sacred places, and the value of our rich knowledge. I wish to express my gratitude to the California Center for the Native Nations, Rupert Costo for Native American Affairs and the gracious support from the Graduate Assistant in Areas of National Need (GAANN) Fellowship. This report also would not have been possible without the Native American Land Conservancy, 29 Palms Band of Mission Indians and the Mike Family. To Matt Leivas, who kindly offered me his knowledge through the rich oral histories he possesses while also taking the time to introduce me to the people of Chemehuevi Indian Reservation including his sister June Leivas, I extend many thanks to them all for we share the common bond of a mutual deep respect for our sacred sites.
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Stepladder Mountains Endangered Desert Legacy
Stepladder Mountains Endangered Desert Legacy Location: The Stepladder Mountains area is located in the Mojave Desert, in San Bernardino County, to the west of the town of Havasu Lake. The Sacramento Mountains lie to the north and the Turtle Mountains lie to the south. Highway 95 lies to the east and Ward Valley lies to the west. This area abuts the existing Stepladder Mountains Wilderness area. Management Agency: Bureau of Land Management, Needles Field Office Description: The western portion of the existing Wilderness area consists of the relatively low, elongated volcanic Stepladder Mountains. This small range extends for about 10 miles in a north-south direction. The area gently slopes eastward to the northern end of the Chemehuevi Wash and westward to Homer Wash. A significant portion of this area consists of flat bajadas and associated washes, providing excellent desert tortoise habitat. Elevations range from about 1,750 feet to about 2,650 feet. Wildlife and Plants: Species which make this area their home include the protected desert bighorn sheep and golden eagle, and the threatened desert tortoise. Other species which can be found here include the black-tailed jackrabbit, coyote, Emory's crucifixion-thorn, glandular ditaxis, ground squirrel, kangaroo rat (photo above), Le Conte's thrasher, burrowing owl, prairie falcon, quail, roadrunner, and rattlesnake. The importance of the area to the continued viability of the desert tortoise cannot be exaggerated. The area has been designated as critical habitat for the desert tortoise. Scientists have found that the region has had some of the highest tortoise population densities in the eastern Mojave Desert.
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Western Birds
WESTERN BIRDS Volume 20, Number 3, 1989 DISTRIBUTION AND SEASONAL MOVEMENTS OF BENDIRE'S THRASHER IN CALIFORNIA A. SIDNEY ENGLAND, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Biology, University of California, Davis, California 95616 WILLIAM F. LAUDENSLAYER, JR., U. S. D. A. Forest Service, Forestry Sciences Laboratory, 2081 E. Sierra Avenue, Fresno, California 93710 The ecology and distribution of Bendire's Thrasher (Toxostoma bendirei) have been little studied and are poorly understood. Garrett and Dunn (1981:280) classified the species as a "fairly common but very local summer resident on the Mojave Desert" in southern California. California breeding populations are known primarily from the eastern Mojave Desert and scattered locations in and around Joshua Tree National Monument in the southern Mojave Desert (Johnson et al. 1948, Miller and Stebbins 1964, Garrett and Dunn 1981), areas frequently visited by bird watchers and naturalists. However, records from other parts of the Mojave and Colorado deserts suggest that breeding populations of Bendire's Thrasher may be more widely distributed than currently recognized. Also, the preferred breeding habitat in California is relatively widespread. This habitat is typically described as Mojave desert scrub with either Joshua Trees (Yucca brevifolia), Spanish Bayonet (Y baccata), Mojave Yucca (Y. schidigera), cholla cactus (Opuntia acanthocarpa, 0. echinocarpa, or 0. ramosissima), or other succulents (Grinnell and Miller 1944, Bent 1948, Garrett and Dunn 1981). Remsen (1978) considered the total California breeding population of Bendire's Thrasher to be under 200 pairs, and the species has been placed on the list of Bird Species of Special Concern by the California Department of Fish and Game (Remsen 1978).
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Appendix L, Bureau of Land Management Worksheets
Chemehuevi Description/Location: The north edge of the unit adjoins the southern and eastern boundary of Mojave National Preserve and the Nevada border and extends south and east to the Colorado River and Riverside County. There are 3 expansions areas proposed for this ACEC. The existing ACEC and proposed ACEC expansions and NLCS lands would link and connect the protected lands in ten wilderness areas (Trilobite, Clipper Mountains, Piute Mountains, Bigelow Cholla, Dead Mountains, Old Woman Mountains, Turtle Mountains, Stepladder Mountains, Whipple Mountains, and Chemehuevi Mountains) with Mojave National Preserve. This extensive and contiguous conservation landscape would stretch from the Colorado River region to the higher East Mojave desert. Nationally Significant Values: Ecological: This area encompasses a transition zone between both Mojave and Sonoran Desert ecosystems. Chemehuevi Wash is one of the largest desert wash systems in the US portion of the Sonoran Desert. The area has some of the best desert tortoise habitat in the southeast Mojave and northeast Sonoran Deserts. The Chemehuevi Desert Wildlife Management Area was established to protect and conserve this desert tortoise habitat. The transitional ecosystem attracts a variety of birds including BLM sensitive species such as prairie falcons, gray vireo, Bendire’s thrasher, and burrowing owls. Specialized habitats include dunes for Mojave fringe‐toed lizards and roosting habitat for several bat species. Numerous rare and sensitive plants inhabit the area including Emory’s crucifixion thorn, white margined penstemon, scrub lotus, rosy two‐ toned beardtongue, as well as Cryptantha clokeyi, Ditaxis claryana, Juncus nodosus, Mentzelia tricuspis, Opuntia wigginsii, and Psorothamnus fremontii var. attenuates. Between the Clipper Mountains and the Trilobite Wilderness areas is Bonanza Spring, one of the few natural watering areas for wildlife in the Mojave Desert.
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Colorado River Miles Chart
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Geohydrology of the Needles Area, Arizona, California, and Nevada
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Bendire's Thrasher (Toxostoma Bendirei)
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Desert Magazine 1955 November
PRAYER FOR NIGHT-FOLK DO WE UNDERSTAND LIFE (Acrostic) OF THE DESERT tt and By DARRELL TOTTEN By ELS:E MCKINMON STRACHAN By TANYA SOITH Henderson. Nevada Santa Ana, California Deep down wilhin the complex brain of man How then has good Fate passed you by. One cell alone determines that brain's plan. Kindler of twilight, weaver of shadow, When il is pain and grief that make Guard while these small folk pattern in Tha soul for greater wisdom cry. Which one of us can dare to think that he braille. And unto greater lJght awake? Exemplifies that which all men should be? Stories of night life, unknown to day crea- tures, For pain and grief are but the tools Utopia has ever been our dream: Recording on sand in minutest detail. That scour and polish and bisect, Now and then a wish—now and then a Until we learn to follow Rules. scheme. Let safety be with them, the chipmunk and And Light alone reflect. Do we believe the words our lips repeat? rabbit, Each war we wage leads only to defeat. Badger and beetle and vinegaroon; Reason, it seems, deserts us in the end; That I may decipher, before wind erases. Somehow we shape the truth and lie to Notes they have left beneath the pale moon. FANTASY blend! Today we stand again, where we once stood Give them the time for love and home- By GRACE STAPLES Ages ago, and speak of Brotherhood. building, I stood in a desert beside a palm. Nature, we say, makes us behave as fools— For racing and rollicking in the sand; I'd lost my hold on the ways of men.
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