Chemehuevi Valley North Endangered Desert Legacy

Location: The Chemehuevi Valley North area is located in the , 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 . 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 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