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. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has recognized this area as a wildlife migration corridor.
The dominant vegetation consists of creosote bush scrub on the bajadas and microphylla woodlands within the washes. Palo verde, smoketree, and catclaw are the typical trees found in the woodlands. One can also find some areas with crucifixion thorn, lobed ground-cherry, and teddy bear cholla (photo above).
Cultural Importance: The western portion of the Stepladder Mountains, in Ward Valley, is a known sacred area for five Native American tribes.
Activities: This area is visited by nature enthusiasts, bird watchers, photographers, hikers, campers, and other seeking the solitude and beauty this area affords.
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