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CONSERVANCY CONNECTION

Fall 2020 1 LETTER FROM THE BOARD Conservancy Connections

ust last October some of you pandemic. Thus the Board has MEMBERSHIP 6 Jattended our third “Meet the elected to concentrate on programs Amargosa” event at Tecopa Hot of advocacy and education, to (re)Introducing Ourselves Springs. By all accounts, the support continued study and WHO WE ARE weekend was successful with preservation of groundwater and Working toward a sustainable engaging presentations on geology spring flows that maintain the Letter from the Amargosa Conservancy Executivefuture for the Director and desert plants and short region’s unique plant and life, and Basin through science, excursions to Tecopa marshes, China and to implement the Amargosa Wild stewardship and education. Ranch and geology outcrops. and Scenic River designation. Since then, the Amargosa Three articles in this issue elcome to the inaugural issueBOA ofRD OF DIRECTORS Conservancy has undergone describe projects involving or Chris Roholt • President changes in focus and organizational supported by the Amargosa structure. We have news to Conservancy. Naomi Fraga • Treasurer STAFF Conservancy Connection, our newly share with those interested in the The first article on Nopah W Bill Neill • Secretary Amargosa Basin and its resources. Range botany is by Carolyn Mills, Jane Gillam, John Hiatt, redesigned and revamped newsletter! Tanya Henderson is leaving the whose thesis advisor is Amargosa Patrick Donnelly Ashley Lee, Abby Mattson Amargosa Conservancy after five Conservancy Board member years of dedicated service, most Dr. Naomi Fraga, Director of Executive Director ADVISORS recently as our Executive Director. Conservation Programs at Holly Alpert BEFinding a newOURS Executive Director Botanic Garden in Claremont. Tanya Henderson Bill Christian is a difficult task for any small The second article is a Q&A Dear Friends, Andy Zdon organization, but the remoteness of discussion with Susan Sorrells about Stewardship Program Manager the Amargosa region makes this task the recent translocation of Amargosa more complicated. So the Amargosa voles to upgraded marsh habitat at Julie Vargo I’m pleased to introduce myself as Patrick Donnelly, Executive Director Conservancy will continue, in the Shoshone. Susan Sorrells is owner of Amargosa Conservancy and resident of Shoshone, California. I’ve been a short term, as an all-volunteer of Shoshone and co-founder of the Finance and Outreach Coordinator desert rat for years, and have a background in habitat restoration and federal organization without paid staff. This Amargosa Conservancy. will provide time to be strategic The third article illustrates the land use policy. My two little dogs and I love tromping around the muddy Becauseabout our next steps, after having You science behindLove our new priority the of Amargosa Basin banks of the Amargosa in the beautiful Shoshone Wetlands each morning; successfully completed several protecting groundwater resources. BOARD OF DIRECTORS and each month I make a pilgrimage to the top of Eagle Mountain, a nearby large projects under Tanya and Julie Research by expert hydrologist and craggy limestone peak. Vargo’s leadership. We intend to Amargosa Conservancy advisor Andy SINCERE THANKS hire a new Executive Director once Zdon has documented reductions of Holly Alpert Over the past year, I’ve been privileged to be part of a renaissance at we identify…...And a clear path toYou carry out Can’tgroundwater andSpell spring flows LOVEdue the Amargosa Conservancy. The chief driver of this revivalWe has thank been Tanya the Henderson and Julie future projects. to upstream pumping in . President amazing people involved. Our Board of Directors has expandedVargo for to 5 yearsinclude of dedicated nine service. For the past five years, the Holly Alpert, past Board President, remarkable individuals- retired land managers, water policyThey experts, are creative invasive problem-solvers who Amargosa Conservancy’s focus successfullyWithout secured a substantial VOLE brought the organization into the 21st has been stewardship projects, grant award which largely funded David Lamfrom eradicators, social justice activists, and devoted communitycentury by establishing members a system of including: Andy’s work. Vice President just to name a few. Their direction and vision have allowedonline our communicationsstaff to create and records. • China Ranch trail and trailhead To keep you informed of issues and implement new programming which is transforming theAs Financial conservation Director, Julie established improvements and actions in the Amargosa Basin, • Habitat restoration for Amargosa we have updated our website and community in the Amargosa Basin. an annual budget and financial Danny Nielsen plan; improved membership record VoleVoles and SW need Willow bulrush.Flycatcher are working to increase outreach We’ve also recently added two staff members: Tanya keeping;Henderson taught andherself design layout • Pupfish Restoration need of OHV clean designated water. via socialbe media, on the email ground and doing restoration Treasurer Julie Vargo. Tanya comes to us with a background in habitatto produce restoration pamphlets and and media trail with interpretative signage presentations.work, but since you can’t be here Membership Levels community engagement. She is spearheading our many stewardshipproducts. As stewardship projects manager • GroundwaterAnd we monitoring need you!and It is everynatural day,to be youapprehensive can support our Nancy Good and then Executive Director, Tanya construction of deep monitor about fundamental changes in our and supervising our interns who are getting the work done.guided Julie and is assistedrevamping contractors, Withwells our stewardship projects organization;efforts but financially. we look forward and streamlining our financial and membership systems, ensuringinterns and volunteers;the efficient instructed underwayThese and and similar results projects coming were to opportunitiesHelp and us challengesto continue of our many on- Secretary o use of our resources and keeping us in close touch with theand people organized who the Board make of Directors throughfunded byfrom various our grants advocacy ably work, wethe nextthe-ground year. We hope projects, that as a and represent $35 Member our work possible - you, our members! on responsibilities for fundraising and areadministered proud to nowby Tanya launch and Julie our Springfriend ofour the desert Amargosa community Basin and at the local, John Hiatt strategic planning; and much more. Vargo. Stewardship projects require the Amargosa Conservancy, you will o $75 Friend of the Vole Our work is fundamentally grounded in two things: theWe incredible are grateful for their contributions Membershiphiring seasonal Appeal! work crews which is share thosestate, feelings and national and continue levels to through Bill Neill ecosystems of the Amargosa Basin and Eastern Mojave and wish both the best for the future. furtherWe are complicated calling on by YOUthe current to show supportadvocacy. our efforts. M Desert, and the community of people that live in or your support for the work that we do. o $150 Conservation Hero Chris Roholt just love these special areas. We are thankful Your membership tells us that you to you for your interest in our work, and believe in what we do. You too want THANK YOU FOR YOUR o $500 Conservancy Guarantor Diane Lopez Hughes encourage you to get involved. to advocate for the Amargosa Basin SUPPORT! Come for a visit, volunteer at a and Eastern Mojave. You want to o or donate monthly Jane Gillam stewardship event, sign a petition, or just spread the word about our work. Join us.

ADVISORS CONNECT WITH US You can mail us your donation Sincerely, using the enclosed form to: Greg James AmargosaCons PO Box 63 Bill Christian amargosaconservancy Shoshone, CA 92384

Andy Zdon Patrick Donnelly Or contribute through our website: Patrick Donnelly [email protected] Executive Director www.amargosaconservancy.org/ www.amargosaconservancy.org support BOTANICAL HIGHLIGHT 2

RARE PLANT TREASURES Photo by Carolyn Mills

By Carolyn Mills OF THE NOPAH RANGE the vascular plants of the Nopah Rare plants are especially important he next time you are driving Range, which is located in the Mojave because they are inherently more Tbetween Shoshone and Pahrump Desert along the border of California vulnerable to threats like . in the Amargosa Basin, take a minute and Nevada in southeastern Inyo Their numbers are small, their ranges to look up at the beautiful mountain County, California, on southern Paiute are restricted, and they can be range that rises dramatically on the ancestral homelands. Few botanists very particular about what kinds of east side of highway 178, and the have visited to document the plants substrates they grow in. The Nopah striking contrast between the black and there, so the diversity of plants Range is made up of carbonate white lines that streak its western face. that grow in the heart of the Nopah substrates, such as limestone and These mountains are the Nopah Range, Range, away from the roadsides and dolomite, which were formed under and they are my beloved home away highways that border it, have long the ancient seas that used to cover from home. Their rocky peaks may been a mystery. The floristic inventory the region. Carbonate mountain look barren to the casual observer, but I am working on will result in a ranges are uncommon in California, to me, they are teeming with a great comprehensive list of all the plants I so the Nopah Range hosts a variety diversity of plant life. have encountered during my 2 years of unique plants not commonly found I am currently a graduate student hiking through the range. elsewhere in the state, almost all of working on my M.S. degree at While I have found many which are endemic to these carbonate California Botanic Garden (formerly amazing plants that haven’t been substrates. the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic formally documented in the Nopah So far, I have documented eight Garden) and Claremont Graduate Range previously, some of my most rare plants that were not previously University. For my thesis, I am treasured finds are the rare species known from the range. Their stories conducting a floristic inventory of that have been flying under the radar. are below!

LIMESTONE BEDSTRAW

I first laid eyes on limestone bedstraw (Galium proliferum; a member of the coffee family) in June 2019 as I was attempting to scale a steep cliff en route to Nopah Point, the highest peak in the range. I saw a tiny, unfamiliar plant growing out of a narrow rock crack, so I made my way across the sharp limestone rocks to collect a specimen. As I reached my hand out and pinched the lower stem to collect it, a tarantula rushed out of the crack to defend this plant! I knew then this plant must be special. This individual of limestone bedstraw turned out to be the first record for its species collected in Inyo County. The populations in the Nopah Range are the western-most known occurrences of this species, which is Limestone bedstraw, growing out of a distributed from eastern California through central Texas and into the northern carbonate rock with a botanist’s thumb states of Mexico. It is thought to grow only on limestone substrates. for scale. Photo by Carolyn Mills. 3 BOTANICAL HIGHLIGHT (CONTINUED)

CESPITOSE EVENING PRIMROSE The large flowers of evening primroses are fantastically charismatic and hold a special place in my heart, so I was delighted to come across the rare cespitose evening primrose (Oenothera cespitosa subsp. crinita) in the Nopah Range. Their flowers open at night to welcome their primary pollinators, hawkmoths, so it’s always memorable to come across rocky slopes decorated with their pinkish-white flowers,CONSERVANCY which can only be seen NEWS opening (CONTINUED) in the coolness of the Cespitose evening primrose flowers have a evening and closing in the heat of the desert morning. Though it is considered special floral feature called viscin threads, a rare plant in California, this plant is widespread in the Great Basin. The which hold the pollen in clumps, as seen populations in the Nopah Range are approaching the southwestern edge of their distribution. here. Photo by Carolyn Mills.

CROWNED MUILLA SCALY CLOAK FERN

Crowned muilla (Muilla coronata) is Scaly cloak fern (Astrolepis cochisensis a lovely member of the commonly- subsp. cochisensis) is the rarest cultivated asparagus family. Described plant I have found in the Nopah as “rare and seldom collected,” this Range – so far, I have found only one plant is known to reveal itself following individual plant growing in a shaded good rain years in the desert and can spot beneath a boulder! This fern be absent from the landscape in years is endemic to limestone substrates, of little rain. Its flowering can be so and in California is known only from infrequent that after it was first collected the New York Mountains and Clark and described as a new species in Mountain, though it does occur more 1888, it wasn’t documented again for widely out of state. Needless to say I 34 years! Fortunately, following the was very surprised to come across it wetter-than-average winter of 2018-19, and I have been looking for more ever I found this plant in flower near one of since. This is one of the few rare plants the abandoned mines in the Nopah the Nopah Range does not share with Range. This plant is called a geophyte, Close-up of an elegant pink funnel lily the neighboring to meaning it is a perennial that persists flower. Photo by Carolyn Mills. the south, though I strongly suspect from year to year via an underground it is patiently waiting to be found out storage organ, such as a bulbs or corm. there. The plant in the Nopah Range This population is at the eastern edge of PINK FUNNEL LILY marks the very northwestern edge of its known range. its species’ distribution. Pink funnel lily (Androstephium breviflorum) is another geophyte in the asparagus family I was lucky enough to encounter in the spring of 2019, when significant rainfall in the desert led to an abundance of geophyte blooms. They are strikingly beautiful to see in flower, with delicate blossoms borne on long, thin stems rising from sandy soils on the desert floor. This population is only the third occurrence documented in Inyo County. The distribution of this plant has been described as “extraordinarily poorly documented” by expert botanist A.C. Crowned muilla gets its name from the Sanders at the University of California, unique filaments of its stamens, which form Riverside so I am pleased to be able to contribute toward a more robust an erect crown at the center of the flower, scientific understanding of this plant. pictured above. Photo by Carolyn Mills. Scaly cloak fern. Photo by Keir Morse. 4

GILMAN’S SPRINGPARSLEY

Gilman’s springparsley (Cymopterus gilmanii) is an aptly named member of the carrot family, for its leaves do smell of parsley and it begins to flower in the early spring. Its MEMBERSHIP 6 distribution is limited to the Mojave Desert in eastern California and southern Nevada. The plants in the Nopah (re)Introducing OurselvesRange are about 25 miles from their closest known neighbors in National Park’s Funeral Mountains. Occurrences of this plant are usually very small, and in the Letter from the Amargosa Conservancy ExecutiveNopah Director Range it is only found growing in limestone benches where loose soil has collected. It is hard to find information Gilman’s springparsley in January 2019, just beginning to come about this plant, for like many narrow endemics of the desert, it hasn’t been well-studied. into bud. Photo by Carolyn Mills. elcome to the inaugural issue of STAFF WConservancy Connection, our newly redesigned and revamped newsletter! NEVADA ONION Patrick Donnelly Nevada onion (Allium nevadense) is a scarce perennial growing in carbonate outcrops on slopes and ridges which Executive Director is closely related to the domesticated onions we enjoy BE OURSeating. Its bulb is much smaller though, comparable in Tanya Henderson size to a garlic clove. Its flowers have a sweetly pungent Dear Friends, scent, also reminiscent of garlic. The collections made in Stewardship Program Manager the Nopah Range are only the second and third specimens collected in Inyo County, and represent the westernmost Julie Vargo I’m pleased to introduce myself as Patrick Donnelly, Executive Director known location for this species in the Mojave Desert. of Amargosa Conservancy and resident of Shoshone, California. I’veA beensmall cluster a of Nevada onions, growing out of a carbonate rock Finance and Outreach Coordinator desert rat for years, and have a background in habitat restoration andcrack. federal Photo by Carolyn Mills. land use policy. My two little dogs and I love tromping around the muddy Because You Love the Amargosa Basin banks of the Amargosa in the beautiful Shoshone Wetlands each morning; BOARD OF DIRECTORS and each month I make a pilgrimage to the top of Eagle Mountain, a nearby craggy limestone peak. STRIPED COTTONTHORN Holly Alpert Over the past year, I’ve been privileged to be part of a renaissance at …...And You Can’t Spell LOVE the Amargosa Conservancy. The chief driver of this revival has beenStriped the cottonthorn (Tetradymia argyaea) is the most recently President amazing people involved. Our Board of Directors has expanded to includedetected rarenine plant in the Nopah Range. The only observation remarkable individuals- retired land managers, water policy experts,to invasivedate was made in late May 2020 on the west side of the Without VOLE range’s crest. My field assistant and I made the arduous David Lamfrom species eradicators, social justice activists, and devoted communityclimb members to the dry, rocky ridgeline on a particularly hot day, only Vice President just to name a few. Their direction and vision have allowed our staffto todiscover create disappointingly few flowers as many plants had and implement new programming which is transforming the conservationbegun to go dormant for the summer months. We did not community in the Amargosa Basin. think we had found anything remarkable, but did note several Danny Nielsen individuals of a mysterious shrub that wereVoles just startingneed to bulrush. We’ve also recently added two staff members: Tanya Hendersonbud. and That plant turned out to be stripedPupfish cottonthorn, need and clean water. be on the ground doing restoration Treasurer Julie Vargo. Tanya comes to us with a background in habitat restorationthe population and along the Nopah Range’s crest marks the work, but since you can’t be here Striped cottonthorn in bud. Photo by Duncan Bell. Membership Levels community engagement. She is spearheading our many stewardshipnorthernmost projects known occurrence of its Andspecies. we need you! every day, you can support our Nancy Good and supervising our interns who are getting the work done. Julie is revamping With our stewardship projects efforts financially. Secretary and streamlining our financial and membership systems, ensuring the efficient underway and results coming Help us to continue our many on- use of our resources and keeping us in close touch with the people who make through from our advocacy work, we the-ground projects, and represent o $35 Member LEARN MORE John Hiatt our work possible - you, our members! are proud to now launch our Spring our desert community at the local, Our work is fundamentally grounded in two things: the incredible If you want any Membershipideas for hiking Appeal! routes or flower viewing spotsstate, in theand Nopahnational Range, levels or throughwant o $75 Friend of the Vole Bill Neill ecosystems of the Amargosa ScalyBasin cloak and fern. PhotoEastern by Keir Morse.Mojave to talk desert plants,We feel are free calling to email on YOU the author to show at [email protected] advocacy. M Desert, and the community of people that live in or your support for the work that we do. o $150 Conservation Hero Chris Roholt just love these special areas. We are thankful Your membership tells us that you to you for your interest in our work, and believe in what we do. You too want THANK YOU FOR YOUR o $500 Conservancy Guarantor Diane Lopez Hughes encourage you to get involved. to advocate for the Amargosa Basin SUPPORT! Come for a visit, volunteer at a and Eastern Mojave. You want to o or donate monthly Jane Gillam stewardship event, sign a petition, or just spread the word about our work. Join us.

ADVISORS CONNECT WITH US You can mail us your donation Sincerely, using the enclosed form to: Greg James AmargosaCons PO Box 63 Bill Christian amargosaconservancy Shoshone, CA 92384

Andy Zdon Patrick Donnelly Or contribute through our website: Patrick Donnelly [email protected] Executive Director www.amargosaconservancy.org/ www.amargosaconservancy.org support 5 FOCUS ON ECOLOGY

AMARGOSA VOLES RETURN HOME

Above: UC Davis vole team at Shoshone Spring. Photo by Susan Sorrells.

arlier this year, the endangered AC Service. By 1997, increasing concern Amargosa vole was reintroduced Once the Amargosa vole was listed E about the survival of the Amargosa to its historic marsh habitat near as endangered, there were many vole resulted in US Fish and Wildlife Shoshone. We asked Susan Sorrells, groups and individuals who worked creating a Recovery Plan. By 2010 proprietor of Shoshone Village together towards recovering the the status of the Amargosa Vole was and co-founder of the Amargosa population. Can you tell us about the even more dire and the Bureau of Land Conservancy, about her perspective on nature of those partnerships, and why Management established an ad hoc the habitat enhancement project and collaboration was key to effectively Amargosa Vole Recovery Team. The reintroduction. saving the species? formation of this team made it possible Amargosa Conservancy for more research to take place, such SS as studies of the vole’s diet, habitat and Early in the last century, the Amargosa In 1980 the Amargosa vole was listed reproduction. The creation of the Vole vole was thought to be extinct. We’ve as an in California Team also made it possible to establish come a long way from the species re- and in 1984 as an endangered a vole colony for captive breeding at discovery and the vole officially being species by the US Fish and Wildlife UC Davis. The team today consists of re-introduced into its historical habitat. Can you tell us about the early history of the Amargosa vole?

Susan Sorrells VOLE QUICK FACTS The early history of the Amargosa vole’s presence is somewhat inconsistent, but there are two known dates of vole sightings, starting at the end of the 1. Listed as an endangered 1800’s. In 1898 Vernon Bailey, on an species in California in expedition to collect and bird 198o, and federally in specimens in Oregon, Nevada and 1984. California, stopped in Shoshone and documented the presence of Amargosa 2. Population once fell to voles. Nineteen years later, Tracy Storer, a well-known zoologist and educator as low as two dozen who had strong ties to UC Berkeley, individuals. returned to Shoshone and was unable to find any voles. Later in the 1930’s the 3. Currently lives in Amargosa vole was again identified as marshes around Tecopa being present in the area, this time in and Shoshone. the nearby Tecopa marshes. Photo by CA Dept. Fish & Wildlife 6

USFWS, BLM, CDFW, UC Davis and SS endangered species a Safe Harbor UC Berkeley, USGS, Shoshone Village As a result of my deep love for the Agreement protects us from legal and the Amargosa Amargosa region prosecution under the Endangered Conservancy. I was very much Species Act. These partnerships have concerned about been very empowering, enlightening AC the destruction and rewarding. MEMBERSHIP 6 About this time The goal was of its flora and fauna and its Bill Christian and AC to create an ecosystems and so (re)Introducing youOurselves established Environmental factors, such as was very involved the Amargosa organization that detrimental effects on habitat in in the activities Conservancy. What the Tecopa marshes, continue to would protect of the Amargosa Letter from the Amargosa Conservancywas the connectionExecutive Director cause concern regarding population Conservancy. between the stabilization and increases and the all the natural Around 2012 one excitement and eventual recovery of the vole. Due to of the Vole Team efforts around the resources of the your efforts and the efforts of others, leaders asked if vole and the creation including the Vole Team, it appears elcome to the inaugural issue of area, and, at the my husband and of the Amargosa that the foundation has been laid to I would consider Conservancy, an increase, then stabilize, the population same time, ensure translocating STAFF Conservancy Connectionorganization, our with newlya in the future. Would you share W voles from the mission to protect the sustainability some of the senses of satisfaction, Tecopa Marshes redesigned and revamped newsletter!the Amargosa River? accomplishment and excitement that Patrick Donnelly of the economies to the Shoshone you feel about the recent translocation Spring where the SS and reintroduction? What do you Executive Director of the local voles first were A large group think can be learned from this success discovered in of citizens, led communities... BE OURSstory? 1898. I knew the Tanya Henderson by Bill Christian Amargosa vole Dear Friends, and myself, were was one of the Stewardship Program Manager concerned about SS most endangered the destruction of It has been extremely rewarding and I’m pleased to introduce myself as Patrick Donnelly, Executive Director subspecies in our region, and was Julie Vargo the natural resources in the Amargosa educational to work with a team of excited that these translocated voles of Amargosa Conservancy and resident of Shoshone,Basin, including California. the resources I’ve been of thea talented and dedicated professionals would become a lifeboat population Finance and Outreach Coordinator desert rat for years, and have a background in habitatAmargosa restoration River. We wanted and federal to make on such a project. Because the team since the habitat in the Tecopa changes to ensure that the natural members represent a combination land use policy. My two little dogs and I love tromping around the muddy Marshes wasBecause so threatened. At the of governmentYou agencies, Love nonprofits the Amargosa Basin resources and beauty of the area time, we were already in the process banks of the Amargosa in the beautiful Shoshonewould Wetlands be protected, each so morning;Bill Christian and private business, we all bring of restoring the damaged Shoshone and each month I make a pilgrimage to the top andof Eagle I led a campaignMountain, to createa nearby a different perspective to the table BOARD OF DIRECTORS Spring ecosystem the Amargosa Conservancy. The and through craggy limestone peak. so that it would be goal was to create an organization collaboration Over the past year, I’ve been privileged to be part of a renaissance at a healthy desert Holly Alpert that would protect all the natural …...And You Can’thave Spellbeen able LOVE spring ecosystem the Amargosa Conservancy. The chief driver of thisresources revival of thehas area, been and, the at the to create new for all species, and President amazing people involved. Our Board of Directorssame has time, expanded ensure theto includesustainability nine solutions to past restoration remarkable individuals- retired land managers, waterof the economiespolicy experts, of the local invasive I am proud to be a Withoutold problems. VOLE efforts had led communities through an increase in For example, David Lamfrom species eradicators, social justice activists, and devoted community members to saving the tourism, especially ecotourism. The part of a team that at Shoshone Shoshone Pupfish just to name a few. Their direction and vision haveprotection allowed of theour unique staff biodiversityto create Spring we have Vice President and changing its is trailblazing new and implement new programming which is transformingof the area theincludes conservation the protection of concentrated status from extinct the Amargosa vole and its habitat. approaches toward on creating a Danny Nielsen community in the Amargosa Basin. to prolific. We Voles need bulrush. healthy and We’ve also recently added two staff members: Tanya Henderson and have worked Pupfishhand recovery, need clean restoration water. bebiodiverse on the ground doing restoration Treasurer Julie Vargo. Tanya comes to us with a backgroundAC in habitat restoration and in hand with our work,ecosystem but insteadsince you can’t be here You, your husband Robbie and interpretation of Membership Levels community engagement. She is spearheading our many stewardship projects partners during And we need you! everyof simply day, focusing you can support our Haines, and Shoshone Village did this restoration, our environment. on the specific Nancy Good and supervising our interns who are getting the considerablework done. work Julie to is establish revamping including With our stewardship projects effortsendangered financially. Secretary and streamlining our financial and membership andsystems, enhance ensuring vole habitat the on efficient your governmentunderway and results coming species.Help Asus a to continue our many on- use of our resources and keeping us in close touchproperty. with theCan people you tell uswho a bit make about agencies throughand also from our advocacy work, we the-groundresult I am proud projects, and represent o $35 Member the restoration methods used? This nonprofits such as to be a part of a our work possible - you, our members! was very generous, but did you are proud to now launch our Spring our desert community at the local, John Hiatt the Amargosa Conservancy and The team that is trailblazing new approaches o $75 Friend of the Vole Our work is fundamentally grounded in two things:consider the it a incrediblebit of a risk? Nature Conservancy.Membership As we Appeal! pursue toward recovery, restorationstate, and national levels through Bill Neill ecosystems of the Amargosa Basin and Eastern Mojave our goals of protectingWe are callingand saving on YOUinterpretation to show of our advocacy.environment. M Desert, and the community of people that live in or your support for the work that we do. o $150 Conservation Hero Chris Roholt just love these special areas. We are thankful Your membership tells us that you to you for your interest in our work, and believe in what we do. You too want THANK YOU FOR YOUR o $500 Conservancy Guarantor Diane Lopez Hughes encourage you to get involved. to advocate for the Amargosa Basin SUPPORT! Come for a visit, volunteer at a and Eastern Mojave. You want to o or donate monthly Jane Gillam stewardship event, sign a petition, or just spread the word about our work. Join us.

ADVISORS CONNECT WITH US You can mail us your donation Sincerely, using the enclosed form to: Greg James AmargosaCons PO Box 63 Bill Christian amargosaconservancy Shoshone, CA 92384

Andy Zdon Patrick Donnelly Or contribute through our website: Patrick Donnelly [email protected] Executive Director www.amargosaconservancy.org/ www.amargosaconservancy.org support 7 WATER REPORT

STATE OF THE BASIN Photo by Patrick Donnelly

ver the past four years, the HYDROLOGY STUDY SHOWS SLOW DEPLETION OAmargosa Conservancy has sponsored an extensive hydrology study of the basin, led by professional hydrologist and AC advisor Andy Zdon. Andy’s research involved measuring the surface flow of springs over time, drilling shallow wells to monitor groundwater levels over time, and chemical tracing of groundwater to determine source areas and flow paths. In addition, the US Geological Survey conducted an evapotranspiration study at several sites throughout the Amargosa basin. The goals of the overall project were to improve the understanding of the water that sustains the Amargosa River and desert ecosystems that flourish along Drill rig for ground- the river, and its adjoining springs, and to provide the knowledge necessary water monitor well. to identify and avert impacts to those Photo by Andy Zdon. water sources. Natural spring flows are critically important to the area’s vitality – its lifeblood -- both ecologically and economically. The Shoshone area derives its domestic water supplies mostly from springs, and Tecopa Hot Springs is a visitor destination that is the economic hub of Tecopa. China Ranch date farm obtains its irrigation water from spring-fed Willow Creek. Numerous small undeveloped springs with colorful names – Borax, Borehole, Chappo, Christian, Crystal, Dodge City, Homestead, Horsethief, Stormy, then by The Nature Conservancy Mono Integrated Regional Water Thom, Tule, Twelvemile, Vole, Westside which resulted in drilling 4 Management Program for drilling 5 – support a diversity of plants and groundwater monitor wells. Starting more monitor wells and for related wildlife, and some contribute to river in 2016, in cooperation with the U.S. research. In January 2020 Andy flow through Amargosa Canyon. Geological Survey, the Amargosa published his “2020 Amargosa State Starting in 2009, Andy Zdon’s Conservancy received grant funding of the Basin Report”, with results hydrology study was sponsored from the California Department of summarized on the AC’s website, initially by the Resources Legacy Fund, Water Resources through the Inyo- www.amargosaconservancy.org. MEMBERSHIP 6 (re)Introducing Ourselves Letter from the Amargosa Conservancy Executive Director elcome to the inaugural issue of STAFF WConservancy Connection, our newly Patrick Donnelly redesigned and revamped newsletter! Executive Director Tanya Henderson BE OURS Stewardship Program Manager Dear Friends, Julie Vargo I’m pleased to introduce myself as Patrick Donnelly, Executive Director of Amargosa Conservancy and resident of Shoshone, California. I’ve been a Finance and Outreach Coordinator desert rat for years, and have a background in habitat restoration and federal land use policy. My two little dogs and I love tromping around the muddy Because You Love the Amargosa8 Basin banks of the Amargosa in the beautiful Shoshone Wetlands each morning; and each month I make a pilgrimage to the top of Eagle Mountain, a Thenearby “2020 Amargosa State • Recent reductions of spring • Spring flows support habitat for BOARD OF DIRECTORS of the Basin Report” has several flow are not easily measured, the most critically endangered craggy limestone peak. conclusions: but historical records from mammal in North America, the Holly Alpert Over the past year, I’ve been privileged to be part of a renaissance• Groundwaterat that supplies natural…...And decades agoYou indicate significantCan’t SpellAmargosa Vole, LOVEand numerous the Amargosa Conservancy. The chief driver of this revival has been thespring flows near Shoshone, reductions over the past century. other listed species, either President amazing people involved. Our Board of Directors has expanded to includeTecopa nine and Amargosa Canyon seasonally or perennially. remarkable individuals- retired land managers, water policy experts, invasiveoriginates from distant recharge One of the report’s recommendationsWithout VOLE areas both to the north – in is to petition the California Department Given the limited groundwater David Lamfrom species eradicators, social justice activists, and devoted community memberssouthcentral Nevada – and to of Water Resources to raise the priority pumping in the Shoshone-Tecopa Vice President just to name a few. Their direction and vision have allowed our staff tothe create east, from the high Spring level of the Amargosa Basin, under area, the Amargosa River and and implement new programming which is transforming the conservationMountains near Las Vegas. California’s Sustainable Groundwater springs in the area will persist or • Based on chemical evidence, Management Act, for these reasons: decline based on groundwater Danny Nielsen community in the Amargosa Basin. some groundwater is thousandsVoles • Theneed local bulrush. economy is based on management decisions in the We’ve also recently added two staff members: Tanya Henderson andof years old, since it enteredPupfish needand supported clean by water. spring-flow. be upperon the part ground of the Amargosadoing restoration Basin Treasurer Julie Vargo. Tanya comes to us with a background in habitat restorationpermeable and rock as precipitation, • The local towns are economicallywork, in Nevada but since where you substantial can’t be here Membership Levels community engagement. She is spearheading our many stewardship projectsand its movement toward And wedisadvantaged need you! communities. everygroundwater day, you pumping can support occurs our and discharge at springs has • The groundwater system is the proposed Yucca Mountain Nuclear Nancy Good and supervising our interns who are getting the work done. Julie is revampingbeen slow. With our stewardshipon a downward projects trend due to effortsRepository financially. is located. Interstate Secretary and streamlining our financial and membership systems, ensuring the• Overefficient time, groundwaterunderway levels andgroundwater results coming development outside groundwaterHelp us to managementcontinue our efforts many on- use of our resources and keeping us in close touch with the people whoin monitormake wells generallythrough from ourof California advocacy but within work, the we the-groundand cooperation projects, will be and essential represent to o $35 Member our work possible - you, our members! show a slow drop in elevation,are proud to nowwatershed. launch our Spring ourprotect desert the community ecology of the at Amargosathe local, John Hiatt presumably due to groundwater • Spring flows support a federally- River system in California and the o $75 Friend of the Vole Our work is fundamentally grounded in two things: the incredible pumping in Amargosa ValleyMembership to Appeal!designated “Wild and Scenic state,economy and national of southeastern levels Inyo through Bill Neill ecosystems of the Amargosa Basin and Eastern Mojave the north and the Pahrump Wearea are callingRiver” on from YOU Shoshone to show through advocacy.County. M Desert, and the community of people that live in or to the east. your support forAmargosa the work Canyon. that we do. o $150 Conservation Hero Chris Roholt just love these special areas. We are thankful Your membership tells us that you to you for your interest in our work, and believe in what we do. YouARHS-9 too want THANK YOU FOR YOUR o $500 Conservancy Guarantor GRAPH2428 OF GROUNDWATER LEVEL VS. TIME IN MONITOR WELL Diane Lopez Hughes encourage you to get involved. to advocate for the Amargosa Basin SUPPORT! Come for a visit, volunteer at a and Eastern Mojave. You want to o or donate monthly Jane Gillam stewardship event, sign a petition, or 2427.5 just spread the word about our work.

Join us. 2427

ADVISORS CONNECT WITH US You can mail us your donation Sincerely, 2426.5 using the enclosed form to: Greg James AmargosaCons 2426 PO Box 63 Bill Christian amargosaconservancy Shoshone, CA 92384 2425.5 Andy Zdon Patrick Donnelly Or contribute through our website: Patrick Donnelly [email protected] Executive Director2425 www.amargosaconservancy.org/ Ridgecrest earthquakewww.amargosaconservancy.org - July 4, 2019 support 2424.5

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Groundwater Elevation Linear (Groundwater Elevation) 9 GEOLOGY TOUR Outcrop of Kingston Peak Formation north of Dumont Dunes, next to Amargosa River flood channel.

GLACIAL DEPOSITS

By Bill Neill NEAR SPERRY WASH

utside the Shoshone Museum The Kingston Peak Formation is water, this arrangement raises the Ois a geological display with a sandwiched in the column between question – why was glacial sediment stratigraphic column showing rock two carbonate units: the Noonday deposited in a tropical setting? formations of the Amargosa basin. Dolomite above, and the Beck Before considering this question In the lower part of the stratigraphic Springs Dolomite below. Because further, we’ll examine the Kingston column, one sedimentary unit labelled dolomite (magnesium calcium Peak Formation at its most the Kingston Peak Formation is carbonate – MgCa2CO3) is derived accessible outcrop (pictured above), described as “mudstone with pebbles from limestone (calcium carbonate - located south of Amargosa Canyon and boulders – ancient glacial deposit CaCO3) which normally is deposited along the Sperry Wash Route, which . . About 740-635 m.y.” in warm shallow tropical marine is a legal OHV trail through the Kingston Peak Wilderness. Until 1974, trucks travelled the route carrying talc ore from the Western Below: Stratigraphic column of Amargosa geology displayed outside Shoshone Museum Talc Mine in the Alexander Hills to Union Pacific tracks at Dunn Siding, near Afton Canyon. About 2/3 mile beyond the Sperry Wash gate, next to the Amargosa River flood channel, the outcrop

Entrance to Sperry Wash OHV route from Dumont Dunes road, with Kingston Peak in distance. MEMBERSHIP 6 (re)Introducing Ourselves Letter from the Amargosa Conservancy Executive Director elcome to the inaugural issue of 10 STAFF WConservancy Connection, our newly redesigned and revamped ofnewsletter! glacial deposit is not especially Patrick Donnelly photogenic, but close inspection shows distinctive features: a variety of Executive Director mostly angular rock clasts embedded in a mudstone matrix, with the thin BE OURS Tanya Henderson layering of mudstone either depressed Dear Friends, by or draped over the clasts. Stewardship Program Manager Geologists interpret these clasts as carried to an offshore marine basin Julie Vargo I’m pleased to introduce myself as Patrick byDonnelly, melting icebergs Executive and dropped Director into of Amargosa Conservancy and resident of Shoshone,mud that slowly California. accumulated I’ve beenfrom a Finance and Outreach Coordinator desert rat for years, and have a background inthe habitat settling restorationof suspended clayand and federal silt particles in quiet water. land use policy. My two little dogs and I love trompingAs shown around on the Shoshonethe muddy Because You Love the Amargosa Basin banks of the Amargosa in the beautiful ShoshoneMuseum Wetlands display, the each age morning;of the and each month I make a pilgrimage to the topKingston of Eagle Peak Mountain, Formation is a thought nearby Glacial “dropstone” in laminated siltstone of Proterozoic Kingston Peak Formation. BOARD OF DIRECTORS to be between 635 million and 740 craggy limestone peak. million years – a time when land Photo by Marli Miller (marlimillerphoto.com). Holly Alpert Over the past year, I’ve been privileged to beplants part had of nota renaissance yet evolved, and at the …...And You Can’t Spell LOVE the Amargosa Conservancy. The chief driver ofmost this advanced revival hasmarine been the were prevailed and carbonate rocks were seawater was removed to form President amazing people involved. Our Board of Directorssoft-bodied has expanded like jellyfish. to include Glacial nine deposited below and above the “banded iron formation”, now remarkable individuals- retired land managers,deposits water ofpolicy similar experts, age and invasivecharacter glacial unit. exposed in places likeWithout Michigan and VOLE have been found elsewhere in the According to Wikipedia, the period Australia; and by covering much of David Lamfrom species eradicators, social justice activists, andworld devoted – in Australia, community Norway, members India, of global cooling “from about 850-630 the continents, the “Snowball Earth” Vice President just to name a few. Their direction and vision haveNamibia allowed – that apparentlyour staff wereto create mya, is believed to have been caused glaciation slowed rock weathering and implement new programming which is transformingdeposited at tropicalthe conservation latitudes, as by early photosynthetic organisms, and allowed the atmospheric oxygen inferred from paleomagnetism and which reduced the concentration of content to rise nearly to present levels. Danny Nielsen community in the Amargosa Basin. the association with carbonates. carbon dioxide and increasedVoles needthe bulrush.The increased oxygen level in the We’ve also recently added two staff members:A ”SnowballTanya Henderson Earth” or “Slushball and amount of oxygenPupfish in the atmosphere.” need clean atmosphere, water. in turn, allowedbe on larger, the ground doing restoration Treasurer Julie Vargo. Tanya comes to us with a backgroundEarth” in model habitat has restorationbeen developed and to Although photosynthesis by marine more complex animal lifework, to evolve, but since you can’t be here Membership Levels community engagement. She is spearheadingexplain our many these stewardship features. According projects algae started about 2And billion weyears needresulting you! in the “Cambrianevery explosion” day, you can support our to this theory, the Earth was heavily ago, the atmosphere’s oxygen about 541 million years ago. Nancy Good and supervising our interns who are getting theglaciated work done.for 100 Juliemillion is years revamping or remained low duringWith the our first stewardship projectsThis is a complex storyefforts to derive financially. Secretary and streamlining our financial and membershipmore, systems, mostly coveredensuring by thethick efficient ice billion yearsunderway because as oxygenand results comingfrom rust-colored rocks exposedHelp us to continue our many on- use of our resources and keeping us in close touchextending with nearly the topeople the equator, who makeat a was produced,through it was removed from our by advocacyalong thework, Sperry we Wash the-ground route south of projects, and represent o $35 Member our work possible - you, our members! time when most continental masses oxidation of aredissolved proud iron to in now the launchAmargosa our Spring Canyon, butour it’s deserthumbling community at the local, John Hiatt were grouped near the equator. ocean and iron minerals in exposed to recognize that the rock history o $75 Friend of the Vole Our work is fundamentally grounded in twoBefore things: and the after incredible this prolonged rock on the continents.Membership Appeal! contributes to explainingstate, how and national levels through Bill Neill ecosystems of the Amargosa Basin and Easterncold Mojave period, temperate conditions Eventually, dissolvedWe are iron calling in on YOUcomplex to show life evolved, includingadvocacy. us. M Desert, and the community of people that live in or your support for the work that we do. o $150 Conservation Hero Chris Roholt just love these special areas. We are thankful Your membership tells us that you to you for your interest in our work, and believe in what we do. You too want THANK YOU FOR YOUR o $500 Conservancy Guarantor Diane Lopez Hughes encourage you to get involved. to advocate for the Amargosa Basin SUPPORT! Come for a visit, volunteer at a and Eastern Mojave. You want to o or donate monthly Jane Gillam stewardship event, sign a petition, or just spread the word about our work. Join us.

ADVISORS CONNECT WITH US You can mail us your donation Sincerely, using the enclosed form to: Greg James AmargosaCons PO Box 63 Bill Christian amargosaconservancy Shoshone, CA 92384 Charts from www.snowballearth.com Andy Zdon Patrick Donnelly Or contribute through our website: Patrick Donnelly [email protected] Executive Director www.amargosaconservancy.org/ www.amargosaconservancy.org support P.O. Box 63 Shoshone, CA 92984

11 PARTING SHOT

Hydrology Study Shows Groundwater Depletion See page 7-8 and “2020 State of the Basin Report” on www.amargosaconservancy.org

Pictured above: Dodge City Spring -- Photo by Andy Zdon.