Mojave

https://www.nps.gov/moja https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mojave_National_Preserve Mojave National Preserve is in Southern California, in the Mojave Desert. It spans woodland, rugged mountains and canyons and shelters animals like mountain lions, coyotes and bats. The huge, steep sand mounds of the Kelso Dunes are known for making "singing" sounds. Cima Dome is a large granite mass covered with Joshua trees. The Hole-in-the-Wall cliffs are peppered with holes and crevices. Mojave preserves a diverse mosaic of ecological habitats and a 10,000 year history of human connection with the desert. Offering extensive opportunities to experience desert landscapes, the preserve promotes understanding and appreciation for the increasingly threatened resources of the Mojave Desert. This remote preserve encourages a sense of discovery and a connection to wild places. Note: There is no fuel inside the Preserve. Please fill up with gas BEFORE you enter. Park headquarters in Barstow, California is 60 miles from the Preserve, and offers maps, a bookstore and information. Our main visitor center, Kelso Depot, is located inside the Preserve, 95 miles east of Barstow, and 90 miles west of Las Vegas, at the intersection of Kelso-Cima and Kelbaker Roads. Hole-in-the-Wall Information Center Information, park brochures, drinking water, and passport stamps are available. Limited maps, books, postcards and other items available for purchase with the Western National Parks Association. Public Wifi available for paying campground fees on Pay.Gov. Park maps and Passport to your National Park Stamps available after hours on front porch, to the right of the main entrance door. From I-40: Exit Essex Road and drive north 10 miles to the junction with Black Canyon Road. Hole-in-the-Wall is 10 miles north on Black Canyon Road. Kelso Depot Visitor Center Originally opened in 1924 as a train station, Kelso Depot was renovated and reopened in 2005 a Visitor Center for Mojave National Preserve. Former dormitory rooms contain exhibits describing the cultural and natural history of the surrounding desert. The baggage room, ticket office and two dormitory rooms have been furnished to illustrate depot life during the first half of the twentieth century. A 20-minute orientation film is shown in the theater. Note: Kelso Depot is currently closed for repairs. From I-15: Exit Kelbaker Road at Baker, Calif., and drive south 34 miles to Kelso Depot. From I-40: Exit Kelbaker Road (28 miles east of Ludlow, Calif.) and drive north 22 miles to Kelso Depot. Black Canyon Group and Equestrian Campground While the campgrounds at Mid Hills and Hole-in-the-Wall accommodate a maximum of 8 people and 2 vehicles per site, the Black Canyon Equestrian & Group Campground (located across the road from Hole-in-the-Wall Information Center) is ideal for larger groups. The campsite is available to groups of 15-50 people and reservations are required. Call (760) 252-6100 to make a reservation up to 12 months in advance. Black Canyon Equestrian and Group Campground 25.00 The Black Canyon Equestrian & Group Campground (located on the east side of Black Canyon Road at Hole-in-the-Wall) is ideal for larger groups. Fees are per site (either group or equestrian), per night. Access Pass and Senior Pass holders are eligible for 50% off of these camping fees. Stay Tuned June 2023 for the launching of Pay.Gov online payment method. Group site picnic shelter A shade structure consisting of beams holding up a solid roof. Underneath are six picnic tables. A shaded pavilion protects several picnic tables from the intense desert sun Group site tent area A garbage receptacle at a small sign that says "tent camping, no vehicles" stand in a cleared area The group site has room for dozens of tents. Bathrooms Two pit toilets stand between desert shrubbery at the group campsite. The two pit toilets are shared between the group site and the neighboring equestrian site. Equestrian site corrals The view of all the horse corrals lined up next to each other. Posts to tie horses are also provided Several metal corrals are provided to contain pack animals at the equestrian site Equestrian Site fire area Four picnic tables, a BBQ pit, a fire pit, a garbage receptacle, and a shade tree Fires are permitted in the provided fire pits at the equestrian site and group site. Hole-in-the-Wall Campground At 4,400 feet in elevation, Hole-in-the-Wall Campground is surrounded by sculptured volcanic rock walls and makes a great basecamp for hikers. Thirty-five campsites accommodate RVs and tents; two walk-in sites are also available. Maximum RV or trailer length is 33 Feet. Hole-in-the-Wall Campground Fee 12.00 $12 per site per night, $6 for America the Beautiful Senior/Access Pass holders. Fees are per site per night. Campsites accommodate a maximum of 8 people with 2 vehicles (including a camping unit—i.e., trailer, motor home, converted van, etc.). Fees can be paid via pay.gov link at go.nps.gov/MojaveCGFees. Public Wifi available at Hole in the Wall information Center to access pay.gov. PLEASE NOTE: payment of fees before occupying a site does not reserve or guarantee site availability. Black Canyon Equestrian and Group Campground 25.00 The Black Canyon Equestrian & Group Campground (located on the east side of Black Canyon Road at Hole-in-the-Wall) is ideal for larger groups. Fees are per site (either group or equestrian), per night. Fees payable at pay.gov after you have secured a reservation. HITW Campsite A rock fire ring and picnic table, with holey rock formations in the background The volcanic rock formations at Hole in the Wall are a gorgeous backdrop to the campsites HITW RV site A large RV and truck are pulled into a campsite. A small child with his back turned is in the front Many sites at HITW are accessible to RVs HITW campsite 2 A campsite: cleared area, raised fire pit, picnic table, rock formations, desert shrubbery Typical campsite at Hole in the Wall campground Mid-Hills Campground The Hackberry Fire swept through the Mid Hills area in June 2005, burning much of the vegetation. About half of the 26 campsites were left unburned and remain surrounded by pinyon pine and juniper trees. At 5,600 feet in elevation, Mid Hills is much cooler than the desert floor below. The access road is unpaved and somewhat steep and is therefore not recommended for large motorhomes or trailers. Water is not available at Mid Hills Campground. Mid-Hills Campground Fee 12.00 Fees are per site per night. Sites are not designed for motorhomes or trailers and cannot accommodate vehicles of this length. Short rigs, such as a truck with a camper top are welcome. Access roads are unpaved and are high clearance is recommended. Fees can be paid on Pay.gov by visiting go.nps.gov/MojaveCGFees. Public Wifi available at Hole-in-the-Wall Information center. Mid Hills A campsite at Mid Hills Campground featuring a tree, fire pit, and picnic table Campsites at MId Hills feature fire pits and picnic tables Access Road and Bathrooms A campground road. Garbage and recycling containers and a bathroom building are also shown There are garbage and recycling containers in the campground, as well as bathroom buildings Campgsite with fire damage A campsite with a picnic table and fire pit. There are several tree skeletons in the background About half of the campsites at Mid Hills suffered losses in the Hackberry Fire in 2005. Tree skeletons still remain at those locations. Mid Hills 2 A tall tree shades a picnic table at a Mid Hills campsite A tall tree shades a picnic table at a Mid Hills campsite Kelso Dunes Kelso Dunes with rays of light coming through the clouds. Mountains in the background.. Kelso Dunes is the most popular hike at Mojave National Preserve. A desert road surrounded by spring wildflowers Spring wildflowers carpeting the desert floor Many people visit Mojave in the spring season to view stunning wildflower displays. Desert Wildlife A desert tortoise rest in the shade of a bush near some hikers Mojave has a great diversity of wildlife. In spring and fall, the elusive desert tortoise can be seen foraging food. Hiking Opportunities Abound A lonely desert trail leads to tall sand dunes Mojave has endless options for hikers. Kelso Sand Dunes are a popular trail in cooler months. Stunning Vistas A man standing on a mountain peak in front of a wide desert landscape Mojave is a hiker's paradise. With no less than 9 named mountain ranges int he park, there's no shortage of amazing views to be had. Rich Human History A Joshua tree seen though the window of an old miner's cabin Visitors can still hear the echos of history here. Evidence of days long past still persist in Mojave. Native American petroglyphs, long-abandoned mines, and cattle ranches still dot the landscape. Kelso Dunes Kelso Dunes with rays of light coming through the clouds. Mountains in the background.. Kelso Dunes is the most popular hike at Mojave National Preserve. NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Mojave National Preserve, California Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. [Site Under Development] sunset over new york mountains 2009 NPS Environmental Achievement Awards Recipients of the 2009 Environmental Achievement Awards National Park Service Finds Success at Hiring Event The National Park Service Fire and Aviation Program participated in a hiring event sponsored by the Department of Interior. The special hiring event was held in Bakersfield, CA and was a collaboration of all four natural resource management bureaus to hire open wildland fire positions in 2020. Employees talk to potential job candidates in front of a large promotional panel. Women of the West Women's stories have sometimes been overlooked or actively covered up in historical narratives, especially those concerning westward expansion. But many women made empowered choices to go to (and stay in) the California desert. Two of these women, Frances Keys and Elizabeth Campbell, are especially prominent in Joshua Tree's history. historic photo of a group of people, three standing women and one seated man Save Water: Live Like a Desert Native Water conservation is always important in the desert, but saving water is even more critical during the current period of historic drought in the state of California. We can learn about how to be water-wise by looking to the example of native desert species, which have evolved to cope with rains that are not only scarce but unpredictable. open desert landscape The Adverse Effects of Climate Change on Desert Bighorn Sheep Climate change has and will continue to have a negative impact on the population of desert bighorn sheep. For the remaining herds to survive, management may always be necessary. Protecting wild lands is key to the survival of these amazing animals. Desert bighorn sheep, NPS/Shawn Cigrand Respiratory Disease Outbreak Among Bighorn Sheep in Joshua Tree National Park Bighorn sheep were once common in Southern California and Nevada, but after more than a century of impacts from disease, unregulated hunting, and habitat loss, their numbers were in sharp decline. Since the 1960s, cooperative efforts from state and federal agencies to rebuild the herds were paying off, but now a disease outbreak at Joshua Tree National Park may pose a major threat to the majestic animals. bighorn sheep lamb showing symptoms of disease, with adult bighorn nearby General Patton's World War II Training Ground in the Mojave The Mojave Desert, a "wasteland" with easy railroad access, seemed to General George S. Patton to be an excellent place to train his troops during World War II. In early 1942, Patton established the Desert Training Center, and stationed troops throughout the Mojave. US Troops in the Mojave Desert in 1942 El Niño in a Time of Historic Drought Deserts, by definition, get scant rainfall. Add the effects of a record drought, and it's crucial that desert dwellers and visitors alike focus on conserving water ... even when El Niño brings rains to some parts of California. mud cracks Desert Bighorn Sheep: Connecting a Desert Landscape Desert bighorn sheep live on islands of mountain habitat and use surrounding desert for travel and food. These same desert areas contain a variety of human-made barriers that threaten the area’s individual bighorn herds. Researchers are collecting data that will provide telling information about how we can help support and protect bighorn populations across the Mojave Desert into the future. Up close bighorn sheep standing on top of a large rock. Series: Geologic Time Periods in the Cenozoic Era The Cenozoic Era (66 million years ago [MYA] through today) is the "Age of Mammals." North America’s characteristic landscapes began to develop during the Cenozoic. Birds and mammals rose in prominence after the extinction of giant reptiles. Common Cenozoic fossils include cat-like carnivores and early horses, as well as ice age woolly mammoths. fossils on display at a visitor center Series: NPS Environmental Achievement Awards Since 2002, the National Park Service (NPS) has awarded Environmental Achievement (EA) Awards to recognize staff and partners in the area of environmental preservation, protection and stewardship. A vehicle charges at an Electric Vehicle charging station at Thomas Edison National Historical Park The Precambrian The Precambrian was the "Age of Early Life." During the Precambrian, continents formed and our modern atmosphere developed, while early life evolved and flourished. Soft-bodied creatures like worms and jellyfish lived in the world's oceans, but the land remained barren. Common Precambrian fossils include stromatolites and similar structures, which are traces of mats of algae-like microorganisms, and microfossils of other microorganisms. fossil stromatolites in a cliff face Proterozoic Eon—2.5 Billion to 541 MYA The Proterozoic Eon is the most recent division of the Precambrian. It is also the longest geologic eon, beginning 2.5 billion years ago and ending 541 million years ago fossil stromatolites in a cliff face Neogene Period—23.0 to 2.58 MYA Some of the finest Neogene fossils on the planet are found in the rocks of Agate Fossil Beds and Hagerman Fossil Beds national monuments. fossils on display in a visitor center Cenozoic Era The Cenozoic Era (66 million years ago [MYA] through today) is the "Age of Mammals." North America’s characteristic landscapes began to develop during the Cenozoic. Birds and mammals rose in prominence after the extinction of giant reptiles. Common Cenozoic fossils include cat-like carnivores and early horses, as well as ice age woolly mammoths. fossils on display in a visitor center The Mojave Road & The Old Spanish Trail The Mojave Road is a well preserved mid-nineteenth century linear transportation corridor linking a series of historically significant springs across a vast expanse of desert basins and ranges. It passes through Mojave National Preserve and is a branch of the Old Spanish National Historic Trail. Learn more about the history of this site, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Find Your Park on Route 66 Route 66 and the National Park Service have always had an important historical connection. Route 66 was known as the great road west and after World War II families on vacation took to the road in great numbers to visit the many National Park Service sites in the Southwest and beyond. That connection remains very alive and present today. Take a trip down Route 66 and Find Your Park today! A paved road with fields in the distance. On the road is a white Oklahoma Route 66 emblem. Bighorn and Big Rail Can Be Friends The Brightline West high-speed railway could be bad news for desert bighorn sheep in Mojave National Preserve. We know how to fix that. Desert bighorn sheep ewe and lamb with rocks behind them. Changing Patterns of Water Availability May Change Vegetation Composition in US National Parks Across the US, changes in water availability are altering which plants grow where. These changes are evident at a broad scale. But not all areas experience the same climate in the same way, even within the boundaries of a single national park. A new dataset gives park managers a valuable tool for understanding why vegetation has changed and how it might change in the future under different climate-change scenarios. Green, orange, and dead grey junipers in red soil, mountains in background Dare to Imagine: Christina Aiello Read about Christina's work with desert bighorn sheep and paving her own path. This article is part of a National Park Foundation funded project called the Dare to Imagine project dedicated to highlighting women in parks who are breaking barriers and showing what a scientist looks like. graphic of a photo of a woman in the field. Text reads Christina Aiello NPF Foundation Volcanic Domes Lava domes are steep-sided rounded accumulations of highly viscous silicic lava over a vent. Some domes are part of composite volcanoes, but large ones can make up their own volcanoes. Lassen Peak is a dome. photo of a rounded hill of blocky rock Mary Beal Botanist, photographer, and writer Mary Beal often took people by surprise when they came across her all alone in the Mojave Desert. Photo of woman in simple dress standing next to old man with beard in front of tent home. Women in Landscape-Scale Conservation: Christina Aiello Christina Aiello works a lot with corridor connectivity for desert bighorn sheep, but she explains that no matter what your skillset is, you can contribute to landscape-scale conservation. close up of woman standing in desert Cinder Cones Cinder cones are typically simple volcanoes that consist of accumulations of ash and cinders around a vent. Sunset Crater Volcano and Capulin Volcano are cinder cones. photo of a dry grassy field with a cinder cone in the distance Series: Volcano Types Volcanoes vary in size from small cinder cones that stand only a few hundred feet tall to the most massive mountains on earth. photo of a volcanic mountain with snow and ice Monogenetic Volcanic Fields Monogenetic volcanic fields are areas covered by volcanic rocks where each of the volcanic vents typically only erupt once. Monogenetic volcanic fields typically contain cinder cones, fissure volcanoes, and/or maars and tuff rings. They also usually encompass large areas covered by basaltic lava flows. oblique aerial photo of a lava flow that extended into a body of water Pollinators in peril? A multipark approach to evaluating bee communities in habitats vulnerable to effects from climate change Can you name five bees in your park? Ten? Twenty? Will they all be there 50 years from now? We know that pollinators are key to maintaining healthy ecosystems—from managed almond orchards to wild mountain meadows. We have heard about dramatic population declines of the agricultural workhorse, the honey bee. Yet what do we really know about the remarkable diversity and resilience of native bees in our national parks? Southeastern polyester bee, Colletes titusensis. Pyroclastic Flows and Ignimbrites, and Pyroclastic Surges Pyroclastic flows and surges are among the most awesome and most destructive of all volcanic phenomena. Pyroclastic flow deposits are found in at least 21 units of the National Park System. photo of a cloud of ash and dust moving down a mountain side. Studying the Past and Predicting the Future Using Rat Nests In the western United States, packrat middens are one of the best tools for reconstructing recent environments and climates. These accumulations of plant fragments, small vertebrate remains, rodent droppings, and other fossils can be preserved for more than 50,000 years. Packrat middens have been found in at least 41 National Park Service units. Photo of a wood rat. Series: Park Paleontology News - Vol. 14, No. 2, Fall 2022 All across the park system, scientists, rangers, and interpreters are engaged in the important work of studying, protecting, and sharing our rich fossil heritage. <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/newsletters.htm">Park Paleontology news</a> provides a close up look at the important work of caring for these irreplaceable resources. <ul><li>Contribute to Park Paleontology News by contacting the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/common/utilities/sendmail/sendemail.cfm?o=5D8CD5B898DDBB8387BA1DBBFD02A8AE4FBD489F4FF88B9049&r=/subjects/geoscientistsinparks/photo-galleries.htm">newsletter editor</a></li><li>Learn more about <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/">Fossils & Paleontology</a> </li><li>Celebrate <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossilday/">National Fossil Day</a> with events across the nation</li></ul> Photo of a person sitting while using a laboratory microscope. Series: Geologic Time—Major Divisions and NPS Fossils The National Park System contains a magnificent record of geologic time because rocks from each period of the geologic time scale are preserved in park landscapes. The geologic time scale is divided into four large periods of time—the Cenozoic Era, Mesozoic Era, Paleozoic Era, and The Precambrian. photo of desert landscape with a petrified wood log on the surface Series: Women's History in the Pacific West - Lower Colorado Basin Collection Biographies of women in parks from southern California, southern Nevada, and northwest Arizona Map of southern California, southern Nevada and northwest Arizona Desert Driving Safety Mojave National Preserve is a scenic wonder but it is also a truly rugged place. A visit here means leaving the safety net of the modern world behind. In this remote place, you must be able to self-rescue and self-reliance is essential. a yellow diamond sign that says "rough roads may exist" in front of a desert road with joshua trees Road Risks and Hazards Driving safely in the desert requires more than just skill. There are many potential risks and hazards associated with driving in this remote part of the country. cars along a desert road with many dips in pavement National Park Service to Establish Charismatic Megaflora Seedbank The Joshua tree, iconic symbol of the Mojave Desert, is being discussed as an endangered species at both a State and Federal level by the state of California and United States Fish and Wildlife. National Park Service staff collecting Joshua tree fruit Testing Treatments for Mitigating Climate-Change Effects on Adobe Structures in the National Parks In the US Southwest, climate change is making it harder to preserve historic adobe structures for future generations. Using adobe test walls and rainshower simulators, staff at the Desert Research Learning Center are evaluating the potential for increased erosion, and testing the effectiveness of different treatments methods to protect against it. The results will help park managers tailor their preservation methods to better protect culturally valuable resources. American flag viewed through the remains of an adobe doorway. A Changing Bimodal Climate Zone Means Changing Vegetation in Western National Parks When the climate changes enough, the vegetation communities growing in any given place will also change. Under an expanded bimodal climate zone, some plant communities in western national parks are more likely to change than others. National Park Service ecologists and partners investigated the future conditions that may force some of this change. Having this information can help park managers decide whether to resist, direct, or accept the change. Dark storm clouds and rainbow over mountains and saguaros. Bats Are in Danger. Here’s How and Why We’re Helping Them. Bats are amazing animals and a formidable force against insect pests, but a nasty fungal disease is killing them. A coordinated national response brings hope. GIF of a bat with big ears in a gloved hand, rotating its head and opening and closing its mouth. Project Profile: Expand Joshua Tree Seed Availability for Parks The National Park Service will identify new Joshua tree habitat under future climate scenarios with potential for Joshua tree augmentation, mitigate risks at these habitats, collect seed, and propagate plants to outplant within the park. Two people in National Park Service uniforms collect seeds from a Joshua Tree Series: Park Paleontology News - Vol. 15, No. 2, Fall 2023 All across the park system, scientists, rangers, and interpreters are engaged in the important work of studying, protecting, and sharing our rich fossil heritage. <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/newsletters.htm">Park Paleontology news</a> provides a close up look at the important work of caring for these irreplaceable resources. <ul><li>Contribute to Park Paleontology News by contacting the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/common/utilities/sendmail/sendemail.cfm?o=5D8CD5B898DDBB8387BA1DBBFD02A8AE4FBD489F4FF88B9049&r=/subjects/geoscientistsinparks/photo-galleries.htm">newsletter editor</a></li><li>Learn more about <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/">Fossils & Paleontology</a> </li><li>Celebrate <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossilday/">National Fossil Day</a> with events across the nation</li></ul> Photo of a boulder with a dinosaur track on one side. Mojave National Preserve Paleontological Resource Inventory Mojave National Preserve in the Mojave Desert of southeastern California holds a lengthy paleontological record spanning more than 550 million years. A paleontological resource inventory has recently been published for the preserve, documenting this history. Some highlights from the Cambrian, middle Paleozoic, and Miocene are presented here. Photo of fossils on a rock slab. The Oasis Newsletter: Fall 2023 This biannual newsletter of the Mojave Desert Network Inventory and Monitoring Program features: an intern's summary of her experience working with our vegetation crew; two recent web publications on a nation-wide effort to conserve bats and monitoring vital signs in times of rapid change; outreach to MOJN park web managers to assist in increasing science and research content on their sites; and a variety of staffing updates. Woman with brimmed hat bends down to place a 3-foot tall blue flag along a transect in sagebrush. The Oasis Newsletter: Spring 2021 The Spring 2021 issue of the Mojave Desert Network newsletter bids farewell to our Ecologist and welcomes an Interim Ecologist and three field scientists hired this winter to support our monitoring projects. The newsletter also highlights recent outreach activities and collaborations with park staff, as well as a new project brief and a web article. We feature an article about the Dome Fire that killed an estimated 1.3 million Joshua trees in Mojave National Preserve. National Park Service scientist kneels on soil and filters a water sample from a desert spring. The Oasis Newsletter: Fall 2021 The Fall 2021 issue of the Mojave Desert Network newsletter highlights the recent "inconclusive" detection of a fungus causing bat disease; provides monitoring project updates and schedules; highlights recent project briefs and a data release report; features the network's first virtual science symposium; and summarizes staffing changes. Hiker walks on trail through golden aspen trees. The Oasis Newsletter: Fall 2022 This biannual newsletter of the Mojave Desert Network Inventory and Monitoring Program features: an update column from Allen Calvert, Network Program Manager; highlights from our first in-person science symposium in three years; a new project brief on selected large springs monitoring; outreach efforts in parks; and a variety of staffing updates. Four field staff smile in a selfie after finishing their last monitoring plot. Monitoring Vital Signs in Times of Rapid Change Environmental changes are occurring at increasing rates over the last century in the Mojave Desert. Examples include rising temperature, decreasing precipitation, and more frequent extreme events like wildfire and flooding. Learn more about what we are monitoring in the Mojave Desert Network parks, some early changes we are seeing, and how what we are learning can be used to help managers plan for the future. Two scientists stand over a small spring amidst desert shrubs in Death Valley National Park. The Oasis Newsletter: Spring 2022 In this newsletter, you will find our recent project summary on Desert Springs monitoring, staffing updates, highiights and links for an Inventory and Monitoring Division Scientists' training, a feature on fossil monitoring in Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument, and our spring and summer field schedule. Two scientists use a leveling rod and a digital level to read water channel elevation. The Oasis Newsletter: Spring 2023 This biannual newsletter of the Mojave Desert Network Inventory and Monitoring Program features: updates from regional Inventory & Monitoring Program Managers' meeting, satellite vegetation analysis and bird diversity in Joshua Tree National Park, staffing changes, our spring monitoring schedule, and a few images highlighting recent fieldwork. Woman stands in desert springs vegetation, stretching a meter tape out to monitor it. Desert Varnish Ever wondered what those dark lines were on the rock walls of canyon country? These black, brown, and red streaks are called desert varnish. streaks of black desert varnish on a red rock wall The Oasis Newsletter: Spring 2024 This issue of The Oasis newsletter highlights an upcoming Fall science symposium, a newly published Desert Springs Data Package and Quality Control Summary, a Yuma myotis bat web article, staff arrivals and departures, a first impressions article from Scientists in Parks intern Sofia Elizarraras, good-bye articles from Alison Gause and Avery Sigarroa, our spring and summer monitoring schedule, a new Inventory & Monitoring web page for Lake Mead NRA, and a new logo! Four people hike upslope amidst cacti and a rocky desert landscape. Updated Species Database Will Help Boost Amphibian Conservation Across the National Park System To steward amphibians effectively, managers need basic information about which species live in parks. But species lists need constant maintenance to remain accurate. Due to recent efforts, the National Park Service now has an up-to-date amphibian species checklist for almost 300 parks. This information can serve as the basis for innumerable conservation efforts across the nation. A toad sits on red sand, looking into the camera.

Park News & Guide National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Issue 25/2015-2016 COURTESY NASA/JET PROPULSION LABORATORY--CALTECH Mojave National Preserve Black Canyon campground with a sky added from an astrophoto A Head Start for Endangered Tortoises? By Phillip Gomez NPS/KNIGHTEN An unpretentious little building surrounded by a security fence just off Ivanpah Road near the northeast entrance to Mojave National Preserve has an ambitious purpose: to improve the chances of baby desert tortoises to survive to maturity and to produce vital offspring. The cryptic lives of tortoises—spent predominantly in underground burrows— and the many years that it takes for them to reach sexual maturity and to reproduce have made it difficult for conservation biologists to conduct field studies. For this long-term research project, juvenile tortoises are being “recruited” over a 20-year period and nurtured in this facility until they are capable of joining the Ivanpah Valley’s population with a reasonable chance for survival. The idea for this experiment in wildlife management, entitled Desert Tortoise Juvenile Survivorship at Mojave National Preserve—or Head Start to researchers—is similar to the principle underlying children’s nursery schooling: giving kids a head start in life. Welcome to Mojave National Preserve. We are glad you have made the decision to spend some of your time exploring and discovering the treasures of the Mojave Desert. NPS/GOMEZ So, the National Park Service, together with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Chevron Corp., Molycorp Inc., and two universities have partnered to create a working facility to try to gain a better understanding of tortoise behavior that affects their survival. The Ivanpah Desert Research Facility is staffed by a small team of faculty and Ph.D. candidates from the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory of the University of Georgia and from the University of California, Davis. Welcome to Mojave! Two yearling tortoise siblings explore their enclosure. The smaller one follows “big brother,” who became sick and was taken inside for the winter. In the case of the tortoise, the goal is to gain time for the reptile’s shell to develop and harden to make the young reptiles safe from predators. Adult tortoises with hardened shells have few predators, but juveniles are extremely vulnerable for the first four or five years of life. a small percentage make it to adulthood,” Hughson said. “It’s all about the predation,” says Debra Hughson, the Preserve’s chief of science and resource stewardship. “The purpose of Head Start is to allow them to survive.” How many tortoises are there in the Preserve? “Nobody knows exactly, but only Once numerous in the Mojave, the desert tortoise began experiencing loss of natural habitat from a variety of sources by the late 1980s: exurban sprawl, overgrazing by livestock, poaching, invasive plants, development of highways and dirt roads, and expanding use of off-road recreational vehicles. The degradation and fragmentation of habitat create barriers for the slowmoving tortoise in its search for food and water and also bring danger from motorists and off-roaders. Eggs of the unborn are sometimes trampled. Also, the lives of many are cut short by an upper-respiratory disease, possibly introduced into the desert by sick pet tortoises that were turned loose by their owners. This, coupled with the late maturity of the tortoise, which can take 18 to 20 years to reach breeding age, makes for long odds in the game of survival in the desert. Tortoise numbers have diminished by as much as 90 percent in some areas of the Mojave, according to Hughson. NPS COLLECTION In August 1989, the California Fish and Game Commission listed the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) as a threatened species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act of 1973. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service followed suit with federal protection in 1991. The Preserve was created in 1994 under the California Desert Protection Act, federal legislation that was intended to protect remaining California desert wild lands. The act called for large-scale management of the Mojave bioregion west of the Colorado River in conjunction with Joshua Tree and Death Valley national parks, as well as the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). continued on page 5 You have chosen a special time to visit us—one of the more than 400 sites within the National Park Service—because we have begun celebrating 100 years of sharing America’s special places and helping Americans to make meaningful connections with nature, history, and culture. The National Park Service was established in 1916 to oversee the administration of these special places. As part of its centennial, the National Park Service is inviting a new generation to discover the special places that belong to us all. We are encouraging new audiences and people not familiar with the National Park Service and public lands to find their park. Many peop