Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge in Nevada

The Camp Host at Preferred RV Resort visited us and brought a goody bag with brochures on area attractions.  Included in the brochures are Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge and Amargosa Opera House.








We drove west to Ash Meadows
National Wildlife Refuge.





In 1980, Preferred Equity Corporation proposed building hotels, a strip malls, an airport and over 30,000 homes in this area.  The project sparked controversy, inexpensive housing versus high use of water and possible extinction of species.  Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1984.

Our first stop is King's Spring

& Point of Rocks Boardwalk.

The boardwalk keeps us
off the fragile ground.

One side of the display is

written in Spanish.

The other side is written

in English.

Ash Meadows is named for the

Leatherleaf Ash Tree.

The bridge span has
a fish design.

Stand quietly & wait for

the fish to swim by.

The boardwalk and displays look new.  We asked about this at the Visitor Center and were told that this area was reconstructed in 2009

King's Spring

The water is blue because
of limestone dissolved in it.

The stones are covered

with algae.

A Nevada Side-Blotched
Lizard suns itself.

Native tribes ground Mesquite

 Beans into flour in these holes

 along side the stream.

Devils Hole is a carefully

controlled area.

We walk through an enclosed

pathway to Devil's Hole.

The Devils Hole Pupfish are the
rarest fish in the world, living in
93 degree water in this pool.

These rare Pupfish were
listed as endangered in 1967.

Their population is carefully
watched.



In 1976 the Devils Hole Pupfish were central to a water rights case that went before the Supreme Court. Groundwater pumping for agriculture was curtailed to preserve the
fish's' habitat.

The Park Ranger at the

Visitors Center provided

us with fliers on the Refuge.

We follow the boardwalk

to Crystal Spring

I wonder how far down
the underwater ledge goes.

 

A stream meanders

from the spring.

We drive the Loop Road

to Crystal Reservoir.

This National Wildlife Refuge is a national treasure.  It's worth the drive, if you're in the area.