Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge
Encyclopedia
The Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge (MVNWR) is a protected wildlife refuge
administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, located in the Warm Springs Natural Area in the Moapa Valley of Clark County, Nevada
. The refuge is east of Death Valley
and 60 miles (96.6 km) northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada
.
The 106 acres (42.9 ha) refuge was created as part of the larger Desert National Wildlife Refuge Complex
, on September 10, 1979. The Desert National Wildlife Refuge complex also includes the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
, the Desert National Wildlife Refuge
, the Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge
, and the Amargosa Pupfish Station
.
of the endangered species
of Moapa dace
of which about 1,900 exist in the Muddy River
area. The habitat on the refuge consists of stream channels feeding the Muddy River including six hot spring
s emerging near the center of the refuge.
Since the 1990s the dace have been in decline mainly due to habitat destruction and modification. Nearby groundwater pumping has decreased stream discharge and streamflows and decreased dace habitat. Competition with introduced species
such as the mosquitofish
and shortfin molly have also added to the dace's decline.
In August, 2005 the National Wildlife Refuge Association
and again in September, 2005 the Defenders of Wildlife
listed the Refuge as one of the 10 most endangered refuges in the United States
.
of California Fan Palm
s (Washingtonia filifera) and natural hot spring
s. It became known as "Desert Oasis Warm Springs." During the 1970s and 80's he converted the property into a spa, resort and retreat enjoyed for over several decades by Las Vegas area families, with fond memories at the "Jewel in the Desert". By 1990 the resort changed from an open-to-the-public venue into a private time-share spa.
The Desert Oasis Warm Springs Resort continued to operate until a wildfire swept through the area in 1994. After the fire, the resort remained unused until 1997 when the property was purchased by Del Webb Inc.
, turned over to the Fish and Wildlife Service, and incorporated as part of the Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge.
Wildlife refuge
A wildlife refuge, also called a wildlife sanctuary, may be a naturally occurring sanctuary, such as an island, that provides protection for species from hunting, predation or competition, or it may refer to a protected area, a geographic territory within which wildlife is protected...
administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, located in the Warm Springs Natural Area in the Moapa Valley of Clark County, Nevada
Clark County, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,375,765 people, 512,253 households, and 339,693 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 71.6% White , 9.1% Black, 5.7% Asian, 0.8% American Indian and 12.8% of other or mixed race. 22.0% were Hispanic of any race...
. The refuge is east of Death Valley
Death Valley
Death Valley is a desert valley located in Eastern California. Situated within the Mojave Desert, it features the lowest, driest, and hottest locations in North America. Badwater, a basin located in Death Valley, is the specific location of the lowest elevation in North America at 282 feet below...
and 60 miles (96.6 km) northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
.
The 106 acres (42.9 ha) refuge was created as part of the larger Desert National Wildlife Refuge Complex
Desert National Wildlife Refuge Complex
The Desert National Wildlife Refuge Complex is a protected wildlife refuge, administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, located north and west of Las Vegas, Nevada in northwestern Clark, southwestern Lincoln, and southern Nye counties in southern Nevada...
, on September 10, 1979. The Desert National Wildlife Refuge complex also includes the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
The Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge is a protected wildlife refuge, administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, located west-northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada, in southern Nye County...
, the Desert National Wildlife Refuge
Desert National Wildlife Refuge
The Desert National Wildlife Range is a protected wildlife refuge, administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, located north of Las Vegas, Nevada, in northwestern Clark and southwestern Lincoln counties, with much of its land area lying within the southeastern section of the Nevada Test and...
, the Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge
Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge
The Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge is a protected wildlife refuge, located at the southern end of the Pahranagat Valley and administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It is situated north of Las Vegas, Nevada in Lincoln County, Nevada...
, and the Amargosa Pupfish Station
Amargosa Pupfish Station
The Amargosa Pupfish Station is a protected Pupfish wildlife refuge, part of the Desert National Wildlife Refuge Complex, is administered by the U.S...
.
Moapa dace fish
The refuge was established to provide and protect the habitatHabitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
of the endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
of Moapa dace
Moapa dace
The moapa dace is a rare cyprinid fish of Southern Nevada, United States, found only in the warm springs that give rise to the Muddy River, and in the upper parts of the river...
of which about 1,900 exist in the Muddy River
Muddy River
The Muddy River, formerly known as the Moapa River, is a short river located in the southern part of the state in Clark County, Nevada, United States. It is in the Mojave Desert, approximately 60 miles north of Las Vegas.-Geography:...
area. The habitat on the refuge consists of stream channels feeding the Muddy River including six hot spring
Hot spring
A hot spring is a spring that is produced by the emergence of geothermally heated groundwater from the Earth's crust. There are geothermal hot springs in many locations all over the crust of the earth.-Definitions:...
s emerging near the center of the refuge.
Since the 1990s the dace have been in decline mainly due to habitat destruction and modification. Nearby groundwater pumping has decreased stream discharge and streamflows and decreased dace habitat. Competition with introduced species
Introduced species
An introduced species — or neozoon, alien, exotic, non-indigenous, or non-native species, or simply an introduction, is a species living outside its indigenous or native distributional range, and has arrived in an ecosystem or plant community by human activity, either deliberate or accidental...
such as the mosquitofish
Mosquitofish
The mosquitofish is a species of freshwater fish, also commonly, if ambiguously, known by its generic name, gambusia. It is sometimes called the western mosquitofish, to distinguish it from the eastern mosquitofish . It is a member of the family Poeciliidae of order Cyprinodontiformes...
and shortfin molly have also added to the dace's decline.
In August, 2005 the National Wildlife Refuge Association
National Wildlife Refuge Association
The National Wildlife Refuge Association is an independent non-profit 501 membership organization that works to conserve American wildlife by strengthening and expanding the National Wildlife Refuge System managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service...
and again in September, 2005 the Defenders of Wildlife
Defenders of Wildlife
Defenders of Wildlife is a United States-based, 501 non-profit organization founded in 1947, "dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities." The organization is active in political interventions and lobbying aimed at protection of wildlife, and...
listed the Refuge as one of the 10 most endangered refuges in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
History
One of the areas of the MVNWR, now called the “Plummer Unit,” was a public, family-owned recreational park. A former general manager of the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas, Bob Plummer, purchased a 100 acres (40.5 ha) parcel of land with an oasisOasis
In geography, an oasis or cienega is an isolated area of vegetation in a desert, typically surrounding a spring or similar water source...
of California Fan Palm
Washingtonia filifera
Washingtonia filifera , with the common names California Fan Palm , Desert Fan Palm, Cotton palm, and Arizona Fan Palm. It is a palm native to southwestern North America between an elevation range of , at seeps, desert bajadas, and springs where underground water is continuously available...
s (Washingtonia filifera) and natural hot spring
Hot spring
A hot spring is a spring that is produced by the emergence of geothermally heated groundwater from the Earth's crust. There are geothermal hot springs in many locations all over the crust of the earth.-Definitions:...
s. It became known as "Desert Oasis Warm Springs." During the 1970s and 80's he converted the property into a spa, resort and retreat enjoyed for over several decades by Las Vegas area families, with fond memories at the "Jewel in the Desert". By 1990 the resort changed from an open-to-the-public venue into a private time-share spa.
The Desert Oasis Warm Springs Resort continued to operate until a wildfire swept through the area in 1994. After the fire, the resort remained unused until 1997 when the property was purchased by Del Webb Inc.
Del Webb
Delbert Eugene Webb was an American construction magnate, real estate developer and sports-team owner, who is most significant for founding and developing the retirement community of Sun City, Arizona.-Early life:...
, turned over to the Fish and Wildlife Service, and incorporated as part of the Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge.