Special Features

Sand dunes, fossil falls, canyons, petroglyphs on rock walls, 90 mountain ranges, 65 wilderness areas, the Mojave River, remnants of historic desert warfare training camps, dry lakes popular with wind surfers: the California Desert Conservation Area harbors far more diversity than most people expect.

The area's wildlife diversity is equally surprising. This huge expanse of land is home to the desert tortoise, bighorn sheep, pupfish, and many more birds and reptiles that are adapted to surviving in harsh environments.

History

Native Mojaves, Chemehuevis, and Quechans lived in the California desert for thousands of years before European explorers set foot in North America. Their settlements were primarily along the Colorado River, but they made frequent trips westward across the desert for food and trade.

By 1868, the United States acquired the land and used most of the desert for livestock grazing, mining, and military bases. In the early 20th century, with the establishment of canals and easier means of water transportation, cities such as San Diego and Los Angeles developed in the region.

Recognized for its special values and proximity to many population centers of California, Congress designated the National Conservation Area on October 21, 1976. In 1994 the California Desert Protection Act designated 3.5 million acres of the California Desert as wilderness, redesignated Death Valley and Joshua Tree National Monument as National Parks, and created the 1.6 million acre Mojave National Preserve as a unit of the National Park system.

Resources

• Bureau of Land Management &em; California
• California Native Plant Society
• California Wilderness Coalition
• Center for Biological Diversity
• The Wilderness Society (California Office: 415-561-6641)