header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
March 28
1934 - Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, replacement for ill-fated St. Francis Dam & reservoir, begins to fill with water [story]
Bouquet Reservoir


Commentary by Linda Castro
| Thursday, May 12, 2016
Sarasota Springs
Sarasota Springs

LindaCastroMost of us have watched Bugs Bunny cartoons where Bugs walks through the desert and sees a mirage. While the hot desert sun often creates the appearance of water where it does not actually exist, there are quite a few places throughout the Death Valley area that are real desert wetlands and not mere mirages.

One such locale is Saratoga Springs, located in the Ibex Hills area of southeastern Death Valley National Park. This beautiful desert oasis consists of several springs that overflow into pools totaling about 6.5 acres, making the wetland the third largest marsh in the park.

This desert wetland supports numerous plants and animals. The Saratoga Springs pupfish is found here and nowhere else in the world. These fish are descendants of what was once a more generalized pupfish population that swam in the lakes that filled Death Valley thousands of years ago.

Several other invertebrate species can be found here, including the Amargosa spring snail. Migratory birds frequent the pools, making the area a favorite for bird watchers.

It is believed the springs were named after the resort town of Saratoga Springs, New York. The springs were an important water source for the 20-mule teams during the mining heyday of the late 1800s.

You can reach the springs by traveling on a graded dirt road, which leads to an overlook. The first sight of the wetlands will literally take your breath away and cause you to wonder, Am I really in Death Valley?

Another such area is Surprise Canyon, a lushly vegetated canyon in the Panamint Range. The upper half of the canyon is located in southwestern Death Valley National Park, while the lower half is on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

Surprise Canyon

Surprise Canyon

Congress designated Surprise Canyon Wilderness as a wilderness area in 1994. The wilderness are shares its entire eastern border with Death Valley National Park. Small slopes gradually rise from the west into the jagged ridges and steep sides of the Panamint Range. Canyons cut deeply into the mountains to form the interior of the wilderness. Elevations climb from about 1,000 feet in the west to more than 7,000 feet in the east, providing fabulous vistas of the Panamint Valley from mountain summits.

Surprise Canyon’s riparian oasis is confined by glistening narrows. Cottonwoods and willows are found in the lower elevations, while forests of piñon and juniper are found at the higher elevations.

The canyon likely received its name from the “surprise” visitors experience when they visit the area and stumble upon the unexpected springs bubbling from the steep walls of Surprise Canyon. The springs feed a yearlong flow of water. The BLM has designated most of Surprise Canyon an “Area of Critical Environmental Concern” (ACEC) in order to protect vegetation and wildlife – including the rare Panamint alligator lizard – as well as historic and cultural resources.

Another example is the Amargosa River. Often called the “Crown Jewel of the Mojave Desert,” the Amargosa is the only free-flowing river in the Death Valley region of the Mojave, providing a rare and lush riparian area in the desert.

The Amargosa River originates around the hills surrounding Beatty, Nev., and travels through the Mojave Desert to Badwater in Death Valley National Park. Most of the water travels underground, but surface flow exists in the areas of Shoshone, Tecopa and Amargosa Canyon. Where the river runs on the desert surface, it creates a series of oases with running water, wetlands, lush vegetation, and even a waterfall in the canyon.

Amargosa River

Amargosa River

The Amargosa Canyon Natural Area is located at the south end of Tecopa Valley and occupies the heart of the Tecopa Basin, east of the southeastern corner of Death Valley National Park. The BLM designated the area an ACEC to protect endangered plants and animals found there.

Congress also designated 26 miles of the Amargosa River – the stretch between Shoshone and Dumont Dunes – as a National Wild and Scenic River in 2009. With this designation, Congress can preserve rivers that possess outstandingly remarkable scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural or other similar values. Rivers (or sections of rivers) so designated are preserved in their free-flowing condition and cannot be dammed or otherwise impeded.

Two hundred fifty different bird species have been observed in Amargosa Canyon, including least Bell’s vireo, the yellow-billed cuckoo and the great horned owl. The area is also known for its wide variety of bats and rodents, the most significant of which is the critically endangered Amargosa vole.

There are more springs, wetlands and oases throughout Death Valley. The ones I have mentioned are only a sampling of what Death Valley has to offer.

Consider visiting Death Valley and seeing some of them yourself. The best months to visit are March, April, October and November, when the temperatures tend to be moderate.

 

Linda Castro is a nature enthusiast and animal lover.  She is the Desert Field Organizer for the California Wilderness Coalition and serves on the board of the SCV-based Community Hiking Club.  Her commentaries relate to California’s deserts.

 

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

1 Comment

  1. Where please tell me that place is great very nice

Leave a Comment


Opinion Section Policy
All opinions and ideas are welcome. Factually inaccurate, libelous, defamatory, profane or hateful statements are not. Your words must be your own. All commentary is subject to editing for legibility. There is no length limit, but the shorter, the better the odds of people reading it. "Local" SCV-related topics are preferred. Send commentary to: LETTERS (at) SCVNEWS.COM. Author's full name, community name, phone number and e-mail address are required. Phone numbers and e-mail addresses are not published except at author's request. Acknowledgment of submission does not guarantee publication.
Read More From...
RECENT COMMENTARY
Wednesday, Mar 27, 2024
Remo, Inc. is is the world's leading manufacturer and developer of synthetic drumheads and shells. They’ve been in business for 60 years
Tuesday, Mar 26, 2024
Springtime in Santa Clarita brings not only vibrant blooms and opportunities to embrace the outdoors with warmer weather, but also an array of free, family-friendly events and this Saturday is no exception.
Thursday, Mar 21, 2024
Did you know that each year, Main Street in Old Town Newhall undergoes countless makeovers for different events, such as Light Up Main Street and the Fourth of July Parade?
Thursday, Mar 21, 2024
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, whose Fifth District includes the Santa Clarita Valley, issued the following statement Thursday in response to an announcement by Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel of a proposal to change how calls to the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline are routed.
Monday, Mar 18, 2024
Unlike our children who enjoy a week-long spring break, we adults no longer have that luxury.
Friday, Mar 15, 2024

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector, reminds property owners that the second installment of the 2023-24 Annual Secured Property Taxes becomes  delinquent if not received by 5 p.m. Pacific Time or United States Postal Service postmarked on or before Wednesday, April 10, 2024.
County Treasurer Reminds Property Owners of April 10 Due Date
Local nonprofit Fostering Youth Independence is seeking “Allies” to support Santa Clarita youth who are aging out of the L.A. County foster care system.
April 16: FYI Seeks Volunteers To Pair With Local Foster Youth
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health today unveiled the latest L.A. County Health Survey, which gathers vital data on health behaviors, conditions, neighborhood settings, and the needs of L.A .County residents, informing future public health policies and programs.
Public Health Unveils the 2023 L.A. County Health Survey Findings
Due to the projected rain forecast, Eggstravaganza will now be held indoors at the Canyon Country Community Center beginning promptly at 10 a.m. on March 30.
March 30: Eggstravaganza Now Being Held Indoors at Canyon Country Community Center
To support the mental health of California's young people, the California Department of Public Health awarded $25 million to 28 tribal and community-based organizations across the state.
California Announces $25 Million in Awards for Youth Mental Health
The College of the Canyons Athletic Department will host a dedication ceremony to unveil the Michele Jenkins Softball Team Room in honor of the longtime board member and ardent softball program supporter’s nearly 40 years of service to the district.
April 16: COC to Host Michele Jenkins Team Room Dedication Ceremony
PFLAG Santa Clarita has announced the establishment of the Peggy and Jeff Stabile PFLAG SCV Scholarship. The scholarship will provide financial assistance to LGBTQIA+ students pursuing higher education and committed to advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights and promoting diversity and inclusion.
PFLAG SCV Announces Stabile PFLAG Scholarship
1934 - Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, replacement for ill-fated St. Francis Dam & reservoir, begins to fill with water [story]
Bouquet Reservoir
The California Department of Public Health launched the “Never a Bother” campaign, a youth suicide prevention public awareness and outreach campaign for youth, young adults, and their parents, caregivers, and allies.
California Launches New Youth Suicide Prevention Campaign
The Santa Clarita Master Chorale invites the community to "Let the Sunshine In," a delightful evening of food, wine and song at the annual Cabaret & Cabernet fundraising benefit.
April 20: Santa Clarita Master Chorale’s Cabaret, Cabernet Fundraiser
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautions residents who are planning to visit the below Los Angeles County beaches to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters:
March 27 Ocean Water Warning
As an integral ingredient necessary to help the Santa Clarita Valley to flourish, feedback from the business community is the secret sauce for achieving great things.
SCVEDC Asks For the Business Community’s Opinion on Santa Clarita
Raise your heart rate while raising funds for the Santa Clarita Sister Cities Dollars-for-Desks campaign to provide school desks for students in Sariaya, Santa Clarita's Sister City in the Philippines.
April 13: Sister Cities Zumba-thon Fundraiser
Remo, Inc. is is the world's leading manufacturer and developer of synthetic drumheads and shells. They’ve been in business for 60 years
SCVEDC Company Spotlight: Drumming Up Big Business with Remo, Inc.
California State Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth) and Assemblyman James Ramos (D-Highland) have introduced AB 3074 the "School or athletic team names: California Racial Mascots Act."
Schiavo Introduces Bill to Prohibit ‘Derogatory’ School Mascot Names
Los Angeles County’s Justice, Care and Opportunities Department  in collaboration with Local Initiatives Support Corporation Los Angeles is proud to announce the 2nd Annual Pitch Competition for the cohorts of JCOD's Incubation Academy.
March 28: JCOD Incubation Academy Helps Grassroots Non-Profits For the Second Year
Children’s Bureau is seeking foster families and now offers two virtual ways for individuals and/or couples to learn how to help children in foster care while reunifying with birth families or how to provide legal permanency by adoption.
April 18: Children’s Bureau Hosts Virtual Orientation
The Sunburst track was constructed in 1887 by the Southern Pacific Railroad and was a part of the main line running between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Enjoy Spring With a Ride On The Sunburst Track
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond hosted a Personal Finance Summit today where he announced his support for Assembly Bill 2927 (McCarty), legislation that would require a personal finance education course for California high school graduation.
State Superintendent Announces Support for Personal Finance Graduation Requirement
1847 - Probable birth date of Pico Canyon oil driller Charles Alexander Mentry [story]
C.A. Mentry
The first Music Jam Session at The MAIN was held on Thursday, Feb. 22 and was a hit. Come out and join in for the next one on Thursday, March 28 7 p.m.-9 p.m.
March 28: The MAIN to Host Musicians’ Jam Session
Los Angeles County Inspector General Max Huntsman of the Office of Inspector General has issued a report entitled "Tenth Report Back on Implementing Body-Worn Cameras in Los Angeles County."
Office of Inspector General Issues Latest Report on LASD Body Cams
College of the Canyons women's tennis played to a convincing 7-2 conference win over Ventura College on Moica to strengthen its potential playoff resume.
Canyons Closes Out Ventura 7-2 in Final Home Match
SCVNews.com