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Ecological Sections: Mojave Desert Section 322A Mojave Desert (click here for interactive map) This section is the hot part of the Basin and ranges from the southern end of the Sierra Nevada and the north-northeastern side of the Transverse Ranges to Nevada and Arizona. Most of it is in MLRA 30, but some is in MLRA 29. Geomorphology. Widely separated short ranges in desert plains. Contains isolated mountains, plateaus, alluvial fans, playas, basins and dunes. Basin and Range geomorphic province (Mojave Desert). Lithology. Cenozoic nonmarine sedimentary and granitic rocks and alluvial deposits, and precambrian rocks of all types. Soil Taxa. Aridisols and Entisols in combination with thermic or hyperthermic soil temperature regimes and aridic soil moisture regimes on foothills and valleys. Contains areas with salt affected soils. Aridisols and Entisols in combination with thermic or mesic soil temperature regimes, and aridic or xeric soil moisture regimes on mountains. Vegetation. Predominant potential natural communities includes the Creosote bush series, Creosote bush - white bursage series, Allscale series, Mixed saltbush series, Iodine bush series, Joshua Tree series, Shadscale series, Black bush series, Mesquite series, California Juniper series, Singleleaf pinyon - Utah juniper series and White fir series (high peaks). The following series are found throughout the section and are not restricted to or extensive in any subsection. Series dominated by exotic plants are not listed under subsections unless they are extensive and stable.
Series that can occur in all subsections, but are not extensive: Bulrush series, Bulrush - cattail series, Cattail series, Cordgrass series, Duckweed series, Mosquito fern series, One-sided bluegrass series, Pondweeds with floating leaves series, Pondweeds with submerged leaves series, Sedge series and Spikerush series. Series restricted to riparian settings: Arrow weed series, Black willow series, Fremont cottonwood series, Mixed willow series, Mulefat series, Narrowleaf willow series and Red willow series. Elevation. 280 feet below sea level to 7900 feet above sea level. Precipitation. 3 to 8 inches. Mostly occurs as scattered high intensity storms of short duration. Temperature. 45° to 77°F. Growing Season. 175 to 325 days. Surface Water Characteristics. Mostly bedrock controlled channels in mountains that carry seasonal flows to alluvial channels below. Most channels terminate in basins within the section. Some of the eastern part drains toward the Colorado River. A few reservoirs occur on the Colorado River. Disturbance Regimes.
Climate: Flash floods are commonly associated with the irregular occurrence of precipitation events. Cultural Ecology. Humans have been utilizing the area for some 10,000 years; the early Lake Mojave Paleoindian hunting assemblage is well documented at sites along the shores of Pleistocene Lake Mojave. After the end of the Pleistocene, prehistoric assemblages reflect extensive practice of seasonal rounds for resource gathering. In its southern portion, agricultural practices from Colorado River culture influences spread into the area during late prehistoric times, after A.D. 1000. Historic mining of hard rock minerals and borax altered much of the landscape. Contemporary attitudes and beliefs are varied; lifestyle is rural. The economy emphasizes government employment, mining, ranching, and recreation. |
Subsections. The Mojave Desert section is divided into
16 subsections.
The alluvial plain in the southern part of Owens Valley, from the Poverty Hill south to Rose Valley. It includes Owens Lake. Death Valley The alluvial plain of Death Valley, from Sand Spring south-southeast to the drainage divide between Death Valley and Silurian Valley. Amargosa Desert - Pahrump Valley The alluvial plains of the Amargosa Desert, Sarcobatus Flat, Stewart Valley, Pahrump Valley, Mesquite Valley, and California Valley. Funeral Mountains - Greenwater Valley Includes the Funeral Mountains, Black Mountains, Greenwater Range, Resting Spring Range, and Nopah Range between Death Valley and the Amargosa Desert and Pahrump Valley. It includes a part of the Amargosa River valley and all of Greenwater and Chicago Valleys. Panamint Valley The alluvial plain of Panamint Valley, between the Argus and Panamint Ranges. Searles Valley - Owlshead Mountains The Slate Range, El Paso Mountains, Quail Mountains, Owlshead Mountains, southern ends of the Argus and Panamint Ranges, Searles Valley, Long Valley, and the southern end of Panamint Valley. High Desert Plains and Hills The western Mojave Desert, which is mostly alluvial plain and pediment, with relatively small areas of hills and low mountains. It includes Indian Wells Valley north of the Garlock Fault; otherwise it is between the Garlock Fault on the north and northwest, the San Andreas Fault on the southwest, the Mojave River on the southeast, and about the Harper Valley Fault on the northeast. Mojave Valley - Granite Mountains Consists of about half upland, including pediments, and half alluvial plain. There are many small mountain ranges and hills with many different orientation patterns. The subsection is bounded by the Garlock Fault Zone on the north, Avawatz Mountains on the northeast, Silurian Valley (outside of this subsection) on the east, the Soda Mountains on the southeast, Mojave Valley on the south, Harper Valley Fault on the southwest, and Rand Mountains on the west. Silurian Valley - Devil's Playground The alluvial plain of the Silurian Valley, from where the Amargosa River enters it on the north to where the Mojave River enters it on the south, and the Devil’s Playground just southeast of Silurian Valley and up Kelso Wash toward Ivanpah Valley. Kingston Range - Valley Wells Includes mountains, hills, pediments, and high alluvial plains between Silurian Valley and Devil’s Playground on the west and southwest, California Valley on the northwest, Pahrump Valley on the north, Mesquite Valley and Ivanpah Fault on the northeast, and Ivanpah Valley on the southeast, plus the southern part of the Spring Mountains. Ivanpah Valley The alluvial plain of Ivanpah Valley. There are a few moderately steep hills protruding through the alluvial plain. Providence Mountains - Lanfair Valley Includes Lanfair Valley, the mountains surrounding it, the upper part of Fenner Valley, the mountains on the east and west sides of Fenner Valley, Granite Mountain, and Bristol Mountain. The subsection is about half upland and half alluvial plain. Piute Valley - Sacramento Mountains Includes Piute Valley, Dead Mountains, upper part of Ward Valley, Sacramento Mountains, Chemehuevi Valley, Whipple Mountains, and Turtle Mountains. The subsection is about half upland and half alluvial plain. Lucerne - Johnson Valleys and Hills Includes mountains, hills, pediments and alluvial plain north of the San Bernardino and Bighorn Mountains and the Pinto Mountain Fault, from the Mojave River east to the linear depression (Bullion Mountains - Bristol Lake) that stretches from Troy Lake southeastward to Cadiz Lake and beyond. Bullion Mountains - Bristol Lake Includes alluvial fans, basin floor, volcanic flows, and mountains and hills in a linear depression that stretches from Troy Lake southeastward to Bristol Lake and beyond, plus the lower part of Fenner Valley. Pinto Basin and Mountains Consists of steep mountains and broad valleys west of the northwest trending Little San Bernardino Mountains. It includes the Pinto Basin, Pleasant Valley, and the Pinto, Coxcomb, Eagle, Hexie, and Cottonwood Mountains. |
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