Amargosa Desert - Sand Dunes:
Big Dune ACEC, Nevada
Big Dune ACEC is located in the Amargosa Valley of Nye County off Valley View Road south of State Highway 95. It is a 1.5 square mile complex star sand dune that reaches 2,731 feet above sea level. It is managed to protect habitat for four sensitive beetle species, three which are endemic to this single dune complex and are found nowhere else in the word. Big Dune is one of only three dune systems in the planning area. Giuliani’s big dune scarab beetle (Pseudocotalpa giulianii) was proposed for listing as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act in August 1978 with the entire Big Dune Complex proposed critical habitat for the species. Off-road vehicle use and mining were identified as the largest threat to the species at the time. Three other sensitive beetle species can also be found at Big Dune:-
Large Aegialian Scarab Beetle (Aegialia magnifica)
Rulien’s miloderes weevil (Miloderes rulieni)
Big Dune aphodius scarab beetle (Aphodius sp.)
Recreation Opportunities:
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Non-competitive off-highway vehicle use
Limited to existing roads and the open dunes
Sandboarding and sandskiing on open dunes
Wildlife viewing
Photography
Source - BLM Nevada
Big Dune