Desert Biosphere Reserve facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Desert Experimental Range Station Historic District
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Desert Biosphere Reserve with rainbow in background, January 2016
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 Location in Utah
Location in the United States
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| Location | Pine Valley Millar County, Utah United States |
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| Nearest city | Milford |
| Area | 7.5 acres (3.0 ha) |
| Built by | United States Forest Service & Civilian Conservation Corps |
| Architectural style | Forest Service standard plan |
| NRHP reference No. | 94000267 |
| Added to NRHP | April 11, 1994 |
The Desert Biosphere Reserve and Experimental Range is a special outdoor area in western Millard County, Utah, United States. It's like a huge outdoor laboratory where scientists study how plants and animals live in the desert. This important place is also listed as a historic district, meaning it has a lot of history.
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What is the Desert Experimental Range?
This experimental range was created in 1933. President Herbert Hoover set aside about 87 square miles (225 square kilometers) of public land. He wanted it to be a place to study farming and ranching in the desert.
Who Manages This Area?
The U.S. Forest Service helps take care of this special area. They are part of the Rocky Mountain Research Station. For a while, it was also a biosphere reserve recognized by UNESCO (a part of the United Nations). This meant it was a place to protect nature and learn about it. However, it is no longer part of that program since 2017.
Where is This Special Place?
The Desert Experimental Range is located in the northwest part of Pine Valley. This valley is in southwest Millard County, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) west of Milford. The northern part of the reserve covers the southern half of the Tunnel Springs Mountains.
What Does the Landscape Look Like?
This area protects a landscape that is typical of the Great Basin. The Great Basin has many mountain ranges that run north and south, with flat desert areas in between. The plants you'll see here are common in the Great Basin shrub steppe. You'll find lots of shadscale saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia) and sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) growing in wide-open areas. The reserve also has forests of Single-leaf Pinyon (Pinus monophylla) and juniper trees, plus some areas used for grazing animals.
